Testimonials
General diving testimonials
Once again, we had a fantastic trip to Nuweiba. There were eight divers in our party and I think it would be fair to say that we all had a fabulous time.
Jim, Ute and the rest of the staff were very accommodating and nothing ever seemed to be a problem. We did all of the dives we hoped to do so no one was disappointed! The whole week was very relaxed, we were never rushed, just what we needed after a busy year diving.
It was really good to see the house reef again, and to us, if our memories served us correctly, it seemed that there were even more varieties of fish to see, which makes it even more appealing for future trips.
Thanks to all of the staff for making our stay a very enjoyable one and hopefully we will be back again next year.
Dave, aquadreams, Basildon, England November 2009
Thank you to everyone at the dive centre in Sharm or making my holiday such a success. I was cared for by everyone and given the confidence to complete my open water certificate. I would particularly like to thank Dan for his guidance and understanding especially on the first day when I was so very scared. I would recommend the Emperor organisation to anyone, I felt it was efficient, safety conscious and very friendly.
Hazel Danby, England November 2009
Just returned from my short stay in Sharm with my twin brother (and wives). I would like to take the opportunity of thanking Emperor Divers for the excellent service provided during our three outings with you. Your staff were very friendly, informative and safety conscious (including the local staff). As a result, my brother and I thoroughly enjoyed our trips with you. We are both keen to return for a dedicated diving holiday and will certainly be booking with you. Would you please pass our thanks on.
Andy Greenwood, Farnborough, England October 2009
And there's more... Andy went on to post a review on Yorkshire Divers' website.
We certainly had an enjoyable trip and Emperor Hurghada coped admirably with our large group (24) as well as another school group from Brentwood. Excellent level of instruction for our Fastrack trainees and excellent guides for the rest of us. We were shifted around boats a bit - we've always been on the same boat for a week before - but this wasn't really a problem - all the boats (except one) were very good, with helpful crew.
This was my 8th visit and I'll probably be looking to move further south in the future.
Debbie Carr, Edinburgh Academy October 2009
I recently travelled to Sharm with the intention of spending a relaxing week on the beach. On arrival at the resort I reflected on this plan and decided my boredom threshold was too low for the beach and decided to attempt my Open Water certification. By sheer fluke I bumped into a friend of mine on the first evening in Sharm. He is a keen diver and after much discussion about diving my decision was made. He recommended only using Emperor due to the professionalism and safety focus of the company.
I enrolled onto a 4 day course, led by my instructor Pete Walsh, and started a fantastic experience that will lead to many future underwater vacations. I knew the course would be hard work and although I was not too keen on doing homework on holiday I pursued the course as directed by Pete. The instruction Pete offered was fantastic. Having never dived before everything was new to me and despite the complexities of the course Pete's high quality instruction made diving seem easy; in fact, Pete was so good I go through the course in 3 days with ease.
I cannot commend Pete highly enough for the quality of his instruction. His approach to the course was highly professional and although he teaches this course many, many times a year he still seemed to get a buzz from it. In fact he was so enthusiastic you would almost think he was fresh to teaching, which made it so much easier for me to learn. However, his depth of experience was obvious and although this is a very dangerous sport, I felt comfortable with passing complete trust to Pete while diving even as a complete novice which really helped my learning process. Pete was a tough instructor but his professionalism and approach to this course was, in my view, first class. I don't feel as though I could have had a better teacher.
In my opinion one of the most important facets of diving is safety. Pete drilled this home to me on many occasions. This appeared to resonate throughout the dive school.
I will probably be back in Sharm this year and I will be booking with Emperor. Thanks very much for this experience.
David Yates, Canterbury, England October 2009
We have just returned from a fantastic week in Sharm, and having had such a positive experience last trip we decided to go with Emperor again; we were not disappointed. My buddy Rick and I finished our Advanced course under the excellent tutoring of Peter, who made the whole thing feel so natural and enjoyable, a true professional.
My wife Aileen and her buddy Laura are open water divers with 20 dives logged but are still building confidence. We were extremely fortunate on our first two dives (shore at Sharks bay) to be given Lizzy Driscoll as our private guide. Her cool calm but authoritative approach to her job was exactly what was needed to build the ladies' confidence', and as a result we chose to have Lizzy as our guide for our remaining two days' diving. Lizzy continued to enthuse us with her infectious happy disposition, the result of which is two very happy ladies whose confidence under water is sky high. They really have come so far and this is solely down to Lizzy.
Please pass on our sincere thanks to your management team, we are hoping to return again at Christmas and of course will be diving with Emperor, the best in Sharm.
Julian Whatley, Broomfield, England September 2009
www.slayerfc.co.uk
(Julian's football team and we don't stand between a man and his team!)
We've just returned home after our holiday in Sharm and just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you. We had an amazing time diving and found the service from Emperor Divers absolutely faultless.
Of course, we would never have booked with Emperor if it wasn't for Sarah and Carmen on the Reservations team - they were extremely quick to respond to all our requests and queries and made confirming and booking our holiday so easy.
Christine Fung, London, England September 2009
I want to pass on the biggest thanks possible to the entire staff and crew in Hurghada. You gave me a wonderful time for my two weeks of diving. You are all so friendly, helpful, professional and most important, a good laugh. I spent most of my time diving with Sharon, Hannah, Craig and Petra who were all brilliant. The dive sites are all full of life and colour. There is a good chance of seeing something different on every dive. They have good trips, I did Abu Dabab where I saw my first green sea turtle but missed out on Abu Nuhas where there were dolphins and mata rays. A night dive is a must - so many different types of marine life. I had a total of 28 dives all of which were fascinating and had a lot of firsts: green sea turtles, free swimming giant moray eels and a free swimming octopus, which also changed colour before my eyes. I would recommend diving in Hurghada with Emperor to anyone as it has something for everyone and I will be going again soon.
Russell Harmer, Crawley, England August 2009
Thanks for a very good experience that has renewed my faith in shored based diving. The team at Emperor was extremely professional and facilitated a smooth running trip for us. All aspects of your operation were faultless, in particular the equipment moves between boats were smooth and trouble free. The guides/instructors were professional and displayed a high level of enthusiasm and knowledge, the boats and crews were of a very high standard.
Tim, Timuna Sea Dive Centre July 2009
www.timunasea.com
Our second trip to Marsa Alam, staying at the Marine Lodge and diving with Emperor Divers. It was nice to see that some of the staff (and boat crews) were still here from last summer. Also to meet up again with Jonathon and Wendy from our trip last time. Our special thanks to Boody, Sylvian, Timia, Ania, Vanessa and the boat crews of Empress Isa and Sea Dream. We managed to do Elphinstone and Dolphin House (no dolphins though). I did my 150th dive at Elphinstone and saw the tiger shark! (Photo on my Facebook page) Thanks for my certificate guys, it has pride of place in my album.
We have now used Emperor Divers for three trips to Hurghada and two trips to Marsa Alam and cannot praise both 'teams' highly enough. We used a German-based dive centre at our hotel in Hurghada on our trip in December 2007 as a one-off, but both decided we preferred diving with Emperor! My comment at the time to my hubby was "I've tried the rest, in future I'll dive with the best!"
Maureen Colbert, Newport, England July 2009
I have to say that both Carmen and Sarah on the Reservations team are extremely efficient in the way they go about things and it's always a pleasure dealing with you. I don't think I'll ever use any other dive company and would highly recommend Emperor to anyone who expressed an interest in diving, whether they'd been before or were just starting out. Myself, my brother Dave and best mate Alex are hoping to do a liveaboard next May, and we've tentatively been offered a week on your Elite boat concentrating on wrecks (hence I'm doing the Nitrox course), so we're hoping that it comes off. Even if doesn't, we'll certainly dive with you again next spring, that's for sure!
So again, sincere thanks for being so easy and charming to deal with.
Nick Ford, London, England July 2009
Simon Ward, Penglais School in Aberystwyth July 2009
Firstly, can I take this opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude towards yourself and all your team for giving myself, Louise and more importantly my students such an unforgettable week? Even as we approached school at 5.00am on Sunday morning they were still buzzing about their week and their achievements.
Can I especially thank Matt, Dawn and Donna? Their professionalism, good humour, considerable stamina and enthusiasm shone through all week and meant that even students, whom early on in the week look doubtful, came away with their PADI certification and enduring memories. Please pass on my thanks and forward this email to Duncan if you wish, as they did a fantastic job!
