You must make arrangements the night before with the manager of a hotel or tourist flat or directly with one of the “sea trips” agencies. Most hotels advertise the trip at LE40, though some charge LE3O-35; in May, June, and most of July you should be able to bargain as low as LE25. Recently, some sea trips offices have begun advertising at LE25, but rumor has it that their boats are crammed with as many tourist-sheep as possible and that they stop oniy once for snorkeling.

After a day at Geftun Island, the trick for budget travelers is planning more days of underwater carousing. Try to make arrangements with a hotelier or boat owner so you can take another trip to Geftun and see two different reefs or plan an overnight at Geftun. Prices range from LE60 to LE90 including meals; the exact price depends upon the length of the second day of the trip. Better yet, inquire about excursions to other locales, as the high traffic around Geftun Island has damaged the reefs.

Adel Shazly of Nefertiti Sea Trips, Muhammad Emad of Sunshine Sea Trips, Muhammad Awad of Red Sea Wonderland (next to Happy Home), Sally of Beach House’s Amira Diving Center, and Hosni Bakeet of Hurghada Sea Trips can each provide information, if open; several were closed in summer 1993 due to a decline in tourism. Bakeet’s office is the only one unconnected to a tourist flat. To find it, take the street running south across from the telephone office for two blocks and look right. On any snorkeling trip you can bring your own equipment or rent from the guides. Competition among the dive ships in town has brought the rates down to LE5-10perday for mask, snorkel, and fins; try any of the above sea trip offices.