Sharks Bay Umbi Diving Village has grown a lot from its origins in the early 1980s. However, it still manages to keep a friendly and personal approach to diving whilst still only ten minutes from the lights of Sharm el Sheikh. Sharm residents describe the picturesque bay and Diving Village as still having the feel of how Sharm used to be before the arrival of large scale tourism. It’s a very laid-back, friendly and relaxing spot with stunning views of Tiran Island - and sometimes it can be a little surreal when you see camels walking along the beach between the cafes and the sea.
The Diving Village has a well-equipped dive centre, its own private jetty and a fleet of five boats. There is also a seafood restaurant, beach bar and a full range of water sports. There are three levels of accommodation ranging from budget View Huts, Beach Cabins to the new individually styled Bedouin Village (to be completed by March 2007). These rooms are integrated into the cliffside above the bay and all have direct sea views, most with balconies.
Another attraction is the Sinai desert with its mountains, wadis and impressive scenery – you can spend a fantastic day out enjoying the silence and beauty of the desert or even camp overnight under the million star skies.
“The house reef and beach”
The private beach has stunning views of Tiran Island as well as a beautiful house-reef with excellent conditions for divers, snorkelers and swimmers alike. It is one of the few places in the area where there is a beach with a “walk in” sea with abundant coral. Learning to dive is a pleasure here, helped enormously by their exclusive roped-off training area – no bumping into swimmers.
“Looking over to Tiran Island from the View Huts”
Sharks Bay – Sharm as it used to be
“Sharks Bay manages to retain a friendly village feel with stunning views of Tiran Island, whilst still only minutes taxi ride from the lights of Sharm el Sheikh - the best of both worlds”
Sergio Ugazio (guest of Sharks Bay for the last 8 years).
The dive centre has a professional and friendly international team of staff. All PADI courses are kept to a maximum of 5. The dive centre has two modern compressors and its own Freedom Fleet of five diving boats, four of which can be used for diving safaris. That’s the great thing about the bay – Everything is on site and therefore no long stuffy transfers to the boats – You just stroll along the beach to their own jetty.
30 minutes cruising and you are in the world class diving area of the Straits of Tiran, teeming with marine life. There you will find the steep walls, coral gardens, exciting drifts, pelagic fish, sharks and rays. The beautiful dive sites of Ras Nasrani and Ras Gamila are only 15 minutes away. The National Park of Ras Mohammed is within easy reach of the day boats and the wrecks of the Thistlegorm and Dunraven are only a few hours away.
In summer special diving trips can be arranged for 4pm to try and spot the elusive hammerhead sharks at the back of Jackson Reef in Tiran – At 4pm all the other day boats have left Tiran and you will often be on the only boat in the area.
Sharks Bay Umbi Diving Village has its own fleet of five boats, the “Freedom” series. The fleet includes 4 air-conditioned boats that can be used for diving safaris. If you want to take a boat out for a few days or a week's diving safari, this can be easily arranged – departures can be guaranteed with a minimum of 6 guests, subject to experience.
All boats have oxygen, first aid and Emergency First Response trained staff.
The city of Sharm el Sheikh is not that old. The settlement began with the Israelis in the 1970s. As part of the Camp David peace agreements the Israelis left in 1982. It was only then that a few small dive centres and hotels started to set themselves up in Naama Bay under the umbrella of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism.
The settlement of Sharks Bay can date its origins back to this period. A well known local Bedouin- Umbarak (Umbi) - started to run diving trips to the reefs of Nabq and Tiran from the bay. Born and bred on the shores of the Red Sea, he used the engine of his Land Rover to compress the air for the scuba tanks. It was a pioneering enterprise and the first Bedouin-run dive centre in the area. The facilities of the bay have moved on a long way since then but the warm Bedouin hospitality remains.
Why the name Sharks Bay? Well, there are different answers from almost everyone that was asked. Some said that until 12 years ago several species of shark did in fact inhabit the bay but others dispute this. Another Sharm veteran told us that the name derives from early tourists who used to spot what they thought were sharks but were in fact mantas or milk fish - To the untrained eye milk fish look a little like small sharks. Still other theories claimed that early fishermen used to bring in their catch of sharks from Tiran into the bay (Shark fishing is now banned in the Red Sea). Umbi tells perhaps the definitive story: In the early 1980s someone came to see him and asked him the name of the bay and without a moments thought he called it Sharks Bay as it sounded nice. Nowadays there are no sharks in the bay – they can be found mainly in the summer months in Tiran and the Ras Mohammed National Parks.
A laid back, friendly and relaxing place with some great diving
“We had the most wonderful time! Sharks Bay was fantastic – on the night we arrived it was so quiet…But by the next day there was a nice buzz...and when we ventured into Naama Bay, we left again at double the speed, and were so thankful we were not staying there! Far too busy and hectic for us…anyhow, the divemasters were fantastic! The boats are lovely, the crew so helpful, everything was so well organized, and we had 2-3 excellent dives every day with nice food on the boat.