Last week was incredibly rewarding and enjoyable, I am already starting to plan our next trip with you, so will be out soon to start the whole process all over again. Until then, take care, say hi to the team and once again thank you so much for everything you and the team did last week.
Huw Singer, Rougemont School, Cardiff, South Wales June 2009
We had a very enjoyable trip to Sharm with fantastic diving. Before we visit Sharm we always request that Tammi is our guide as we always feel that we receive an excellent service from her and her briefings are superb. When she gave the briefing for our night dive she spoke about watching out for an octopus and how it would disguise itself and try to sit still but couldn't because it was a fidget. And how true this was! We saw the octopus and saw it fidget despite its best efforts to camouflage itself. How good a guide is that!
We were on Shorouk for our 5 days and I must say that the crew were fantastic and made our time on the boat very enjoyable and entertaining. The crew just didn't stop working and everything was pristine. Attention to detail was exceptional as the crew remembered only after one day who was using din fittings and what fins belonged to whom. David and I used din and every morning there were three tanks each lined up for us above our boxes as well as the rest of our party. There were a few of our group who had never been to Sharm before so we were very pleased when everyone, without exception, had an exceptionally enjoyable experience.
Please pass our thanks onto Tammi for looking after us and making everyone's holiday so enjoyable. Special thanks are sent from Vikki as Tammi looked after her on each of her dives (Vikki was the least experienced of our group only having done approx 15 dives prior to our trip).
God willing we will return next year.
Eva McIlwaine, Essex May 2009
Aquadreams Dive Club
We have a very pleasant time with our diving team in the Coral Beach Hotel in Marsa Alam. Our E & C diving team visit from 1995 every year Egypt, I have most of the time a group between 10 to 20 members and doing hotel/boat diving or liveaboard, the last 8 years most of with Emperor Divers. We did the same trip in 2007 and we have than lot of good diving with your organisation, so my request on the travel agency was also "with Emperor".
The service, the quality is good and for all, the safety is on a high level. In the Netherlands Emperor is known as a good organisation.
Cor Schaap & Lucia Bakker, Utrecht, Netherlands May 2009
E & C Duikteam
My wife, Joan, and I have just returned home after a week's diving with Emperor at the Coral Hilton, Nuweiba. The team there is great; excellent ambassadors for Emperor. We had a really enjoyable experience (which we didn't have the last time we dived there in 2002). Our last dive of the week, on the House Reef, was with Jim and it was terrific. I think Jim must have been born under water at the reef, he knows it so well. He showed us things we hadn't seen before, and we've seen plenty. I think he knows every creature by their first name, which of course added so much to our experience. We look forward to the next Emperor newsletter, as I think he'll be telling you all about the three stonefish!
We have dived with Emperor on five separate occasions and did our PADI AOW with you in 2000 with instructor, Denise Fletcher.
George and Joan Houghton, Southport, England May 2009
Once again Emperor has given us a fantastic holiday. We spent 2 weeks at Marsa Alam at the Marina Lodge and I would like to say thanks to all the Emperor staff especially Nick, Dinky and Sarah and Amanda for helping my wife spend more of my salary. The diving was terrific especially the snorkelling with the dolphins. I would recommend Marina Lodge to all divers; it's great to just be able to walk onto the boats straight from the hotel. Although there isn't a lot to do for non divers we loved it because of the nice friendly quiet atmosphere and made some good friends. The two Dave's and Olive and Christine.
We are definitely going back there having already done Sharm and Hurghada we thought this was better and again our third booking with Emperor Divers.
Jim and Eileen Warren, Wiltshire, England May 2009
This was my second year in Sharm and my second lot of dive's using Emperor Divers. I came back to use them because of the very professional way they run things. I had a very enjoyable time and if my wife and I come again to Sharm, I will be booking my future dives with Emperor. I had a great time on the day boats. I was ill for three days (flu) and had to cut down my dives from five days to four. The people at the dive club were great and very accommodating. I was left with a feeling I had made new friends there. Many thanks to Laura, Twinky (you know who you are), Dennis and Arni. They made my dives very interesting.
With Arni I saw my first Dolphins and Manta Ray. I got a great photo of a Leatherback Turtle too. I will be coming back with my full semi dry suit next time. Take Care and good diving.
Kelvin Leatherbarrow, Chorley, England May 2009
Thank you for the wonderful week diving in Hurghada. The weather was good, but Emperor Divers did also a very, very good job. But one BIG thanks for Hilde. Without her it was a different week. We all (10 pers) can't thank her enough. The sun was shining but on the boot and underwater she was shining more.
PS. Emperor is also free to use the pictures for whatever they want. This is the minimum we can do back for you.
Rob Holleman, Holland May 2009
What a fantastic week in Hurghada; loved every minute. Sharon you are a complete star, what an instructor. First we had a magical dive at Fanadir saw a trigger fish quite close, simply fantastic dive and I used much less air than normal, must be relaxing! It was so nice to be able to relax after all the open water training and actually being able to leave the mask on!
Then the piece de resistance - the Sunday afternoon dive at Fanuse when the dolphins put in a big show. Anna was so excited and emotional about that, she still has not stopped talking about it.
A huge thanks to everyone - really professional outfit and we also liked Captain Ahmed and the Pharos boat lads, brilliant bunch really good fun, also a really lovely atmosphere on the boat.
Anna is determined to crack the mask off routine; we will then be back in September so that Anna can finish her Open Water. I want to do my advanced Open Water and depending on how Anna goes with her Open Water she would like to do this as well.
We stayed at the Sol Y Mar Hotel, which was very reasonably priced and really superb, maybe a good lead if you need accommodation for the other divers? Highly recommended, very nice people, and very good price.
Ceri and Anna Shepherd, Godalming, England April 2009
My daughter in particular had problems with equalising her ears during the descents but our instructor Noelene went out of her way to help and after a few unsuccessful attempts Jessica, my daughter, was able to get to 18 metres! After successfully completing the course, I went on my first dive trip with Emperor Divers to the MFO Pipeline, and again as the novice, I was expertly looked after by Ute and Terry who made sure I got the best out of the dive. Thank you guys for introducing us to a new underwater world. I cannot recommend the Emperor Divers team at Nuweiba enough.
Stephen Dalton, Peterborough, England April 2009
We had a brilliant time at Nuweiba and were really well looked after by the Emperor gang there. Noelene took us under her wing and made sure that everything went smoothly for us. The only thing they couldn't fix was the thermostat on the water, we asked for it to be turned up a couple of degrees but apparently the thermostat was broken. Please pass on our thanks for all their help and for accommodating all our needs.
Jo Horrocks, Guildford, England March 2009
www.cuttlefishprod.co.uk
Just a quick note to say thanks for taking care of my booking to Sharm. It was your efforts and efficiency that convinced me to use Emperor. You did a great sales job!
I was collected every day as planned and the organisation at the centre was faultless, the equipment was also in very good order. The skippers and crews were excellent and friendly. As for the dive guides, perfect! We had some great dives with safe and competent staff. I was especially fortunate to have the most fantastic dive with Nadia seeing Dolphins and a Manta (the Manta being a first for me). A special mention also for Terry and Waleed, excellent and professional.
Dave Jenkinson, Kent, England March 2009
www.jenkinspain.com
We returned to Sharm after a break of 7 years and found the organisation at the Dive Centre excellent - everyone was so friendly. The security procedures for day diving were a nightmare but undertaken by staff without fuss and without guests really being aware of them. The crew on Kastan Sea were brilliant and our Dive Guide, Donna, has to be rated one of the best anywhere. No hesitation at all in recommending this Centre. Well done.
Margaret and Barrie Collins, Redruth, Cornwall March 2009
- Louise who helped with the booking and organisation of our week
- Amanda with meeting and greeting
- Vanessa, a very efficient dive guide with the best dive briefings one of our members has ever come across in his 25 years of diving!
- Captain Nady and his excellent crew on the Amy
- Gary, the centre manager, who successfully took our novice diver through his OD course and helped us in many ways, including sorting out my regs after they free flowed following our night dive; and also arranged for us to have a very informative trip to the local decompression facility
I would certainly recommend the resort and Emperor Divers to anyone and will be putting together a trip report (when I've completed it!) that will be available on our club website.
Kay Skinner, Canterbury, England March 2009
(Canterbury BSAC 326 - Training Officer)
Thank you all for a lovely first experience in scuba diving, Sharm. The help and information I received before travelling was excellent and always received quickly. The organisation on arrival was efficient and friendly. Could you pass on my biggest thanks to Keith who was excellent in gaining me confidence in his own unique way, without which I may not have achieved so much in 5 great dives! I shall be contacting a local club to continue this great pastime! I have already recommended you to a colleague and her family who are travelling to Sharm this Sunday and would not hesitate to continue recommending your company.
