Booking Scuba Diving Hurghada with Groups: The Complete Guide

Organizing a group scuba diving trip to Hurghada is an exciting endeavor that promises incredible Red Sea adventures. The key to success lies in three pillars: securing the best group value through multi-day packages, ensuring absolute safety with a certified operator, and managing logistics proactively. Focusing on a single, reputable provider like Diving Around streamlines this process immensely. They offer transparent, all-inclusive pricing for daily boat trips, enforce strict safety ratios, and provide the services large groups need. This guide will walk you through exactly how to plan, book, and execute the perfect group diving holiday in Hurghada.

Why Choose Hurghada for Your Group Diving Trip?

Hurghada is a powerhouse destination for group diving. Its infrastructure is built for scale without sacrificing quality. The Red Sea offers famously clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life just a short boat ride from shore. For groups, this means you can access world-class diving with minimal fuss. The city has a fleet of large, comfortable dive boats designed to handle groups comfortably, complete with sundecks, shaded areas, and spacious gear stations. This makes the daily routine smooth and enjoyable for everyone, from hardcore divers to snorkeling companions.

The All-Inclusive Daily Boat Model: Perfect for Groups

For most groups, the land-based daily boat model is the ideal choice. Your group stays in a hotel or resort and goes out on daily diving trips. This offers maximum flexibility, perfect for mixed-ability groups, families, or those who want to combine diving with other holiday activities. Diving Around’s daily boat trips are comprehensive, covering transfers, guiding, tanks, weights, and lunch. Non-divers can join for snorkeling, keeping the group together. The schedule is consistent and hassle-free: morning pickup, two dives at different sites, and return by late afternoon.

The Critical Step: Choosing a Certified Dive Center

Your group’s safety and enjoyment hinge on the operator. Diving Around exemplifies the standards you must look for.

International Certification and Safety Protocols
Diving Around is certified by leading agencies. This accreditation ensures they follow globally recognized safety and training protocols. Their equipment is modern and serviced regularly. More importantly, they adhere to strict guide-to-diver ratios, which is non-negotiable for group safety.

The Essential Guide-to-Diver Ratio
For certified divers, a responsible operator maintains a maximum ratio of 5 divers per guide. This small group size ensures personalized attention, safer navigation, and a better experience. For divers with fewer than 25 logged dives, Egyptian regulations require guided diving. As the organizer, you must provide accurate experience levels so the center can plan guide allocation and group segmentation effectively.

Multilingual Support and Inclusivity
A major advantage for international groups is language support. Diving Around employs instructors fluent in multiple languages, ensuring clear communication for safety briefings. They also warmly welcome non-diving companions on their boats at a reduced rate, which includes lunch and snorkel gear.

Understanding Group Packages and Pricing with Diving Around

The core value of booking as a group lies in multi-day packages. Diving Around offers transparent, tiered pricing that rewards longer commitments. Here is a breakdown of their certified diver daily boat packages, sourced directly from their website.

Certified Diver Multi-Day Packages (Daily Boat Trips)
These packages include hotel transfers, two boat dives per day with tanks and weights, a guide, lunch, and drinks on board.

Package Duration	Number of Dives	Price (EUR)	Approx. Per-Dive Cost (EUR)
2 Days	4 Dives	€ 95	€ 23.75
3 Days	6 Dives	€ 130	€ 21.67
4 Days	8 Dives	€ 170	€ 21.25
5 Days	10 Dives	€ 230	€ 23.00
6 Days	12 Dives	€ 240	€ 20.00
7 Days	14 Dives	€ 260	€ 18.57
8 Days	16 Dives	€ 300	€ 18.75
9 Days	18 Dives	€ 330	€ 18.33
10 Days	20 Dives	€ 400	€ 20.00

Source: Diving Around Package Pages

Key Takeaway: The per-dive cost drops significantly with longer packages. The 6, 7, 8, and 9-day packages offer the best value, with per-dive costs falling to around €18. This demonstrates the substantial savings achievable by committing to a longer group trip.

How to Negotiate Group Discounts
For groups of 8 or more paying divers, you should negotiate a group concession directly. The most common and valuable model is the “free spot” – for example, one free place for every seven full-paying members. This effectively gives you a discount to redistribute or use to cover organizer costs. Always discuss this when inquiring about a large group booking.

Packages for Beginners and Non-Divers
Diving Around seamlessly integrates training into group trips.

• Discover Scuba Diving (DSD): Perfect for first-timers. Includes theory, confined water practice, and two supervised shallow dives from the boat.
• Open Water Diver Course: For those getting certified.
• Non-Diver/Snorkeler Boat Fee: Companions can join the boat trip at a reduced daily rate, including lunch and snorkeling equipment.

Budgeting for Mandatory Extras and Equipment

To avoid surprises, you must factor in these costs, which are often not included in the base package.

1. Mandatory National Park Fees
This is a daily fee paid to access the Red Sea protectorate areas. It is typically €7 per person, per day. This is almost always an extra charge added on top of your package price.