We will definitely be going back again soon, and will be so pleased to book with Oonasdivers again…the break was exactly what we needed and wanted from our last minute holiday”.
Marita and James Neville 12 February 2007
Would you like to learn to dive? Sharks Bay is a great place to learn. All PADI Courses from Open Water to Divemaster are available. The house-reef has ideal conditions for taking your first breath underwater and it is very easy to just walk down to the beach to go for training dives where you will be introduced to the underwater world.
Courses are kept small with a maximum of 5. For all courses a minimum of one day on the boat is guaranteed. The diving centre has a fully equipped classroom but often the instructors like to teach outside in the sun so that you can work on your sun-tan as well.
If you have never experienced the magic of the underwater world before then an introductory “Discover Scuba Diving” is your starting point. It is likely to be one of the highlights of your holiday. It can be done on either our house-reef or from the boat.
This is a great way for children from 8-10 years old to have safe underwater experience with one of our instructors. The involvement of a parent or guardian is compulsory and the maximum depth is 2 metres.
If you want to experience the underwater world to see if diving is for you, or you do not have enough time to complete your full PADI course, then this is for you. In very safe conditions your instructor will brief you thoroughly and accompany you on your underwater dive. Maximum depth 12 metres
This entry level course is for those who want to get their first diving qualification but do not want to commit to the 4/5 days necessary for the full Open-Water course. Upon completion of the course you will be certified to dive to 12 metres accompanied by a diving professional.
This is the highly recommended entry level qualification. Upon completion you will be certified to dive to 18 metres with another qualified diver. It takes 4/5 and you will learn some diving theory and complete training dives in shallow water and then move into slightly deeper open water.
Takes 2 days and includes 5 Speciality dives such as deep, night, navigation, drift. The prerequisite is an Open Water qualification.
Takes 1 day and includes all medical first aid practices and CPR
This important course teaches you self-rescue and how to help others in difficulty. It takes 3 days and with some theory and several practical exercises you learn how to handle diving incidents and self-rescue. The requirement for this course is a recently (within 6 months) completed PADI Emergency First Response qualification (or equivalent) with CPR.
This is the first step in becoming a professional diver. The course takes a minimum of 2 weeks but if you would like to work within the dive industry then you should take the 4 week course which will teach you specifically how to become a dive professional.
“the new individually styled Bedouin Village”
Sharks Bay offers traditional Bedouin style and hospitality alongside modern facilities. There are three types of accommodation:
The new individually styled Bedouin Village rooms are built into the side of the cliff overlooking the bay. All have direct sea views, most with balconies. All have private bathrooms, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, television and telephone.
These wooden cabins - the front row being directly on the beach - all have private bathrooms, air-conditioning and mini-fridges.
The budget option - These bamboo huts are on the top of the cliff and have fans, shared showers and toilets and beautiful views of the private beach and Tiran Island.
The Beach Bar is a lovely place for an alfresco lunch and some fresh fruit juices. Umbi Seafood Restaurant is located right on the beach with fantastic views of Tiran Island – and it is where you will enjoy your breakfast every day. It is famous for its fresh fish and seafood dishes but also serves a wide range of other meat and vegetarian options. It is also a wonderful place to enjoy a great meal at the end the day.
The rest of the evening can then be spent relaxing in the Bedouin Tent enjoying a shisha, a beer and the sunset then moonlight over Tiran. This is the place where guests congregate at night –unless you take the short journey to sample the restaurants, bars and nightlife of Naama Bay.
There is a small supermarket for your daily needs and a couple of souvenir shops. There is also a small dive shop where you can find equipment, books and postcards and a library supplying books in many languages. Within the dive shop is an internet café.
The Sinai desert builds the land bridge between Africa and Asia. It has a very unique landscape and the fascinating Bedouin culture. High jagged mountains and steep wadis (dried out river valleys) dominate the landscape. The national park of Nabq is nearby with its oasis and mangrove stands. Coloured rock formations carved out by wind and water erosion make the Sinai one of the most spectacular desert regions.
Excursions include jeep or camel desert safaris which let you experience the vast expanse and timelessness of the Sinai desert. Trips that take you through the desert to Dahab and to St Catherine’s Monastery are also available.
