Scorpion Dive Club

Based in Sharm El Sheikh, Scorpion Dive Club operates as a versatile diving hub with a strong presence in the region's major resorts. Whether you are staying at the Mövenpick, Sultan Gardens, or Grand Rotana, the centre provides a direct link to the Red Sea's most famous marine environments.

The club is particularly noted for its house reef, Near Garden, which allows for easy shore access. This makes it an ideal spot for those looking to squeeze in a quick morning dive, practice buoyancy control, or conduct refresher sessions without the need for a full boat trip.

The centre is a PADI affiliated dive club that focuses on professional instruction and the technical aspects of diving. They provide training for a broad spectrum of divers, ranging from the PADI Seal Team programmes for children to professional-level Divemaster training.

Instruction is available in several languages, including English, Russian, Italian, and German, ensuring clear communication during briefings and training sessions. The team is equipped to handle various specialities, including technical and deep diving courses.

Scorpion Dive Club offers a comprehensive catalogue of PADI courses. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the PADI Scuba Diver programme, eventually progressing through the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.

For those looking to refine their skills or advance their careers, the centre provides PADI Rescue Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, and Divemaster training. They also offer a variety of specialty courses such as PADI Wreck Diver, PADI Deep Diver, PADI Night Diver, and PADI Digital Underwater Photographer.

The centre operates a diverse fleet of eight vessels to suit different diving styles. For longer excursions to offshore sites, they utilise yachts such as the Queen Talia and Pearl, which are well-suited for extended time on the water.

For shorter trips or specific site access, they employ speed boats including the COX, SIFO 1, and SIFO 2. They also maintain a parasailing boat named Samar and glass-bottom boats, the Cristallo and Aqua Fun, for those looking to observe the reef from the surface.

Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their bottom time, and the centre supports a wide range of PADI specialties including Enriched Air Nitrox.

While specific compressor brands are not listed, the centre provides the necessary infrastructure to support both recreational and advanced diving requirements, including night diving kit and equipment for various specialty courses.

The reefs are home to a vast array of marine life, including colourful reef fish, angelfish (Pomacanthidae), butterflyfish, and various species of snapper (Lutjanus). You will frequently encounter schools of fusiliers, parrotfish (Calotomus), and triggerfish (Balistidae) moving across the coral structures.

Large pelagics and predators are a highlight of the area, with sightings of sharks (Selachimorpha), including reef sharks (Carcharhinus), whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus), and occasionally hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). Divers may also spot barracuda, tuna (Thunnus), and various rays (Batoidea), such as blue-spotted stingrays.

The hard and soft corals (Alcyonacea) provide a complex habitat for much of the local fauna. You will find extensive colonies of gorgonians, sea fans (Gorgoniidae), and various sponges (Porifera) decorating the walls and reef flats.

For those interested in macro life, the sites offer plenty of detail, from sea anemones (Actiniaria) hosting clownfish (Amphiprion) to various species of moray eels (Muraenidae). Look closely for scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), stonefish (Synanceia), and different types of octopus (Octopus vulgaris) tucked into the reef crevices.

The centre offers night diving, allowing you to experience the reef as the nocturnal species emerge. Most sites are accessible via boat, though the house reef at Near Garden allows for shore-based entries.

Divers should be aware that certain sites, particularly those in the Tiran Strait or near wrecks like the Thistlegorm, can be subject to currents. It is standard practice for the centre to assess local conditions before each departure.