Dive Into Egypt

by Emily Ashton

View from the sea of the Hyatt Regency, Taba Heights, Egypt.

Take the plunge on a diving holiday set against the scenic background of
Taba Heights in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

Panoramic view of Taba Heights, Egypt.

Swaying precariously on the seabed, I kept my mind off what was coming up by watching swarms of fish dart in and out of the coral.

Instructor Nikki looked calm and collected as she made her way along our line, where we were trying to keep our balance and not float away or crash face-floor onto the sand. She gave my buddy the OK sign, shook his hand and turned to face me.

This was my moment. The swooshing sound of bubbles swept through my ears. I took a few deep breaths and slowly pulled the mask away from my face, grimacing as the sea trickled in, past my nose, past my eyes... I shook my head, shot to the surface and spluttered. Definitely not a natural diver then!

Breeze Restaurant and pool area, Taba Heights, Egypt.

We were on an intense five-day course to become divers in the enviable surroundings of the Red Sea, based at a dive centre in the resort of Taba Heights in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, with views stretching across the water to Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

We kitted up each morning in the sun, setting up the tanks with the help of our buddies. The girls in the group moaned a little on that first morning when it came to being assigned wetsuits.

"An extra small?", somebody asked me politely. Nice one, I thought. That was until I tried to squeeze into it and failed miserably.

"Too much breakfast?" said another diving assistant, with a grin. It was the kind of reassurance every woman could do without.

Diver amongst the coral and fish, Red Sea, Egypt.

Soon enough we were wading into the sea like spacemen, tanks on backs, wetsuits firmly zipped up and fins in hand. We gathered together in groups of four with an instructor and slowly let out the air in our BCD, the jacket that lets you go up and down.

Our heads were only just below the surface but the sensation of
breathing underwater was incredibly strange. Everyone's face seemed to be stretched into a permanent 'ooh' shape as they breathed, through the regulator, the compressed air on their back.

The glug-glug of bubbles from my mouth jostled my mask and we all
flipped around trying not to fall over and kick up too much sand.

The PADI Open Water course is carefully designed to take wannabe divers through the basics of scuba diving, with the aim of being able to dive without an instructor to the depth of 18m.

Turtle amongst the coral, Red Sea, Egypt.

It involves quite a bit of time in the classroom, leaving me some days gazing longingly out of the window at the sunny beach. There are tests and then a final exam, as well as a series of practical 'skills' to perform underwater in front of the instructor. It sounds rigorous - and it is.

The course was necessarily intense, but the feeling of accomplishment at the end overrides any annoyance about hours missed out on topping up your tan.

Of course, The Red Sea is a beautiful place to start diving, with more than 1,100 species of fish and around 1,000 miles of coral reef to explore.

There are plenty of dive centres along the Egyptian coast to choose
from, but Taba Heights has a five star centre that caters for all ages, in a secluded location.

"Nemo" in the coral, Red Sea, Egypt.

The resort itself is aimed at people who want to enjoy Egypt in
luxurious surroundings. Each of the five-star hotels lining the coast is gated and small buses taking people around the area are constantly checked by security staff.

The white sandy beaches are dotted with tasteful sun loungers and, unlike Sharm El Sheikh, the area is unspoiled by high-rise buildings and noise.

Visitors to the carefully created resort could easily take a day tour or two to nearby Mount Sinai or St Catherine's Monastery - but most tend not to. The hotels are so opulent and the staff so eager to please that a dive trip is enough of an adventure for one holiday.

Of course, one sport isn't enough for everyone - and the boys in our
group took to the golf course.

Golfer on the course with a view of Saudi Arabia in the background, Taba Heights, Egypt.

The 18-hole championship course looks a little like it would in a flashy computer game - all breathtaking red mountain ranges, stunning flat greens and wide blue ocean. Quad biking is also on offer for adventurous sorts.

The local Canyon Motors centre does exactly what you expect - takes you motoring up the canyon into the stunning mountains behind the resort. Just one day after becoming a qualified diver and I was swapping the dive mask for motor goggles. Very elegant. But the quad-biking was great fun and it was good to see the incredible scenery up close.

This isn't real Egypt, and doesn't really pretend to be. For that you
need to spend a few days in Cairo or Alexandria. But if you want a
relaxing, sumptuous break that virtually guarantees good weather, then Taba Heights is definitely worth a visit. It probably won't be your last.

Many guests at the beautiful Hyatt Regency, where domed rooms look out on to a stunning lagoon, are regular visitors. Novice divers - who, like me, might be a bit nervous during most of their stay - come away ready for more.

Emily learning how to dive, Red Sea, Egypt.

TRAVEL FACTS

:: Emily Ashton was a guest of Longwood Holidays which offers a learn to dive package at Taba Heights from £549 per person. Price includes seven nights' half board at five star Hyatt Regency, Taba Heights and includes free upgrade to sea view, 15% discount on beverages, 25% discount on treatments and Club Olympus products, five day PADI Open Water Course at Red Sea Waterworld, including all equipment.

Prices per person (two sharing and both completing PADI Open Water Course) are based on early Feb departures from Gatwick (Manchester supplement, £15).

Prices include flights, transfers, accommodation, in-flight meals, in resort rep service and all taxes & surcharges. Certification and study materials not included in price. Study material is purchased prior to departure, and it is advisable to begin reading the manual prior to starting course. Extras payable locally.

Longwood reservations: 0208 418 2525 and www.longwoodholidays.co.uk.

:: Emily was also a guest of Taba Heights resort, information available at www.tabaheights.com

:: She travelled on National Express East Coast's Leeds to London train service, with advance purchase return fares between Leeds and King's Cross, booked online, from £20 Standard Class, and from £65 First Class. Book at www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com, call 08457 225 225 or visit any staffed rail station.

:: Further images are available from The Big PRAgency, which handles PR for Taba Heights, contact Zoe Martin on 020 7380 8580 or email zmartin@bigpragency.com

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