Is scuba gear cheaper to buy in Dahab than in London?
We’re going to Dahab to do our open water and advanced courses. Is it cheaper to get a get a mask and snorkel in London, or wait to get it in Dahab?
You’ll need fins too. I’d purchase them prior to going, personally. You shouldn’t be all about saving money, you should be all about getting the best you can reasonably afford and what fits best. That gear doesn’t take up that much space in luggage and there won’t be any surprises when you get there, since preferably, you’ve already tried it out in a local pool.
is it possible in any way to breathe under water with no scuba gear or anything?
If all you need to get is a mask and snorkel, go ahead and buy it, jeeze it only costs a few pounds.
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You’ll need fins too. I’d purchase them prior to going, personally. You shouldn’t be all about saving money, you should be all about getting the best you can reasonably afford and what fits best. That gear doesn’t take up that much space in luggage and there won’t be any surprises when you get there, since preferably, you’ve already tried it out in a local pool.
References :
Gear will be slightly cheaper in Dahab then London, but the product range on offer will likely be far more limited and/or poorer quality (this was certainly the case the last time I was there, in late 2004). Also, refunds/returns will be a lot(!) more difficult.
Although you COULD go and browse the dive shops down in Sharm el-Sheikh, which have a much wider selection, this will take the best part of a day, is an expensive taxi ride (it’s about 100 km drive, each way), and you’ll have to organise it on your first evening in town, so that you can go before your course starts.
You’d be better off in all respects to just buy what you need in London. Like Bob says, mask-and-snorkel don’t take up much space/weight in your luggage, and the amount of money you’d save won’t be significant.
If you want to buy fins as well, you will need open heel fins (and boots) for diving in Dahab. Most of the dive sites–and certainly all the ‘beginner’ sites–are shore-entry, often over rocks and/or the reef table. And you REALLY don’t want to stand on a scorpionfish or sea urchins with bare feet.
NB All the dive schools I ever worked for included full gear rental (with boots) in the OWD/AOWD course fee. Having your own mask and fins will just mean you can go snorkelling on your own time–you won’t get any refund on the course price.
If you have any further questions about diving/Dahab/Egypt, please feel free to mail me through Y!A
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Worked as diveguide and later instructor (PADI # 609394) in Dahab and other parts of Egypt, 1998-2005