Jill Banks Howe, Hutton Rudby, England February 2009
On behalf of our group, I would like to thank and give our best wishes to all the staff at the Marina Lodge in Marsa Alam, particularly to the crew and guides on Sea Dream, which made our week a very enjoyable and pleasant experience. The general warmth and a friendly atmosphere of your staff were excellent. I look forward to diving with Emperor Divers in the near future and have no hesitation in recommending you to the other members of our club and fellow divers.
The Marina Lodge is an ideal location for diving and must also thank the hotel staff -the accommodation, dining facilities etc were very good and could find no fault.
Viv Mcdonald, Dacorum sub aqua club, bsac 0713 February 2009
www.dacorumsubaquaclub.co.uk
A big thanks to the Emperor team from Richard, Johnny and myself following our recent half-term diving holiday. It was brilliant to see many familiar Emperor faces from our trip during Easter 2008 and even more brilliant that they remembered us, presumably for the right reasons! A special thanks to Ryan, particularly for his patience in helping Johnny complete his Open Water skills and to Pete (aka John Terry - sorry Pete!) for looking after Richard and me during our PPB course and beyond, not to mention his skills and forbearance in exchanging bad jokes and insults with us throughout the week! Emperor is starting to become a 'home from home' for us and we'll definitely be back before too long to renew acquaintances and improve our skills.
Mike, Richard & Johnny Owen, Manchester, England January 2009
Firstly I would like to take the opportunity to say how much of a pleasure it was to dive with Emperor in Sharm. The staff was brilliant and the service excellent. We had a lot of fun and the sea life was tremendous. Again our thanks to Emperor Divers for a wonderful eight days of diving.
Keri Rodgers, Adliya, Bahrain January 2009
Lena and I would like to thank you for the wonderful dive experience we've made last week in Nuweiba. We have enjoyed the six dives with you very much. Even the lost fin did not spoil our good impressions as we could recover it while snorkelling above the M.O.F. Pipeline on the day of our departure.
Jan and Elena Kantorczyk, Vienna, Austria January 2009
Sophie and I would like to thank Nuweiba and all of your staff for the first class service that was provided during our recent diving holiday in November. I would like to express my personal thanks to Noeleen for the times she carried my BCD/tank to the water to save my back. Please convey our best wishes to Noleen and Chris for their wedding on the 8th Jan 09. Wendy, Sophie and I are already looking forward to the time when we can come back to Nuweiba to have another great holiday. All the very best to you all at Emperor Divers.
Sophie, Wendy and David Waterfield, Benfleet, England January 2009
Nuweiba has been one of my best weeks on holiday. The diving has been the best for a long time. Although I did three specialty courses in the week it felt like I was doing normal diving and to me that makes a good dive centre because the staff make that happen. The two best dives I did was the Blue Hole and the outside Hilton.
Jem Freeman, Berkshire, England January 2009
I just wanted to say thank you to one and all for a superb diving holiday in Nuweiba with a difference. Apart from training dives I have done very little shore-diving for pleasure - a couple in the Maldives, one in Cyprus and a couple at Soma Bay (with Emperor) and the same in Greece. So it made a great change, added to my experience (positively) and I had a great bunch of buddies to dive with during the fortnight. My wife also enjoyed the warm weather, her books and the sunbed so it was good all round. Best Wishes to you all for a continuing successful dive centre and special Good Wishes to Chris and Noeleen for a Happy Wedding Day and life thereafter.
Barry Baily, Bognor Regis, England January 2009
I have just spent a very pleasurable Christmas and New Year with Noeleen, Ute, Jim and Chris, and the boys and staff at the Hilton Resort Nuweiba, They were friendly, approachable, amenable and above all professional . They made me feel comfortable at all times and never stressed, I thank them and would recommend them to anyone.
Ken Rilatt, England January 2009
Regarding your reservations process, please accept my congratulations in providing what must be the best online booking system that I have encountered in the world of diving. I found it very understandable, easy to complete and where necessary, simple to alter. Well done! Additionally, the confirmation by the email below and the queries made support a humanised IT process, something that is not at all common these days.
We look forward to diving with you and thanks for your assistance!
Eamonn Barclay, Croydon, England January 2009
I have just spent a week wreck diving out of Hurghada. First let me say thanks to the whole team; they were fantastic in dealing with our requirements. We wanted to dive the Rosy Muller on a day boat, so they went that extra mile to ensure that we did. The boat was a semi tech boat for the week with some excellent results. Our guide Nick was excellent; very professional and knowledgeable throughout the whole week.
Derek Aughton, Salford, England December 2008
Just returned from a weeks diving with Emperor Hurghada. Once again can't fault with the experience. Nice boat, good briefings, great dives and a thoroughly relaxing time. All the staff was friendly and efficient and nothing was too much trouble. Special thanks to Cat our diver leader and the cook aboard the Pharaohs for the great grub. We will be back...
Tony, Hilary, Pete and Mndie, Leeds, England December 2008
www.fishoftheweek.com
My son (Alistair, 11 going on 12 yr) and I have just returned from enjoying, hugely, six excellent days' diving at Sharm.- all under the expert tutelage and guidance of Peter Walsh. This was my second dive holiday with Emperor and Ali's third.
We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Emperor Divers, and to Pete in particular, for all that was done for us during the period. Every one of your guides and instructors and the boats' captains and crews went out of their way to make us feel "at home" and to complement the whole diving experience.
Pete, at the risk of embarrassing him, deserves special praise. Under his expert eye, my performance, buoyancy in particular, went from near-zero to a level at which I felt comfortable; hovering(ish) beneath outcrops, holding station(ish) with him during the drifts, hovering(ish) during the 3min/5m SSs, approaching(ish) the coral very closely, etc. Ali too; his performance and buoyancy improved dramatically. Outwith the dives, Pete excelled as the perfect host, taking good care of us and going out of his way to answer our questions fully and to throw in huge amounts of interest, throughout. In summary, Pete is the consummate professional and is to be highly commended.
Once again, our thanks to Emperor and to Pete especially.
Ali says: "Thanks, Pete, for everything - see you in April. Can't wait!"
Malcolm Gamble, England December 2008
My partner and I have recently returned from an excellent time both at 1 week on Liveaboard Elite and a week day diving at Marsa Alam. In both instances we were looked after by excellent, friendly and helpful staff, including the boat crews; nothing was too much trouble nor any question too silly. I must do more diving next time to use up the energy from those gorgeous meals - how do they prepare such ample and lovely meals in a tiny galley?
All the guides were very knowledgeable and conscientious in regards to boat safety and dive sites, I have some great photos as a result from their invaluable tips. Seeing lots of turtles, the elusive cuttlefish and octopus, as well as the Hammerhead and Whale shark for good measure - what more could Santa bring you for Christmas?
We are definitely booking with Emperor for later this year - for the 5th time, the only problem is that work gets in the way of diving. Emperor is simply the best.
Please pass on our appreciation to all at Marsa Alam and Liveaboard Elite.
Paula Lane and Gavin Bennett, Farnham Royal, England December 2008
Just wanted to say many thanks for the great diving experience with yourselves at Sharm El Sheikh. My wife and I had just qualified as Advanced Open Water divers earlier this year here in England, had little experience, but the knowledge we gained with your exceptional staff was outstanding. Special thanks to Den, Pete, Alex, Tammy, Dawn and Tanya, not forgetting Carol in the office, who made our trip unforgettable and good fun, especially the EFR course!
Richard & Jackie Hardcastle, Newmarket, England November 2008
As usual the service was excellent with the Hurghada crew looking after us. Cat was great fun and looked after all our needs on board and at 'Divers Night'. Two of our divers enjoyed it so much, they’re back out in Sharm in January for 14 nights. Our next scheduled trip with you is May in Sharm (hopefully 12-24 Divers) and hope to be back out in Hurghada in October/November. Please let everyone at Hurghada now how much we enjoyed the diving and for them to keep up the good work and we hope to see them again soon.
David Normington, Clubsub (Stoke), PADI 5 Star IDC Centre, England November 2008
www.clubsub-stoke.co.uk
Marsa Alam: You should be very proud of your management, guides and crews. They were all, without exception, excellent and worked so hard to make our trip a fantastic experience.
