Arriving in Hurghada as a diver: airport, visa, money and getting to the boat

Yes, British and German citizens need a tourist visa for Egypt, and you can either buy an e-visa before you travel or a visa on arrival at the airport. Both are official; the e-visa saves a queue. These are the rules we found on official pages in November 2026 — fees and rules change, so check before you travel.

• Use only the official portal. The UK government says you do not need a visa agent, and agents often charge more than the 30 dollars.
• Bring US dollars for the visa on arrival. The UK government says cash only; the German Foreign Office also gives 30 USD, paid at official bank counters, and warns that what happens on the spot can differ. The German Foreign Office also permits the equivalent amount in euros. Confirm the payment options at the official bank counter.
• The free Sinai stamp does not apply to Hurghada. It is only for arrivals at Sharm el Sheikh airport staying under 15 days in Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba.
• Other nationalities: check your own government's travel advice and visa2egypt.gov.eg before booking flights.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive and have at least one blank page (UK government, checked November 2026). The Egyptian e-visa portal and the German Foreign Office give the same 6-month rule.

• German citizens can also enter with a Personalausweis (ID card) plus two biometric passport photos; the visa is then put on a separate sheet that you must keep and show when you leave. The German Foreign Office still recommends a passport, because not every office in Egypt accepts the ID card.
• Overstaying: the UK government warns you may be fined if your visa has expired by more than 14 days when you leave. Extensions are handled by the Egyptian Passport and Immigration offices.

Hurghada International Airport (HRG) is about 5 km south-west of El Dahar, Hurghada's old centre; the resort towns along the coast are 18 to 53 km away. Distances below are from Wikipedia's articles on each place; some are measured from the airport, some from Hurghada town.

The airport has two passenger terminals and handled about 9.6 million passengers in 2024. There is no bus or minibus straight from the terminal. If you take a taxi, agree the total fare, and whether it is per car or per person, before you get in; the German Foreign Office warns that some taxi drivers in Hurghada overcharge. Uber and Careem work in Hurghada but can be less reliable at the airport. Wikivoyage recommends a transfer arranged in advance for resorts outside town, late arrivals and travellers with luggage.

Bring some cash and a credit card: cards are usually accepted in tourist hotels and restaurants, and ATMs work best with a credit card (German Foreign Office, checked November 2026). Egypt's currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP).

• ATMs: cash withdrawals mostly work with a credit card. German debit cards (girocard, Maestro) only work at bank ATMs, and there is a daily withdrawal limit.
• Currency limits: you may bring up to 5,000 Egyptian pounds in or out. Foreign currency is unlimited, but amounts over 10,000 US dollars must be declared on arrival (UK government).
• Tipping: there is no official guide. The traveller guide Wikivoyage says fancier restaurants may add a 10–12% service charge, that rounding up a taxi fare is common, and that police and uniformed officials should not be tipped. Small notes in Egyptian pounds help.

Paying for diving with us: day trips, boat trips and courses are paid in cash on the day (courses when they start). Nothing is paid in advance and there is no deposit; cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. Liveaboards are different: a 20% deposit holds the cabin. All current prices are on our price list.

Egypt's official Telephony FAQ says foreign tourists using a foreign SIM do not owe the phone-import fee. A tourist using an Egyptian tourist SIM can receive a 90-day exemption on each visit. This is a customs exemption; your network's roaming or data charges still apply. Egypt ended the general fee exemption for imported phones on 21 January 2026, but visitors' phones kept their exemption.

• Local SIM: you need your passport to register it. Test it before you leave the counter (Wikivoyage).
• Travel eSIM: if your phone takes an eSIM, you can arrange mobile data before you travel.
• Roaming: check your home network's prices for Egypt before you fly.

We confirm bookings and pickup times on WhatsApp or by email, so working mobile data from day one helps.

Bring your certification card (or the agency's e-card), your logbook and, if you want to dive on Nitrox, your Nitrox card. That is all the paperwork our 2-dive day trip asks for. If your last dive was more than a year ago, tell us when you book: your first dive of the day is an easy check dive with your guide, at no extra cost.

• Gear: you don't need your own. A full set is €10 a day and a computer €5 a day. See rent or bring your own gear.
• Insurance: the German Foreign Office advises travel health insurance that includes repatriation, and warns that most clinics in Egypt ask for payment before treatment. Check that your policy covers scuba diving — see what dive insurance covers.
• Drones: bringing a drone into Egypt without prior Egyptian authorisation is banned, and drones are confiscated. The German Foreign Office says underwater drones, satellite phones and walkie-talkies can also cause problems without a permit.
• Your flight home: plan your last dive around it — see how long to wait before flying. Our full packing list covers the rest.

We collect you from your hotel at about 08:00 and bring you back at about 16:30; pickup and drop-off are included from Hurghada, El Gouna, Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay and Safaga. We confirm your exact pickup time when you book, because it depends on how far your hotel is from the marina.

1. Book: send the booking form on the trip page or message us on WhatsApp. Nothing is charged.
2. We confirm: a person on our team checks the boat and replies with your date, pickup time and what to bring.
3. Dive day: our driver collects you, you pay in cash that morning, and you dive with max 4 divers per guide.

The 2-dive day is €50 (normally €60), lunch included; multi-day packages take up to 10% off (price list). Partner doesn't dive? Snorkelers join the same boat for €35 with mask and fins. Never dived? A one-to-one try dive is €45.