Orca Dive Clubs

ORCA Dive Clubs is an established diving organisation that has been operating in the Red Sea since 1991. With a history spanning over thirty years, they have grown from a single location in Hurghada into a multi-centre network covering key diving destinations in Egypt, including El Gouna, Soma Bay, Safaga, and Marsa Alam.

The organisation is built around providing reliable access to the Red Sea's most diverse underwater environments. Their presence in multiple locations allows divers to choose between relaxed reef diving in lagoons or more demanding expeditions to famous wreck sites and deep walls.

The centres are affiliated with SSI, CMAS, and PADI, ensuring that training meets international standards across all levels. This multi-agency approach allows for a wide range of certification pathways, from entry-level courses to professional instructor training.

Communication is straightforward for international divers, with staff able to provide instruction and support in English, French, German, Italian, and Arabic. This multilingual support is particularly useful when working through technical coursework or discussing dive planning.

For those starting their journey, the centres offer specialised programmes for children and beginners, including a money-back guarantee on introductory courses to ensure confidence from the first breath underwater.

The training catalogue is extensive, covering the entire spectrum of diving. For those new to the water, courses include Try Scuba Diver, Basic Diver, and Open Water Diver. Progression continues through Advanced Open Water Diver, Deep Diver, and specialty training such as Wreck and Drift diving.

Technical and professional divers can access advanced programmes including Nitrox, Rebreather Academy, and Tec Diving. The centres also support professional development through Divemaster training and the Science of Diving. For those interested in non-traditional disciplines, Freediving courses are also available.

The Alia Soul is a renovated safari boat with a capacity for 20 passengers. It is used for dedicated diving safaris, allowing you to reach more remote sites that are inaccessible from shore-based operations.

The centres are well-equipped to handle both recreational and technical diving requirements. Shore-based facilities include dedicated drying rooms, rinsing stations, and equipment storage. For technical divers, there is specific support for sidemount configurations and rebreather units, including dedicated rebreather supports and washing tanks.

Air and Nitrox are supplied via high-performance compressors, including Bauer units at several locations. Nitrox is available in 12-litre and 15-litre aluminium cylinders, and some sites also provide 8-litre and 10-litre cylinders to accommodate sidemount divers and children. At the Concorde Moreen Beach location, electric vehicles are used to transport kit from the centre to the jetty.

The reefs are vibrant ecosystems teeming with life. You will regularly encounter large schools of fusiliers and mackerels, as well as tuna patrolling the deeper waters. Sea turtles are a common sight in the coral gardens, and leopard sharks can sometimes be spotted in the more sheltered areas.

For those with an eye for detail, the macro life is exceptional. The seabed and coral structures host various camouflaged species including lionfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, and frogfish. You may also encounter octopus or hatchetfish in the darker recesses of the reef.

The hard and soft coral landscapes are dominated by colourful gorgonians and various hard coral formations. In certain areas, such as Fanadir South, you may observe large feather-tail stingrays gliding over the sand.

Diving in this region involves a variety of environments, from shallow, sheltered lagoons to exposed reefs. Some sites, such as Bluff Point, are known for strong currents that require experienced divers to manage their buoyancy and positioning effectively.

Many of the wreck sites and outer reefs are subject to drift diving, where the current will carry you along the site. Navigating these areas requires a good understanding of your air consumption and the ability to manage your position relative to the reef or wreck.