Sarah Gates & Mike Lane October 2008
A very happy diver.
Russell Harmer October 2008
Hurghada: Thanks to the team for making our holiday a very special time. Myself and my wife, Caroline, dived with you for a week during which we completed our deep and Nitrox specialities. Many thanks to Cat for being such an excellent instructor and photographer! I'd also like to thank Mick and Petra who not only led most of the dives but were both excellent companions on board.
Dave and Caroline Morgan, England September 2008
I just got back from a great week with Emperor Divers in Sharm El Sheikh and I would like thank Denis, Walid, Tammi or Dawn (our guides). They were extremely professional and brilliant guides. They made the whole trip a magnificent experience for all Norwegians. I guess we were a rather easy crowd to handle, but they deserve all the credit. Fantastic crew. Some pictures from our trip is available at my website www.kodiak.no.
Gaute Bruvik, Norway September 2008
Hurghada: We done a dive with yous a couple of weeks ago. There was me, James, Chris and Allison. Anyway I just wanted to thank both of you for a absolutely brilliant day. We could not of asked for 2 better lads to take us for the day - the whole set-up of Emperor divers is excellent, just wish I had done more dives with yous. Anyway keep up the good work lads and I hope the both of you are there next year when I return.
Perry Brennan September 2008
The Marina Lodge - Port Ghalib & Emperor Divers
We have just returned home from the Marina Lodge, formally Coral Beach diving hotel Port Ghalib Marsa Alam. What an excellent choice for divers who want to experience the tranquillity of Marsa Alam. When we arrived at the hotel it was almost empty, people came and went over the two weeks, either on one night stop overs from liveaboards, or just returning from day boat diving.
I had read many reports about this hotel, people saying that there is nothing here to see or do and that if you weren't diving it was boring …EXACTLY, this is perfect for divers - divers' partners have the hotel to themselves all day with two pools to choose from. Read more here...
Tracie Clarke, Droitwich, England September 2008
I would like to thank you for a lovely experience at your Marsa Alam dive centre. I have been diving with Emperor for over a year now and only have great memories and happy times. Your centre is run with much love and care and is definitely a result of Gary and Lou's hands-on approach. Your staff is well trained and during my MSD I was impressed by their knowledge and ability to pass this on. Whenever I walked into the centre I always felt right at home and was always welcomed with smiling faces! I will miss the Emperor family, great diving and wonderful friends.
Maranda Van Dam September 2008
Our trip to Sharm was great and every single one of us enjoyed it. Many great memories and loads of fun. We are all very pleased with the Emperor Divers and all the organisation and dive sites that we were taken. It was absolutely great especially since we (10 divers and 2 non divers) had the boat all to ourselves during those 3 diving days and we had the chance to organise our diving sites according to our preferences along with the number of dives per day we wanted. Moreover, our guide, Alex, was 100% professional with great personality, very helpful and he only left positive impressions. This is actually my second year in a row that I visited Sharm El Sheikh and dived with the Emperors and I believe that we will be back there next year as well.
Melina Marcou, Cyprus August 2008
Seaquest Divers
The Marsa Alam trip was fantastic. It was great to have the Dive Centre on site, which always makes our life easier when running a group trip. The dive sites were very good and the beauty was that they weren't too far away. The highlight was the Green Turtles grazing on the sea grass. The crew and guides were very helpful. The food on the boat was of a very high standard offering a good variety of dishes. We will definitely be back to Marsa Alam next year.
Debbie Woods, Rochford, England August 2008
Arrived back from Sharm with a group of 15. We had a superb week with some top class diving. The boat crew (Kastan Sea) was great and our dive guides, Penny and Nadia, were excellent. The Hammerheads obliged by turning up on Jackson reef on both our visits and we also had Whale Sharks, a Silky, Grey Reef Sharks and Eagle Rays, just to mention the larger encounters.
Bryan Taylor, Tadley, England July 2008
www.bluewaterdiving.co.uk
Yet again Sharm centre did us proud. Your instructors Terry and Dave were excellent and looked after the group (school kids so not the easiest) perfectly. This trip just confirms why I use you for all my trips. I am struggling to think of any area where you could improve your service and that is why I am always happy to recommend you and return on a regular basis.
John Kirton, Bishop's Stortford College, England July 2008
www.bishops-stortford-college.herts.sch.uk
A wonderful trip to Sharm and we are currently organising two more group trips to your centre in Sharm next year. Scott and Alex were superb guides - probably the best we have ever had in the Red Sea - and that is saying something! They were superbly helpful at organising our training regime, paid great attention to customer care and made the trip special for everybody. Nick and I managed to get enough time out of our training regime to get some great pictures and really enjoyed the overnight trip to the Thistlegorm. We were the only people diving the wreck every time we went in!
Nick and Caroline, England July 2008
www.orcadivers.com
I've just returned from my first visit to Sharm and Red Sea diving. Also my first time with Emperor. A great experience all round plus winning a free rebreather try-dive in the birthday bash raffle. Everyone at Emperor was great from the guides/instructors, boat crews to the back room team. Once I got to know the procedures it was really simple to dive where I wanted the next day or have a day off for sightseeing with my non-diving wife and friends. A really big thanks to all, the guides I had - Nadia, Lindsey, Walid and Dan. All great and wrong of me to single out anyone but Walid's smile was just so infectious that you felt you must be heading for the best diving ever, and seeing the hammerheads at Jackson with Dan is something that will stay with me. Of course Aaron had the hard job of taking me for the rebreather try dive. Quite an experience for me; it's a long time since my buoyancy was so bad. I really enjoyed my diving with Emperor and will certainly plan a return visit. Would also recommend Emperor to all my dive friends wanting a Red Sea experience of the highest standard. Thanks for making a great holiday even better.
Kenny Tait, Gourock, Scotland June 2008
I would like to thank you for a lovely experience at your Marsa Alam dive centre. I have been diving with Emperor for over a year now and only have great memories and happy times. Your centre is run with much love and care and is definitely a result of your Manager (Gary Ball) and Lou's hands-on approach. Your staff is well trained and during my MSD I was impressed by their knowledge and ability to pass this on. Whenever I walked into the centre I always felt right at home, and was always welcomed with smiling faces! I will miss the Emperors family, great diving and wonderful friends.
Maranda Van Dam June 2008
Hurghada: Thank you and the team for making our holiday a very special time. Myself and my wife, Caroline, dived with you for a week during which we completed our deep and Nitrox specialities. Our many thanks go to Cat for being such an excellent instructor and photographer! I'd also like you to pass our thanks on to Mick and Petra who not only led most of the dives but were both excellent companions on board.
Dave and Caroline Morgan, England May 2008
Recently I dived with Emperor at Hilton, Nuweiba, finding a variety of fishes you so often don't see elsewhere in the Red Sea. Nice diving, nice fishes, good dive-guides. Thank you so much.
Nils Aukan, Kristiansund N, Norway May 2008
A big thank you for a really good week's diving in Hurghada, arranged at very short notice. A big thanks to Mark Lee, who we first met last year when we went with Dive Crew to El Gouna. Really helpful, very attentive and a nice guy as well - cheers mate. Great service from Regaldive from my first enquiry about this short notice trip.
Emperor Divers - well you might have had some bad press recently over the environment - I have to say I thought you were a highly professional caring outfit and at pains to avoid any damage to the environment. This was stressed by the guides on every dive. From the moment we walked into the centre to register to our departure we were welcomed with open arms and made to feel special. The staff in the centre was great and I must make comment about our two guides during the week, Paul and Mohammed. Great fun to be with, knowledgeable and so, so helpful. A nice variety of dives with wrecks and reefs and some excellent coral gardens with lots of fish life to see on long, enjoyable dives. The staff on the boats were great and the food was of high standard. We will be back to dive with you again and good luck for your up and coming 15th anniversary.
Richard and Christine Cullen, Buckinghamshire, UK April 2008
First of all I would like to thank all the staff at Emperor Sharm for making me feel so welcome. It was my first ever dive in the Red Sea and it is one I will never forget. The staff there has all the knowledge that you will ever want and need. I thought that I was OK with my buoyancy but Sammy soon sorted that out. I was floating through the water OK after his very friendly advice. Aale is a superb diver and he did well with my first ever wreck entry. It is a first time for me going abroad for a holiday and my first time flying. It was a first all round for me and Emperor only made my first time in Egypt the best I have ever had. I would like to thank Suzie, Sammy and Aale for all their support and they can certainly sort out even the oldest diver who thinks he was taught right. Patience is a by-word for these people and I can't thank them all enough. If you are considering using Emperor when you go to Egypt, I have only one thing to say to you...JUST DO IT.
