On the beach at the village are Fantasea, a two-story white house at the north end, Nesima Diving Center at the south end (tel. 64 03 20/1), which has nice facilities and rooms for divers, and Inmo Diving Center, the oldest established club in Dahab. Sinai Dive Club is at the Holiday Village Inn (usually referred to locally as the Pullman). Prices are comparable to Na’ama Bay: a 5-day pADI certification course costs US$250-280, an introductory dive US$4045, and two guided dives with full gear US$5O-55. The snorkeling is worthy as well; you can so at either end of the bay where you see waves breaking on the reefs. Trips to Blue Hole and Canyon are arranged every morning by most camps, and you can rent gear at camps or on the beach (US$4).

Other popular excursions are by jeep to the Colored Canyon (LE50 per person for a group of 6), by camel to the brackish oasis of Wadi Gnay (LE20 per person), and a one-day camel trip to Nabq (LE35-5O). Hammad the Lobster Man runs Crazy Camel Camp, and derives the moniker by taking people on night lobster-hunting trips that culminate in lobster feasts on the beach. If you want to go anywhere, ask at you camp. The Bedouin know these hills better than anyone, including those fancy Egyptian safari outfits. It’s also a tight-knit community and they’ll usually have no [rouble finding out about others who want to go to your destination. Remember that traditional Bedouin, meaning those who still drive camels instead of Toyotas, have cultural restraints against making images of people. Ask before you shoot.