Instant Reader Report
on AQUA SPORT / TABA HILTON (but not stayed there) in
Red Sea / TABA on
2003/05
by
DAVID SHEM-TOV , NA, UNITED KINGDOM
Report Number 030528100903799

 COZUMEL, PALAU, TURKS & CAICOS, LOS ROQUES 

Dive Conditions

Authoritarian dive leader expected strict proximity to buddy.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Escorted by dive guide Evgeny accross from Aqua Sport's Eilat (Israel)
location to their Hilton Taba (Egypt) affiliate, where we boarded a
comfortable boat.  Dive guide knowledgeable and offered detailed
briefings.  Once in the water, however, he exhibited excessive
authoritarianism which irritated some divers.  Clients were expected to
set up their own equipment and change tanks.  Assistance was offered in
climbing to boat.  Good lunch and complimentary lunch offered by friendly
boat crew.  A fair amount of small fish, but none over 1 foot.  Abundance
of healthy hard coral, but little soft coral.  Very few divers reach north
Egypt.  Many Israelis are reluctant to cross border into Egypt right now. 
Most foreign divers go further south.  Rental equipment available was a
little tatty.  Management in Eilat was very distrustful of clients and
demanded to hold on to C-cards as well as a signed blank credit card
voucher until invoice settled.  (Ignore my default ratings for
accomodation, as I was staying with friends.  Good reports from divers
staying at the Taba Hilton, which offers substantially better deals that
the Eilat hotels accross the border, and where the Taba Aqua Sport office
is located.) 

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