Kelvin Leatherbarrow, Chorley, UK April 2008
What a fantastic time my wife and I had during our week with Emperor in Hurghada. Petra you are a star, Simon, well what a top bloke, everything was brilliantly planned, explained and executed, the dives were truly amazing, the crews on Pegasus were so helpful and very quick to make sure you were checked, double checked and safe to dive, nothing was too much trouble. The Red Sea is a gem of marine life, we are so looking forward to returning and expanding our diving with more courses at Emperor.
Howard & Sue Cliff, Northallerton, UK March 2008
Thanks for making my family trip to Sharm a great holiday. The crew on both the Mahi Tours and President 3 were brilliant (the skipper on President 3 even let my 8yr old daughter (sort of) drive the boat!). The food provided for lunch was amazing and freshly prepped on the boat. The dive guides Suzie and Dennis were especially notable for their friendly attitude, enthusiasm and professional attention to detail. I have no reason to look elsewhere for my next trip. I'll be back!
Mike Smith - Midlands UK March 2008
I have just returned from my 15th trip to Nuweiba with Emperor having done many courses with you guys. I must say that for satisfaction the under water digital photography course is the best. My wife had secretly bought it for me on our last trip in October and gave it to me as a Christmas present.
We arrived on the 3 March but due to a heavy cold I could not dive for 5/6 days luckily we were there for 3 weeks. I eventually managed to get in the water for a couple of dives and then decided to get on with the course, Steffi Diez runs the underwater photography courses there and what she does not know about taking pictures is not worth knowing. I decided to first take some pictures without any advice so I would then be able to compare them after the course, well the difference is unbelievable. For the first time I have pictures that are not blurred or blue or green but in focus with bright colours and at good angles etc etc. I did my first dive on the house reef in Nuweiba and the second at the Islands in Dahab both of which are stunning dives and great sites for photo opportunities. If you have an underwater camera and are not happy with your results, I would highly recommend this course to anybody. The results of knowing how to use a camera and the art of taking good pictures underwater gives you so much satisfaction and STEFFI DIEZ is the girl you need to speak to. Many thanks Steffi.
Steve Mullooly, Cheshunt, UK March 2008
I am really impressed with the level of customer service ED now offers - I have been diving with ED for 5 years and this is the best ever. The website is really good, bookings are easy and you have been excellent so thanks very much. ED is really putting forward some good practices, again the website is so user friendly and packed with info, and this was the first time I had used the new booking system, which was straight forward, fast, easy to use and, might I say, idiot proof.
Keith Fennemore, Suffolk & Hurghada February 2008
What a wonderful time I had with Emperor - I am a novice open water diver and was made so welcome from everyone. The boat was amazing and the crew second to none, all very helpful and the food was great! My Buddy was so patient even though my first dive made the tide go out because I sucked instead of blowing! I was lucky enough to see the most amazing green turtle that was huge and lots of amazing fish and other aquatic life, things I will remember for always! Anyone who has always wondered what diving is like must really give it a go I was fifty when I took my course and my only regret is I didn't do it years ago! So give it a go - everyone at Emperor will make you very welcome and it truly is an amazing experience and I for one will be back next year!
Maureen Walker, England January 2008
The dive experience was breath taking, I met some really nice people all madly in love with diving. I was told that the Red Sea is one of the best to dive in the world, I agree totally. I would recommend Emperor to anybody. Best Regards
Andy Lai, England January 2008
I have just returned from two weeks diving in Marsa Alam and would like to thank you for your excellent service. It is rare to meet such a great team of people and go to a dive centre that combines absolute professionalism with a genuinely friendly touch. Please be proud of yourselves. Every single member of the dive team, the reception desk, and the boat crew is a credit to themselves and to Emperor. I hope to see you again soon and will continue to recommend you to all I know.
Mike, Northampton December 2007
I had a great time and excellent dives. The operation is superb, everything ran like clockwork. Very friendly and efficient. The guides were excellent, especially Alex, Penny and Walee. Also I think it was Chris that dived the Thistlegorm , his dive brief and knowledge was superb on the wreck.
Donald Flanagan, Dublin November 2007
I have just returned from a trip to Marsa Alam staying at the Coral Beach Hotel, where I was leading a group of 14. I'm writing to say how fantastic the Emperor team was during our stay and how they made the diving so enjoyable. In particular I would like to highly commend Chris Brown, Aladino, manager Gary and the crews of 'Sea Dream' & 'Isa' for making the week so enjoyable. The planning, safety and execution of the dives were exemplary. I was particularly impressed that, as group leader, I received a complimentary night dive which was very much appreciated.
It goes without saying that Emperor Divers remain the best company in the Red Sea and I would not hesitate to recommend them to customers. The online booking procedure is very smooth, easy-to-follow and efficient, as with all things Emperor.
Sarah Iles, Iles of Diving, West Sussex November 2007
www.scubatraining.com
Got back to London after a fab two weeks in Hurghada and just wanted to let you know that diving with ReefCI was great fun and very insightful, think I'm a much better and more knowledgeable diver for it. Was great that we were often in the water first and tried to go where other divers didn't so that we weren't crowded. A marine biologist on hand to help teach and point things out was pretty good too. Thanks for all your help in organising this trip.
Dale Goosen, London November 2007
I would like to this opportunity to thank the team at Emperor Divers in Sharm for a fantastic service. I did 9 days diving and found it very well organised and the guides were top class especially Susi and Sami who I was with for most of my days. I have to mention the admin staff as well who organise all of the days diving. I always knew where and when I was diving. Again, I thank you for the fantastic diving I had on my holiday, Emperor want to be proud of the very high standards and customer focused service. I would not hesitate to use Emperor again and would recommend you to all of my dive buddies.
Tony Brown, Washington, England September 2007
May I take this opportunity to congratulate your Hurghada team for both the professional and friendly manner in which this trip was undertaken. I was the only member of a party of 4 that was diving but my husband and children remained on the boat and were looked after very well. Your staff, from the bus driver to the lady in the shop through to the boat crew and the instructors, completed the holiday of a lifetime.
The Lyles Family, Batley, England September 2007
Thank you all for making our diving holidays in Hurghada so enjoyable. We had the best holiday ever. The diving experience with Emperor was fantastic, and we felt that we gained great experience and confidence in our skills. Hugh thoroughly enjoyed doing his advanced diving course and has not stopped talking about it since. Manus had a great time on his adventure dive and is looking forward to completing the advanced dive course when he reaches the old age of 12 years. Hugh and I had a great time as well and felt so fortunate that we could trust our children with the great staff from the diving centre. Please give our love to Petra, Ben, Mische, Cath, Nick and all the professional and great buddies that we met there. You all made our holiday very memorable. Hugh is doing his rescue dive this weekend in Galway..it will be very difficult to have the same standards as we experienced in Hurghada. Thanks for sending the CD we enjoy watching it and it will hopefully shorten the winter months for us. We would highly recommend you to friends and family Nora and Hugh O'Donnell, Galway, Ireland August 2007
This was our second trip to Sharm, the first being in July 2005 with a party of school children. We had a great week. All of the emails before we came out were fast, efficient and really friendly. The diving was very good, Brian and Dav were excellent guides, the President 111 was a clean boat with a great crew. I have no complaints and neither did any of our group. I am now planning next years trip, thinking of going to Marsa Alam.
Christian, Fiftybar Diving, Whitstable August 2007
www.fiftybardiving.co.uk
Having recently returned from a family diving holiday in Hurghada I would just like to thank everyone from Emperor for their professionalism and the effort they put in to ensure that everything went smoothly for myself and my children.
From the complexities of booking multiple courses for one adult and four children to the excellent staff at the dive school and on the dive boats we were taken care of and nothing was too much effort.
I want to thank all the staff with special mention to David, Petra, Mick, Lisa but especially Kat, Nick and Kerry who were excellent with my children and cared from them quite literally in sickness and in health.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this dive school to anyone with children of any age and especially with large families! And Kat thanks for playing snooker with the kids it was one of Bonnie's highlights.
Elaine De Fries, England August 2007
A huge thank you to everyone at the Coral Beach Hotel, especially the staff at Emperor Divers and the crew of the Princess Rachelle.