| SHARKS BAY - Direct Booking - No Flights | |||
| All Seasons - Excluding February which is low season. Prices based on 2 sharing on B&B basis, 6 days diving 12 dives - includes transfers from & to Sharm El Sheikh Airport | |||
| View Huts | |||
| Diver | Non-diver | Single Supplement | |
| 7 NIGHT TOUR | £280 | £55 | Add £27 |
| Beach Cabin | |||
| Diver | Non-diver | Single Supplement | |
| 7 NIGHT TOUR | £325 | £100 | Add £30 |
| Bedouin Village Room | |||
| Diver | Non-diver | Single Supplement | |
| 7 NIGHT TOUR | £360 | £130 | Add £59 |
| Training Costs | ||
| Resort Courses | ||
| PADI Course | Duration | Cost |
| discover scuba diving | 1 dive | £42 |
| Scuba Review | 1 day | £79 |
| Open Water diver | 5 days | £244 |
| Open Water REFERRAL | 2 days | £170 |
| Advanced OPEN WATER | 2 days | £179 |
| EMERGENCY First Response | 1 day | £83 |
| Rescue Diver | 3 days | £218 |
| Nitrox course (dive for the rest of your tour with free Nitrox). | 1 day no dives | £67 |
| Specialities per dive | 1 dive | £42 |
| Boat Diver | 2 dives | £94 |
| Dive Master | 2 weeks | £430 |
| Dive master | 4 weeks | £544 |
| DIVING EXTRAS | |
| Check Dive** | £20 |
| 1 dive sharks bay | £24 |
| Thistlegorm supplement* | £59 |
| Private guide per day (booked in advance and payable locally) | €35 |
| nitrox supplement* | €6 |
| 15 litre cylinders* | €3.5 |
| snorkeller boat no equipment | £17 |
| night dive shore | £30 |
| night dive boat | £35 |
| sunrise or sunset dive | £37 |
*Added to diver price / arranged and paid locally.
**Check Dive required if you have not dived for 6 months to a year. Scuba Review required if not dived for over a year.
We can also arrange alternative accommodation such as The Hilton in Sharks Bay.
| HILTON - Direct Booking - No Flights | |||
| Guide Prices based on 2 sharing,
all inclusive board, 6 days diving
12 dives - includes transfers from & to Sharm El Sheikh Airport.
Low Season = 1 - 23 Dec, 5 Jan - 29 Feb, 1 May 0 31 July. Mid Season = 1 30 Nov, 1 - 21 Mar, 30 Mar - 30 Apr, 1 - 31 Aug, 1 Sept - 31 Oct. High Season = 24 Dec - 4 Jan, 22 - 29 Mar |
|||
| LOW SEASON | |||
| Diver | Non-diver | Single Supplement | |
| 7 NIGHT TOUR | £445 | £255 | Add £130 |
| MID SEASON | |||
| Diver | Non-diver | Single Supplement | |
| 7 NIGHT TOUR | £485 | £295 | Add £140 |
| HIGH SEASON | |||
| Diver | Non-diver | Single Supplement | |
| 7 NIGHT TOUR | £535 | £345 | Add £160 |
We can arrange your flights from Gatwick and Manchester to Sharm El Sheikh (flight days depend on the airline chosen) and we will charge a £35 handling fee for the service. Flights from regional airports, e.g. Bristol, Glasgow, etc., may be available on various days of the week depending on the airline flying schedules. Oonasdivers is fully ATOL bonded.
By Plane (Fridays)
1 day trip; depart early morning 04:00 / 05:00, pick up from Sharks Bay one hour flight to Aqaba, 2 hour by bus to Petra.
Breakfast supplied by Sharks Bay, lunch included in cost and fully escorted throughout. Usual departure on Friday but can tailor-make if availability on flights with 48 hours advance notice. TOTAL COST £255
By Bus (Tues/Weds/Fri)
Depart SB approx 22:00 / 23:00 by bus to Taba then boat to Jordan and bus and horse to Petra, full day in Petra and return to Sharks Bay approx. midnight. SB can supply breakfast box and all other meals and soft drinks included & fully escorted. TOTAL COST £170
The Sinai desert has a unique landscape and fascinating Bedouin culture. High jagged mountains and steep wadis dominate the landscape. The National Park of Nabq is nearby with its oases and mangrove stands. Coloured geological formations carved out by wind and water erosion make the Sinai one of the most spectacular desert regions on Earth.
| sinai desert excursions | |
| Dinner in the desert (includes food, soft drinks, and water) | £24 |
| Dinner and camel ride in the desert (includes one hour camel ride) | £36 |
| One hour camel ride in the desert with tea | £24 |
| One day desert diving – one dive | £48 |
| Camel diving safari – two days / one night, four dives | £104 |
| Camel desert trip overnight (min. 2 people) | £80 |
| Camel desert trip overnight (min. 4 people) | £72 |
| Water Sports - payable locally | |
| Crazy donuts | 50LE 10 MINS |
| Banana ride | 40LE 10 MINS |
| Water skiing | 100LE 10 MINS |
| Wake boarding | 100LE 10 MINS |
| Knee boarding | 70LE 10 MINS |
| KNEE BOARDING LESSON | 75LE EXTRA PER SESSION |
Wakeboarding is one of the most popular extreme sports around combining technique, agility and style with speed and fitness. Influenced by a mixture of surfing and waterskiing and is similar to snowboarding and uses only a single ski.
Easier to learn than waterskiing or wakeboarding, knee boarding has the added advantage of keeping you close to the water for when that inevitable fall happens!
Wanting to learn? - we offer individual lessons to beginner to get you started.
For only 75Le extra per session you can have an instructor present to teach you or just to give you helpful tips on how to improve your style