Aqaba

good to know

01

Diving in the Red Sea

There are just over 30 main dive sites in Aqaba, all of which are very diverse. In addition to the coral reefs, there is a sunken tank and a shipwrecked tanker to discover. We wanted to see all of this too! But we had never been diving before. So we first had to find a reliable diving school. Then this diving school also had to be willing to go on the trip to the tank and shipwreck with us... So I simply looked up all the diving schools in Aqaba and wrote to each one to find out about their prices and offers. After filtering them out, we decided on “Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers” (address: Al-Hammamat Al-Tunisiyah St. 12, Aqaba 77110). The decisive factor in my decision was that their answer was the most serious.

02

Alternatives to Diving

If you don't want to dive, that's of course no problem! You can also go snorkeling in the Red Sea. Or you can simply relax on the beach. If you feel a little uncomfortable as a woman, just try the “Berenice Beach Club”. Although there is an entrance fee, it is said to be a good place for women in particular! However, especially in Aqaba, you don't have to worry if you're a woman. Aqaba is even more liberal than the country already is. This is probably also due to the fact that Aqaba is very autonomous. The city was declared a free trade zone in 2001. From a trade perspective, different rules therefore apply to Aqaba than to the rest of the country. Which brings me to another alternative for Agaba: shopping! Thanks to the free trade zone, you can store duty-free in Aqaba. So you can sometimes save quite a bit. Either way, you'll be able to keep yourself busy in and around Aqaba.

03

Caution!

Please note that you should not dive and fly on the same day. The enormous difference in pressure puts too much strain on your ears. Therefore, please plan your diving trip so that you have some time in between. You should also refrain from diving if you have a cold. If you have a cold, you will not be able to perform the essential pressure equalization properly. This can lead to serious consequences.

04

Where to sleep

We stayed at the mass paradise2 hotel. The hotel was very cheap and clean for the price. The staff were also very friendly. So if you're looking for simple accommodation, you can't go wrong with this hotel. However, if you prefer something more luxurious, then this accommodation is not for you.