I have been diving with Emperor Divers ever since they started some 15 years ago. I have visited the Red Sea at least 36 times, Wendy about 20, and we had yet another fantastic diving holiday. The diving was brilliant, made even better by the friendly and accommodating staff at the diving school. A special thank you goes to our guides, Aladin, Chris and Mo for their professional approach and for putting up with us. We must also say thank you to the lovely crew of the Rachelle, who remembered us from Hurghada, and still let us on to their boat! One particular dive will stay in our memory for a very long time, and that of the other divers in our group, including the guides. We had the privilege of swimming with a dugong who decided we were friendly intruders and stayed with us for about 20 minutes, swimming to each of us in turn, so close we could have touched it (which we didn't). The dugong was joined by a baby dolphin and its mother. Wow, one of those once in a lifetime encounters.
Jackie and Wendy, England July 2007
Once again I had a fantastic time when I came back to the Marsa Alam Coral Beach. This was my third visit and again I had fantastic service both at the hotel and by the Emperor team and they really welcomed me back. As a woman travelling alone this is very important to me. My special thanks to Vanessa who so patiently helped me through my first night dive, enabling me to be confident enough to do a second - which I thoroughly enjoyed. I would also like to thank Mo, Tarik and Aladino and the boat crews who were as usual so very helpful. You really have a very special set up there and I am planning to come back again - hopefully at the end of October. Marianne Debenham, England July 2007
Two Nights in Tiran
Having just got back from two of the best week's diving we have ever experienced in Sharm, it is time to write in praise of the Emperor Team once again. For us, returning to dive each year with Emperor is like visiting good friends and family. The reception is always warm and friendly and we are very quickly made to feel at home. This was our first visit under the management of Duncan 'The Colonel' McAllister, but any fears that Emperor Sharm might have turned army barmy were quickly dispelled by the invitation to the free barbecue on the first night of our visit. The venue has been changed from the Pirates Bar and buses were laid on to ferry guests back and forth to the nearby town of Hadaba. We were entertained with good food, drink and excellent company. It was refreshing to see many, if not all, of Sharm's Emperor Staff, including 'The Colonel,' relaxing and having a good time whilst getting to know the guests. The night was great fun, especially the ceremony for the 'Dive Guide Plonker of the Week Award.' The two visits we made to the barbecue, held each Friday, contrasted greatly with the rather sedate affairs of the Pirates Bar in previous years, when maybe only a small number of staff would be in attendance.
Another welcome change has been the inclusion of a number of special dive trips to the usual itinerary available. We opted for the overnight Tiran trip. Not once, but twice - such was the fun we had. This trip is highly recommended for those wanting to experience and dive the reefs of Tiran Island without the downside of the 'congested car park' gathering that such a popular dive site produces during peak times. Meeting at the Dive Centre at 10.30am is something of a luxury in itself as it allows for an extra couple of hours in bed. The cruise out to the island is unhurried - as the name of the game is to let the early dive boats do their thing and leave the reefs for lunch as we were getting ready to dive alone. On our trips, an agenda had been set to spot hammerheads off the back of Jackson Reef when the water was sufficiently quiet of divers. We were not disappointed. Not only did we get to see hammerheads in number, but a very graceful Manta and the largest Eagle Ray we have ever encountered with a magnificent wingspan. The morning dive was followed by an excellent late lunch aboard Empress Theresa and by the time we made the afternoon dive most of the other dive boats were heading back to Naama. Then it was into the Laguna for an overnight mooring in calm water. The setting sun, casting its golden light across the island, is a sight not to be missed and definitely a must for photography enthusiasts. A night dive followed in no more than 5 metres of water around the Laguna's pinnacles, which were teeming with sub-aqua night life. We even located a sleeping turtle.
The night dive was followed by a superb dinner, which included one of the tastiest deep-pan pizzas in the Red Sea, and then to bed. The sweltering heat meant that mattresses on deck and a night under the stars was the order of the end of the day. With a sunrise as bright as a button, alarm clocks were not needed to wake us. We all got kitted up for the most important dive of the trip. Getting in the water long before any of the other boats had left the jetty meant that the island and its reefs were ours alone and it was here that we had our best encounters with the gathering hammerheads. Breakfast followed and two dives and a lunch later we were on our way back to the dive centre. Thoroughly exhausted, but with some very special memories of an altogether pleasing adventure. We were so taken with this trip that we opted for a further visit in the second week of our stay. On that occasion we weren't so lucky with our sightings - as local conditions did not allow for a dive around the back of Jackson, but the experience was memorable nonetheless.
It is good to see that Emperor Divers continue to move forward with innovative ideas to keep their guests entertained. Like us, many guests return to dive with Emperor year after year. We are convinced that it is Emperor's commitment to safety and customer enjoyment, together with the wide breadth of experience of the Emperor Team that creates the feeling that you are in safe hands when you dive with Emperor. Whilst many dive operations today appear to get by on a high turn-over of newly qualified, young, freelance guides, there can be no substitute for the reassurance and confidence that comes with the knowledge that you are diving with and being guided by an experienced and mature team. Long may it last.
Our thanks to all of our friends at Emperor, old and new, for making this the best dive holiday yet.
Alan, Nikki & Bailey Wheetman. Norfolk, UK July 2007
Our group, Rebel Divers, has just returned after a week's diving in Sharm. This is our sixth visit to Egypt, the second year with Emperor.
We were extremely impressed, once again, with the professional standards of the dive operation and the quality of the two boats that we used over the course of the week (Kastan Sea and Theresa). We particularly enjoyed the overnight trip to Tiran and, although only one of us saw a hammerhead (me!) we all agreed that it was well worth the supplement. Our dive leader Brian was excellent, giving us exactly the degree of guidance that we required but without treating us like children (unlike some I have known in the past!) All in all an extremely enjoyable and competitively priced week's diving and we will undoubtedly be returning to Emperor Divers in the future.
Jonathan Belsey, Rebel Divers, Suffolk July 2007
We undertook this trip as a formal military Level 3 (overseas) Adventure Training expedition. The rules that govern the conduct of military diving are quite strict and Emperor Sharm once again adapted themselves to us fantastically. It was great that our trip coincided with the annual 'Birthday Bash' and a tip of the hat goes to the manager out there for making it such a good week for both diving and socialising.
I would be grateful if you could pass on our formal thanks to both Denis Durrant, our guide for the duration, and Carol Powell, Operations Supervisor, for looking after us so well. This is the fourth time we have used Emperor and we were not disappointed. The service provided was exemplary and the operation both smoothly and safely run. The boat, skippered by Nasser and his team, was always spotless and well catered for and his local knowledge and boat handling ability complimented Denis' guiding to the best dive sites.
All in all, this trip has been a huge success. My soldiers have experienced an excellent range of diving in a stunning setting. Emperor, Denis, Carol and Nasser played a large part in this success for which we are truly grateful.
We look forward to continuing our relationship with Emperor and hope to run a similar expedition again next year.
Capt Dai Tamplin, 1st Regiment Royal Military Police, Germany July 2007
We have just returned from Sharm having dived with Emperor for the sixth time in the last few years. As usual a great experience made so by guides such as Tammi. The Friday night party was wonderful and it gave us a chance to meet a few other faces that are usually hidden.
Ed and Liz Pridgeon, Worcestershire, England July 2007
www.red-sea-apartment.co.uk
We had a lovely trip to Marsa Alam. I brought 9 divers + myself for a weeks diving staying in the Coral Beach and diving with yourselves. Your staff, as always, was professional, helpful and knowledgeable. The diving staff helped me find the best sites for the training I had to complete on the trip and looked after my more nervous divers very well indeed. We were also very lucky to find both Dennis the Dugong (before the bay was closed) and a pod of dolphins! Orca Divers are running a photography competition this year for photos taken on our trips abroad and in the UK and if I was allowed to enter I would surely win with some of the great shots I got on this trip. It was also wonderful to see your company encouraging divers to take part in beach and underwater clean ups. To hear instructors briefing divers on protecting the reefs etc - it goes with everything we believe in here at Orca Divers. The dive centre itself was well run and checking in, getting gear for hire and checking out was all very smooth and easy. We are now planning a liveaboard for November time with you - we just have to decide whether Northern Wrecks or Brothers will be best!
Caroline, Orca Divers, Manchester May 2007
www.orcadivers.com
Email: info [at] orcadivers.com
One word: diving with Emperor Divers Marsa Alam was superb! The organisation was very good, the dive spots were very good and the briefings from Roberta were great. If you want to see some pictures: www.zeeroos.be (foto's, and then click next to the group photo). Everybody agreed: the best organisation from the last 5 years!