2. Equipment Rental
If your group members need to rent gear, budget for this separately. Diving Around offers full equipment sets (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins) for rent. A dive computer, which is highly recommended, rents separately.

3. Nitrox and Specialty Tanks
For divers using Enriched Air Nitrox, there is usually a surcharge per tank. Larger 15L air tanks are available for an extra daily fee.

Logistics of the Daily Boat Trip

The Standard Daily Boat Routine
This is the hassle-free norm for groups. The day starts with a pick-up from your Hurghada hotel. The boat departs in the morning. After a cruise, the first dive begins. The group enjoys a surface interval with lunch, followed by a second dive at a different site. The boat returns to the marina in the late afternoon, with drop-off at your hotel. Dive sites are chosen by the captain on the day based on weather and conditions to ensure safety and comfort.

When to Consider a Private Boat Charter
For ultimate control and exclusivity, you can charter a private boat. This is justified if:

• Your group is very large (e.g., over 15 divers).
• You have a specific itinerary request (e.g., dedicating a day to a distant wreck).
• You want a customized schedule or exclusive use of the vessel.
  Charter costs are variable, but for a large group, the per-person price can become competitive with daily boat rates while offering a VIP experience.

Crafting the Ideal Group Itinerary

A great itinerary balances easy check-dives with more adventurous sites. Discuss these preferences with Diving Around when booking.

Excellent Sites for Mixed Groups:

• Erg Sabina: A perfect first dive. Shallow, sheltered, and teeming with life. Ideal for beginners and check-dives.
• Tobia Arbaa (Seven Pillars): Beautiful coral pinnacles rising from the sand. Great for all levels.
• Shaab El Erg (Dolphin House): Famous for dolphin encounters and gorgeous hard coral plateaus. A must-do for any group.
• Umm Gamar: For the advanced divers in your group. Features walls, swim-throughs, and potential pelagic action.

Planning a Wreck Dive
Wrecks like the nearby El Mina are accessible for most divers. For more advanced wrecks like the Salem Express, divers need advanced certification. The dive center will provide comprehensive briefings tailored to your group’s experience level.

Best Time to Book Group Scuba Diving in Hurghada

The Red Sea is a year-round destination.

• High Season (June-August): Very warm water and air. Boats are busier. Book well in advance.
• Shoulder Seasons (Apr-May & Sep-Nov): Arguably the best time. Pleasant air temps, warm water, and fewer crowds. Aim to book several months ahead.
• Winter (Dec-Mar): Cooler air and water. You’ll need a thicker wetsuit. Visibility is often exceptional.

Safety, Documentation, and Insurance

This is the organizer’s most crucial administrative duty.

Required Documentation for Every Diver:

1. Valid Certification Card (C-Card): From a recognized agency.
2. Dive Logbook: To prove recent experience.
3. Medical Questionnaire: All divers must complete this. THIS IS CRITICAL.
4. Physician’s Approval: If any medical conditions are declared on the questionnaire, a doctor’s sign-off is mandatory BEFORE travel.

Pro Tip: Collect and verify all medical forms weeks in advance. A diver showing up without a required doctor’s note will be prohibited from diving, with no refund.

Travel and Dive Insurance:
This is non-negotiable. Every participant must have insurance that explicitly covers scuba diving and trip cancellation. Professional centers have strict cancellation policies. Insurance protects your group from financial loss.

Conclusions: Ensuring a Successful Group Trip

Booking scuba diving in Hurghada for a group is highly rewarding. By partnering with a structured center like Diving Around, you gain a single point of contact for safety, logistics, and value. Remember to:

1. Book Early, especially for large groups or peak seasons.
2. Commit to a Multi-Day Package (6-9 days for best value) to lock in the best rate.
3. Negotiate a Group Concession for groups of 8+ divers.
4. Manage Medical Paperwork aggressively before the trip.
5. Budget for All Extras like park fees and equipment rental.
   With careful planning, your group will experience the breathtaking beauty of the Red Sea seamlessly and safely.

Scuba Diving Hurghada with Groups Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Practical Group Organizer’s Checklist

• [ ] Finalize Group Numbers: Count certified divers, beginners (DSD), and non-diving companions. Note certification levels and log counts.
• [ ] Request a Quote: Contact Diving Around with your dates, group size, and composition. Inquire about multi-day package rates and group concessions.
• [ ] Review Package Inclusions: Confirm what’s included (transfers, tanks, lunch, guide) and what’s extra (park fees, equipment).
• [ ] Distribute Medical Forms: Send the standard diving medical form to all participants. Collect doctor’s notes for ANY “yes” answers immediately.
• [ ] Secure Insurance: Verify every member has diving-specific travel insurance.
• [ ] Collect Documentation: Gather copies of certification cards and logbook entries.
• [ ] Plan Equipment Needs: Survey the group for rental gear sizes and dive computer needs.
• [ ] Make a Payment Plan: Understand the deposit and final payment schedule.
• [ ] Confirm Final Details: One week before, reconfirm pick-up times, meeting points, and the group roster.
• [ ] Prepare for Briefings: Encourage your group to listen carefully to daily safety briefings.

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