THE CHOICES
There are advantages and disadvantages to both shore and boat diving.. we do both.. so we know..
SHORE DIVE ADVANTAGES...
Flexibility... you can dive in morning or mid-day or afternoon and do other activities in Aqaba and elsewhere. New dive guidelines mean that a morning dive is possible and a trip to Wadi Rum in afternoon.
You have children... a boat is not the ideal place for children.. they need to run around. And you will find many divers do not "appreciate" children on a boat!
Divers/Non-Divers can both share the advantage of shore diving... the diver leaves for morning dive, non-diver partner of friend can join and snorkel or stay at Club relax read a book until the return, relaxed lunch together and then off to afternoon dive or maybe just both stay at club and relax...
Snorkelling... Well from a boat you have a long boat ride out a short time for snorkelling and a long boat ride back. From shore.. you have the whole day to go in and out as often and when you like. Plus with Seastar, you can access the 3 House reefs and join divers to other sites.. variety.
Proximity... from the shore.. between dives you have all the space of the Club and a choice of meals, toilets and hot showers (needed in winter) for males and females.. Sun beds to lie out and relax in sun or shade...
Time... From Aqaba to Seastar, 15 mins. From Seastar to furthest dive site 10 mins. You don't get sea sick on shore diving WINTER... Shore diving you come back to Club after first dive, hot shower and a something to eat. Plenty of areas out of the wind. No tossing seas! After day's divan quick ride back to town. In a boat 50mins beating =back into that cold North wind and usually choppy seas...
Flexibility...
Are you looking to make the most of your time Diving in Aqaba, then shore diving is the choice. Want to make 2 dives a day but not spend all day?? A morning dive followed by a “lunch” dive and you will be finished by 1 pm with time to return to Aqaba and have a free afternoon. OR, visit Wadi Rum in morning and return to Aqaba for 2 afternoon dives.. the choice is there..
Speed... from the Dive centre to the furthest site, max time 10 mins driving.
Safety ... from dive site to Recompression chamber in Aqaba max 20 mins
Comfort... from dive site back to centre, hot shower and shelter from the wind, from sun.. max 10 mins END OF THE DAY..from dive centre back to your hotel max 20 mins With boat diving, you are out on the boat from morning till afternoon for at least 5-6 hrs. Such a schedule does not suit everybody, especially if one is a diver and the other is not!
Aqaba diving offers perfect shore dive destination with dive sites easily accessed direct from the shore, with no long surface swims. In fact at most dive sites, 40-50 from shore entry the reef is already shelving steeply to depths of 40 m plus. Dive sites for recreational diving, whether by shore or by boat, the same sites are accessed.
In winter boat diving options can be chilly and bumpy, with a strong north wind. BUT, in the summer months a day on the boat can be a pleasant interlude.
