Travel Information
Visas
An Egyptian Visa is necessary for visiting Egypt. The cost is £15 per
passport. If you are travelling on a non-UK passport you must arrange your
own Egyptian visa prior to arrival.
If travelling on a UK passport, visas can easily be obtained at Sharm, Hurghada, Luxor and Cairo airports on arrival. A Visa costs £15 Sterling cash at the airport and you do not need a passport photo or application form.
A Visa can be obtained personally from the Egyptian Consulate, Visa Section
at 2 Lowndes Street, London, SW1X 9ET. Telephone: 0906 5508933 for recorded
information or 020 72359719 for advice. The office is open Monday to Friday,
between 09.30 and 12.30 midday. They operate a same day collection service
between 14.30 and 16.00 hrs. Payment is by cash or postal order and a passport
photo is necessary.
Allow four weeks for a postal application. Smiley Dive can supply visa
forms if requested.
Currency
The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (LE). Do not purchase Egyptian
currency before you depart as banks are readily available at your arrival
airport and you will get a better rate there. We suggest that you take
a mixture of low denomination Sterling notes and travellers cheques.
Note that in Egypt it is not always possible for banks to provide a
cash withdrawal against your Visa card. For the Southern Dive Villages
and Wadi Lahami Dive Camp on-site payments for dive equipment hire, boat
dives etc., should be made in either Euros/US dollars cash or Euros/US
dollar travellers cheques.
Health
Please bring any personal medication, insect repellent, rehydration sachets
and sun-block. Always drink plenty of bottled water. Take extra care
with cuts and scratches as they may be tiny but the coral polyps in
the Red Sea can aggravate them, causing slow healing. To avoid infection
dry the wound after diving and apply an antibiotic spray or powder. Short
term diarrhoea is a common complaint for new arrivals to Egypt. Avoid
ice in drinks and unpeeled fruit. Clean your teeth only with bottled water.
Always check the seal is still intact. At the onset of diarrhoea drink
as much fluid as you can to offset dehydration, avoid alcoholic drinks,
take Imodium or something similar and rest. Symptoms should clear up in
less than 12 hours.
Clothing
In Cairo and Luxor modest clothing is required. In the dive resorts, however,
dress is informal. In the summer months a sun hat, sunglasses, long sleeved
cotton shirt and sun block are necessary even though you may have a cool
breeze at sea. When snorkelling it is advisable to wear a white t-shirt
to reflect the u/v rays. In the winter months, you will need warm clothing
in the evenings.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are officially required for UK residents travelling to
Egypt. However, we suggest that you check with your GP as to what they
recommend. You will also find helpful information on the Internet site
www.traveldoctor.co.uk. Useful telephone numbers include MASTA at the London
School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine (0891 224100) and the British Airways
Medical Advisory Service (01276 685040).
Climate
Egypt is in the arid desert belt and is very hot during the day, cooling
at night in summer and warm during the day but cold at night in winter
(mid November - March). Wetsuits are necessary throughout the year, normally
a one-piece 5mm in summer (or 3mm in the southern Egyptian Red Sea) and
7mm two-piece in winter. Watch for dehydration due to low humidity. Drink
far more water (bottled) than usual and add salt to meals.
Tips
We are frequently asked about tipping the crew and staff – how much,
and in what currency. We recommend a tip of about £20 per guest or the
equivalent in US Dollars or local currency for distribution amongst them