Rik Baert, De Zeeroos, Deinze, Belgium May 2007
Nuweiba - thanks to Steffi, Andy, Noeleen, Chris and Paul for some great dives. We were only there for the week and had some really good dives; my daughter and her husband took their AOW with Chris and I tagged along on some of the dives. A special thanks to Noeleen for her help, especially on the last dive when I had stomach cramp; thanks also to Ahmed and Mohammed who were always there to assist. This is the first time I've dived with Emperor Divers and it won't be the last - well impressed - nothing too much trouble and everything runs smoothly from booking in to diving etc.
Martyn Miller, Hemel Hempstead, England May 2007
I have just come back from my 3rd diving holiday with Emperor and am finally writing the thank you letter I keep saying I will write! I have dived with Emperor in Hurghada where I completed my Open Water and Advanced course with the help and patience of Simon Richards! Simon has made sure I got my diving off to a good start and I can't thank him enough - although he is also responsible for starting an obsession! Then I dived with the Emperor team in Marsa Alam - again all the dive guides and team, Mo, Aladdino, Guy etc, were fabulous. I have just got back from a week in Sharm and again dived with Emperor. Denis got me through my Nitrox course and we got to see a shark! On every trip the boats, crew, food and all the Emperor staff, from booking online to the resort, have been great - and all the help is much appreciated. I have felt thoroughly spoilt. Please pass on my thanks to Simon and Denis for their efforts in getting me through my tests - and managing not to laugh to much at me when being a muppet!
Fiona Murphy, Rutland, England May 2007
Nuweiba - Thank you to Chris, Noeleen, Paul, Akmed and Beano, for a wonderful diving holiday, Beryl and I really enjoyed ourselves, again. I personally believe my diving has improved at least four-fold from before I first came to Emperor at Nuweiba in October 2006. I put this down to the professional approach to diving and friendliness of all the staff you have. Nothing ever seems to be too much trouble for anyone - also to the wonderful dive sites at and around Nuweiba.
André and Beryl Ray, Rochester, England May 2007
We look back at a very happy holiday in Marsa Alam. The boat, the crew and the divemasters Roberto and Chris were very nice and helpful. We had good dives and good reefs. Elphinstone was great and of course we were very happy with the good weather and the lack of current. We have really nothing to complain about - we saw the dugong (before the bay closed), shark, turtle, large ray, frogfish, dolphins, stonefish and much more. Next time we book directly with you, that will be much better.
Cor Schaap & Lucia Baker, E & C Duikteam, Houten, Netherlands May 2007
Thanks to everyone at Sharm for yet another fantastic diving experience. From start to finish everything was perfect and as it was the 4th time we've dived with Emperor it was like going back to meet 'old friends'. The staff at Emperor has enabled us to fulfil our dream of becoming divers, they got us through both our Open Water and Advanced courses. We would like to thank Terry Axam for his brilliant tuition, patience, wit and humour, which got us through our Nitrox course this time. We will never forget our very eventful trip to Dahab with him! Thanks also to Matt, Kevin and Osama who also made our diving fun but very informative. Just one last thing to say...WE'LL BE BACK (At Christmas - Inshallah).
Jackie & Graham Hyden, Newport, South Wales, UK May 2007
The staff at Sharm was very helpful and understanding. The assistance provided by the boat crew to all our divers was outstanding (a special mention must go to Rabir) and made for a truly wonderful week of diving. Our guide for the week, Penny, assisted/advised/endured, in fact all three! and her constant enthusiasm was displayed every day. I could not fault any of the week's events - the club and myself have nothing but praise for the staff of both Emperor and the Marcus boat and would not hesitate in recommending the location or the facilities.
Mark McGranaghan, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland May 2007
www.firesac.com
I've just returned to a rainy and windy Britain after a fantastic week of diving with Hurghada. The check in and out process was painless, with all equipment being 'fitted' and available within minutes. Mieszko helped me to refresh my skills since I qualified three years ago (I know!). A good day with two great dives in the afternoon. Nick was our instructor and guide for the week with Simon joining us for a day. Both are great dive instructors and guides, ably assisted by Liam and Adam. All are professional, approachable and friendly. Special thanks to Adam for being patient with me and my ears! The crews of Pharos and Asmaa are all very friendly and helpful. How they put on such a spread of food still amazes me. The highlight was the trip to the Thistlegorm. It took a choppy 4 hours or so to get there - but it was well worth it! The reef dives we did were brilliant too, being able to see all of the fish and corals - brilliant. It's amazing how fast an hour can go by! We had a nice group on the boat too, which made the experience even better. I don't usually go back to the same place twice, but Hurghada may be one of only two exceptions.
Ross Goodison, Bristol, UK May 2007
A fantastic week's diving in Marsa Alam. As regular Emperor customers we are well used to a great service but Marsa really blew us away. We were one of the lucky ones who saw the hammerhead on Elphinstone and have pictures to prove it. We saw turtles on almost every dive - sadly no dugong but we did swim with approx 50 dolphins. Special thanks must go to Vanessa who has the patience of a saint, to Aladdin who made our stay so much fun and to the newest member Chris who I am sure will be a fantastic addition to the Emperor team. As a family of divers it is great to have that peace of mind when booking a trip and you really do get that extra special treatment with Emperor. So to anyone who is thinking of booking their diving with Emperor I can only recommend them wholeheartedly. Until next time.
The Bradshaw Family, Preston, England April 2007
11 other divers and myself have just returned from Sharm. This is the second time in twelve months we have dived with Emperor. Once again the guides were to be commended making our week onboard the "Teresa" more than enjoyable and light hearted throughout. Dennis and Brian were a testimony to two enthusiastic divers with a real interest in the needs of the group and individuals within it.
David Atherton, England April 2007
www.just-scuba.moonfruit.com
Trip with you to Hurghada was a resounding success! Fifteen of us in the party and everyone to a man can't wait for the next trip. Can't say enough about Kat and Petra, our guides, and also all the crew on the boat. They were so much fun but damn good at the job too. We had age ranges from two 12 year olds to a retired grandad and they managed to strike just the right balance to keep us all in check, but happy with it, brilliant job. My firm, Diveworld, has used Emperor through Regaldive for a good few years and we are very rarely anything other than fully happy on return.
Steve Hird, Sheffield England April 2007
www.learn2dive.co.uk
Thank you all for another great diving trip to Hurghada. As always we were particularly impressed by the quality of the Emperor service - from guides to bus drivers, boat crews to admin - everything went really smoothly. Dad really enjoyed learning to dive - thanks Cat for your patience - despite some equalisation trouble he is still determined to keep going. I will get him in the pool soon to keep his skills up!
Once again a particularly big thank you to Simon for his exceptional guiding and for helping me out with the drysuit.
Richard Whalley, New Forest, England April 2007
I just wanted to send you a quick note to say a big THANK YOU to all in Sharm for all your help with arranging the diving for us - you were brilliant and made it so easy for us. We plan to come out again sometime later this year. Thank you once again and also to Claudia who was great and Sameh was just fantastic!
Anya & Owen, Woking & Guildford, England April 2007
During our visit to Hurghada we had a number of problems - transfers to and from the airport, hotel rooms in different blocks, removal of strap from one of my fins, loss of watch, should-have-been-retired shorty wetsuit.
I would like to say how impressed we were by the way each of these was handled. Everything was sorted immediately and, most impressive and rare, with an absolute minimum of (actually, total lack of) fuss - and without making us feel we were being a nuisance. I cannot think of another 'holiday company' (excuse the term but I can't think of another) which has been like that.
The boat crew, also, were really helpful and Cat was just superb - she quickly appreciated what we were interested in and how we liked to dive and was a brilliant, and informative, guide. In the past we have only dived with Red Sea College and we knew that would be a very hard act to follow. Emperor Divers more than 'followed' it and will be the company of choice for us now.
Andy & Eve Blanshard, Huddersfield, England April 2007
Seonaidh is really pleased with the dives she did and what she saw, which was what I hoped for on this trip to Marsa Alam. As she builds her self-confidence as a diver she will I am sure experience fewer problems with her ears. I'll be off telling more people about our week and emailing some of those who were there last year in October to let them know that the dugong came out to play this time. Vanessa, Guy, Aladdin and Tariq were great company and did a great job with us throughout the week.
Anne-Marie Jamieson, England April 2007
Fabulous holiday, fabulous course, fabulous diving in Marsa Alam. It has started something off for me in particular and I am now in the process of purchasing all my own diving gear so that I can continue diving here in the UK. Of course, we'll both be returning to Egypt again and again and look forward to making more use of your services in the future.
