Egypt Travel Information

Vaccinations: No compulsory vaccinations are required but hepatitis A, polio, typhoid, and tetanus are recommended.

Visas for British travellers: You will need an entry visa, which can be obtained in the UK at a cost of £15 from the Egyptian Consulate, 2 Lowndes Street, LONDON, SWIX 9ET. Tel: 0207 235 9719. Open 0900-1300.

Alternatively, you can buy one on arrival in Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh. The cost is about US$15 but GBP is also accepted. As the cost of visa often changes, please check prior to departing. It's a good idea to have the correct money to hand and to buy the visa from the bank kiosks at the airports in Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh.
Note: If you are only visiting the Sinai and will not be travelling to Ras Mohammed or Cairo, then all you need is a Sinai pass, although we do advise that everyone obtains a full visa.

Taking diving equipment? Scuba equipment must be within the weight allowance allowed by the airline – usually 20kg. BCDs and bottles must be empty, properly closed and carried in the hold. Note: Some content and depth gauges and computers can be affected by low pressure. As with cameras, these should be carried as part of your hand luggage.

Climate: The diving season is year-round with visibility averaging 30m. Water temperatures range from 20ºC in the winter months to 29ºC in summer. From May to September, the air temperature ranges between 38ºC and 41°C, and from October through to April between 23ºC and 29°C. From December to February, the nights can be quite cold, but in the summer the nights are warm. July and August are the hottest months. In winter, there can often be a breeze.

Divers can use LYCRA, DARLEX or POLARTEC suits during late spring, summer and early autumn. During winter, a 5mm two-piece suit is best and for the evenings, a light sweater or jacket is recommended.

 Time: Egypt is 2 hours ahead of GMT.
Currency: Egyptian pounds or LE. £1 = 11 - 11.5 LE approx