Red Sea Elite Diving with Divers United

Red Sea Elite Diving, operating with Divers United, is a long-established centre based in Hadaba, Sharm El Sheikh. Founded in 2005 and managed by a British team, the centre has built a reputation for high service standards and a personal approach to diving.

As a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre, they are equipped to take you from your very first breath underwater through to professional instructor training. Whether you are looking for daily boat trips to local reefs or planning a multi-day safari, the centre provides the logistical support to reach the Red Sea's most iconic sites.

The centre is led by Director Gwyn, a PADI and BSAC instructor, maintaining a family-run atmosphere with over 40 years of combined experience in the industry. The team is experienced in managing both recreational divers and those pursuing professional PADI certifications.

Instruction is conducted in English, and the centre places a heavy emphasis on safety and environmental stewardship. They follow a strict non-contact policy with marine life to ensure the reefs remain pristine for future generations.

The centre provides a comprehensive catalogue of PADI training. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the Open Water Diver course, with subsequent progression through Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver.

For those looking to specialise, they offer PADI Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox courses. They also host a Shark Awareness Course for those wanting to better understand the pelagics of the region. Professional divers can train through to Divemaster and the Instructor Development Course (IDC).

For those travelling light, a full range of rental kit is available, including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, fins, masks, snorkels, and boots. Dive computers are also available for hire if you do not have your own.

Nitrox is available for use, with 15-litre cylinders offered for those requiring extended bottom times. The centre is located in Hadaba, and transfers to the dive boats are included in your arrangements.

The reefs are teeming with life, including schools of Snapper (Lutjanus), Jack (Carangidae), and various species of Grouper (Epinephelus). You will often see large numbers of Fusilier (Caesio), mackerels, and colourful reef fish such as Butterflyfish (Chaetodon) and Parrotfish (Calotomus) darting around the hard corals (Scleractinia).

During the summer months, from June to August, the area becomes a hotspot for larger predators. You can expect to see various Shark (Selachimorpha) species, including Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), oceanic whitetip sharks, and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). Large schools of barracudas and tuna (Thunnus) are also common in these high-current zones.

In the sandy areas and near the reef edges, keep an eye out for Octopus (Octopus vulgaris), blue spotted stingrays, and various species of turtle (Cheloniidae). You may also encounter Eagle ray (Aetobatus) and different types of rays (Batoidea).

Macro enthusiasts can find smaller treasures like Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani), Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda), and various species of shrimp and crab. Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) and Pipefish (Solenostomidae) often blend into the reef structure, requiring a keen eye.

Diving in the Sharm El Sheikh area involves a variety of conditions depending on the site. The local reefs near Hadaba can be calm, but sites like Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran are known for strong to very strong currents.

Drift diving is common at several of the more exposed reefs, particularly where plankton is concentrated. Divers should be comfortable managing buoyancy in moving water when visiting sites like Shark and Yolanda Reefs.