Chris Cherrington, Swindon, England April 2007
Just returned from my second trip to the coral Beach Diving Hotel in Marsa Alam. I had booked 5 days diving and once again I had a fantastic time and was treated really well by the staff at Emperor Divers and the hotel staff. Emperor has a fantastic set up there and all were brilliant. The diving was excellent and everyone including guides and boat staff were really helpful and fun. My special thanks to Roberto, Roberta and Mano and to Philippe for showing me round the liveaboard on my last day and to Vanessa for a great last day's diving.
Marianne Debenham, Rainham, England March 2007
For the second year in a row, the service from Steffi and Andy in Nuweiba was superb and Noeleen, Chris and Paul bent over backwards to help out. Last year I described the dive centre as the best run we have ever been to on our group holidays and this year was even better. We will definitely be back again next year.
A bit bizarre seeing a Mimic Octopus, but with the frogfish going into hiding this year there had to be another highlight.
Roger Hirst, England March 2007
I have only a few words really for the crew, guides and boat I had to 'suffer' while day diving with Emperor out of Sharm...truly awe-inspiringly fantastic, and that was just the food! No really, I can honestly say that I have never been made to feel so welcome, comfortable or at ease, I wouldn't hesitate to dive with Emperor again.
Beccy, England March 2007
This trip was my first Red Sea diving holiday, the crew and the guides (Steve and Sammy) made this a fantastic week. The boat was exceptional and the care and attention given to ensuring that we all had a really enjoyable and safe diving holiday was reassuring. The dive sites were marvellous and with the quality of food served on the boat made this a really memorable holiday. Truly a really good trip.
Brian Ayling, England March 2007
We have had a wonderful vacation in Hurghada with Emperor. It was my ten-year jubilee from the first time I was diving with Emperor and I am as pleased as I was the first time. I had twelve dives and staff onboard were very nice and helpful. Special thanks to Cat and Karen. Here back in Sweden we haven't done any dives yet but the cold and murky waters are enticing as a contrast.
Henrik Sundihn & Mattias Svedberg, Karlskrona, Sweden March 2007
Got back from Sharm the other day. Due to various reasons, including high blood pressure, I hadn't dived for a couple of years and not done many dives before that. I must thank Donna for taking the time to coax me back into the water, after I had freaked. Quite frankly during the week I went from looking forward to diving, to wanting to sell all of my kit to booking another to the Red Sea in a couple of months.
If it hadn't been for Donna going the extra distance my kit would be on Ebay today.
Mike Chatwood, England March 2007
The trip to Marsa Alam was fantastic. As you probably are aware, our group did require specific needs and they were met perfectly. The school whose trip I was leading are very keen on running them on a regular basis. Thanks again for all your efforts and could you please pass on our gratitude to all your staff at the Coral Beach Hotel.
Simon Gray, London Scuba, England March 2007
I would just like to send a big thank you to everyone at Emperor for making mine and George's first visit to the Red Sea one to remember. Especially to Arni, Penny & Sarah for getting us through our open water course. A real big thanks to Sarah for persevering with George on that last dive on Thursday afternoon when he couldn't equalise (I thought we were coming back for another day) . Trying to book again for Easter so that we can do some fun dives and our advanced course all the hotels seem fairly full though. Thanks once again to a very professional outfit.
Shaun & George Cook, Flitton, England February 2007
There's not a lot I can say apart from a huge thank you! Everyone in our group had a great time, and the service we had from Emperor was excellent. The booking was handled painlessly by Laura, and all my questions were answered promptly and helpfully. Everyone out in Sharm was very helpful, and Tammi and Carol were brilliant - couldn't have asked for better people to spend a week with, and Sarah was very good and enthusiastic! Our boat (Emperor III) and her crew were great too. For a land-based holiday I wouldn't hesitate to dive with yourselves again, and will definitely recommend you to others. I can't even offer some constructive criticism!
Bob Firmin, Cardiff, Wales February 2007
www.stusoc.cf.ac.uk/suon/subaqua/
Extract from Maureen Colbert's Hurghada experience
When we arrived at the dive site, there were dolphins on the surface, but quite a distance (500 yards approx). Les still using digital camera, and getting good results. Liam guided Les and myself round the coral gardens and Les took lots of photos. Then back towards the boat, and just as we're about to ascend, DOLPHINS! About 15-20 (including babies) arrive and made our trip! Les managed to get several photos - one especially good one (below).
As the guys on the boat will testify, I was absolutely 'gob-smacked'! The dolphins were so close to us (apologies to the 20 or so divers who didn't see them), and Duncan, Tim and Cat also managed to get photos/video of them, which Duncan kindly emailed to me.All in all, we had an absolutely terrific week of diving and our thanks to Cat, Nick, Liam, Peter and the boat crew (who were great, helping me back into the boat when I struggled!) for making our diving so interesting and varied. Also our thanks to Lisa and the rest of the staff in the shop and dive centre. We enjoyed the diving so much that we're already planning a return trip.
Maureen Colbert, England February 2007
Karen and I had a great week's diving in Hurghada. Special thanks to Timia and Liam for their help, assistance, briefings and general good humour. We only started diving about twelve months ago but have done a lot of dives since then. Our time with you was very memorable.
Greg Page, Kingston, England February 2007
The guys and gals at your Sharm centre were fantastic. Although this was my fourth time diving with you, it was the first trip for the rest of our small club. The hospitality and courtesy shown by your staff was terrific, and the level of care and professionalism exemplary. We will be back as soon as possible. Please pass on my thanks to all the staff.
Bobby Kilday, Scotland February 2007
Thank you for helping me, my brother Blythe and friend Dave to enjoy a fantastic time in Sharm El Sheikh. We chose Emperor after getting several recommendations from friends that have used you recently and it's fair to say that your operation more than lived up to our expectations. I would like to compliment you on the very professional operation you run. I would especially like to say thank you very much to the dive guides we had during our six days of diving (Dennis, Cam, Sameh, Terry and Osama). They all, without fail, provided excellent, detailed dive briefings and the subsequent dives were very well led and enjoyable, apart from perhaps when I lost my camera. I have no doubt that our next dive trip to the Red Sea will involve Emperor Divers and I have already recommended your services to a friend who is planning a dive holiday to Sharm in June.
Neil Smith, England February 2007
neil.smiffy [at] btopenworld.com
Thanks to all the people that were involved in making our Sharm diving experience a memory never to be forgotten (Laura, Sarah, Anne, Donna, Matt and all the rest of the crew and staff). I will most definitely return to Sharm for another trip in the very near future. Emperor Divers will be recommended by me to anyone who wishes to go diving in the Red Sea as the manner of professionalism that is shown in every aspect of making a person's diving trip a fantastic experience.
Richard Darke, Cape Town, South Africa January 2007
We had yet another great time! Because we have a disabled diver in the group, Marsa Alam is one of the best places for us to go for him, as the facilities there are almost perfect. Phil (centre manager) was, as usual, a good host; he runs a good centre with a few key staff you should be very proud of. It is my intention to bring out another exped at Easter.
Stuart Scoorge, Bristol, England January 2007
Just another thanks for the diving we had at Sharm. Kev was a great guide, helping us through the referral stage of open water, and once free of worrying about mask removal or weight belt on the surface, the diving became an experience. Looking forward to more diving and hopefully we will return to your place again.
Keith & Julie Taylor, Liverpool, England January 2007
We had a brilliant time. The arrangements were handled by Laura, she did a fantastic job, everything went as planned. Our Guide for the week, Dennis was a star, very supportive. In fact I would like to request he is allocated to my group in Feb when we next come out. Since we joined your partnership arrangement (TUK4110) we have sent lots of people out and now have experienced our own group travelling, it has enhanced our diving options and we have received nothing but praise for Emperor's quality and delivery of service.
Chris Reed, Robin Hood Watersports January 2007
www.roho.co.uk
Just returned from Sharm and wanted to let you know how impressed and extremely pleased we were with the instruction we received from Steve Kehoe on our Open Water course. He made the whole experience more than just a learning experience; it was fun and has certainly whetted our appetites to do more diving. If we do, and we're sure we will, we will return to Sharm to do the advanced course and we will ask for Steve to be our instructor. Thanks also to Dennis and Keith who also helped make our week a better time than we anticipated.
Ray & Chris Eccleston, Wolverhampton, England January 2007