Would you believe us if we told you winter was actually the best time to dive the Red Sea?
Well, perhaps not (such things are all down to personal taste, of course) but there are so many good reasons to visit the region in the so-called low season.
In fact, the only thing ‘low’ is probably the number of tourists.
Among the huge benefits of coming to Egypt out of season are a drop in prices and the chance to visit some famous sites with next-to no one around.
As Haitham, our cruise director on Emperor Superior, says: “Probably my favourite thing about the winter would be Thistlegorm with way less divers.
“It’s a good opportunity to explore the wreck details – and also the Abu Nuhas wrecks – and almost have them to yourself at times.”
That’s something Saad (our Port Ghalib dive centre manager) and Hamdy (centre manager at Wadi Sabarah) agree with. But they also feel the marine life during the winter takes some beating.
Saad says: “We get less crowded dive sites, for sure, and also some magical sunsets and sunrises.
“This time of year also gives a really good chance for spotting Nudibranchs.”
Hamdy adds: “The fish start having babies in April so the winter is a great time to see more fish mating and following each other across the reefs.”
So, there’s plenty of activity in the winter and it’s also much easier to see what’s going on – as Haitham explains.
“The visibility improves during the winter months and the conditions are normally really good. The still water and no wind make the diving easier.
“There is always a good chance of spotting pelagic species such as hammerheads in places like the Strait of Tiran.”
And don’t be fooled by the idea of it being winter and, therefore, freezing.
The water temperatures still sit at a reasonably comfortable 22°C or 71°F. It might be cooler but that is certainly not cold – added to which there are thicker wetsuits to be worn to mitigate the drop – and the lower temperatures bring with them a different kind of marine life to experience.
Indeed, some visitors find the air temperature quite pleasant compared to the soaring heats of the Egyptian summer and you can be guaranteed it is much warmer than a European winter!
So –
The temperatures are okay…
The water is glass-clear and still…
The marine world is buzzing with life…
There are fewer people around…
And it’s cheaper!
Now what was that we were saying about winter being the best time to dive the Red Sea….
Our team are always more than happy to help with any questions so if you would like to find out more have a chat with them on our website or email [email protected].