My wife and I went to Zabargad for two weeks from 23rd April 2008 for a
diving holiday.  The Orca Dive Centre was very professionally run with a
system going that meant maximum enjoyment with minimum effort, whether
diving the house reef or on day boats. We took our own gear but the hire
equipment available was in a good condition and well maintained.
ie: Sign in for a house reef dive give them a time, check your Nitrox
in the air station and by the allotted time the resident donkey Prince
Ali will have transported your gear and air to the end of the jetty. He
brings the gear back after as well.
There were two dive boats operating when we were there, but there can be
four or more. Good standard of boats with clean toilets and the boat
lunch is very good . The chef Ali is an Ace! The Dive guides were
Egyptian, Belgian, English and German, and all were very good. One
immediately felt confident in them. Dive briefings very informative but
laid back. On the reefs we dived on, you can follow a dive leader or
with sufficient experience go with your buddy. I believe it depends on
the reefs, which are awesome! The boat crew could not be more helpful
getting you into your kit and into the water and help you on the way
out.
OK now the resort:
We were accommodated not far from the dive centre which suited us. The
room was basic but cleaned well, beds made, and towels replaced every
day. As in all hot climates we adopt a regime of wiping over surfaces
that will be touched by us with an antiseptic wipe after the cleaner has
been through. After you use the toilet use an antiseptic hand jell. One
star or five star hotels we treat the same.

On days we didn't dive we had the pool and all the sun beds to
ourselves. The same with the beach areas (out of season?)

Food: Breakfast was basic and the same as the two Egyptian hotels I
stayed at last year, so use your imagination. A mid-day meal could be
bought at the dive centre for from 3.5 to 8 euros and was good value.
The evening meal is possibly best described as predictable. Beef and
chicken and on other days chicken and beef with the occasional fish
dish. The usual things accompanied this. No one was ill from the food.
Though a couple were ill I had the impression it was not from the food.
If you feel adventurous try eating in a hut in down town Hamata (twelve
huts together). Good fish caught that day and cheap. Plus no problems
afterwards.

There were no children and no mosquitoes,  but on occasions it was Fly
Central. People were not waving at you, as you arrived for breakfast,
they were clearing the flies away.

Would we go again? Very much yes. Maybe in the Autumn this year. But I
would take a fly swot. Try Google Earth.

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