We’re delighted to have our old friend Steve from Mike’s Dive Store in London as a guest on the blog. He’s been a friend of ours for years, and it’s always a pleasure having him back. Last March he returned to visit us with his family, and we couldn’t resist asking him a few questions.
Is Sharm still worth it right now?
You’ve just returned from Sharm El Sheikh with your family in March 2026. For divers who are hesitant about travelling there right now, what did the situation actually feel like on the ground?
Totally normal, in fact a little less busy than usual, so if anything, even better.
How did Naama Bay feel compared to your previous visits? Was there a noticeable difference in atmosphere, tourist numbers, or how the destination was operating?
The bay was operating completely as normal, with plenty of people from all nationalities out and about. Like I said, if anything it felt even nicer than usual, because it wasn’t too hectic.
Why Camel?
You’ve dived with many operators around the world. What made you choose Camel Dive Club specifically, and what sets them apart from other dive centres in Sharm?
The dive centre was built from the ground up for divers. It hasn’t been repurposed from something else. From check-in to grabbing a coffee, a beer, an ice cream, or some of the best food in Naama Bay, it’s all within arm’s reach. Even the walk down to the boats takes only ten minutes, so there’s no mini-bus transfer to deal with. It’s ideal.
You’ve been coming to Camel for years. What keeps you coming back, and why did you feel confident bringing your family here?
Having worked in Naama Bay back in the early 90s, I knew even then that Camel was a cut above the rest. So when it came to my kids doing their first dives, I needed somewhere relaxed, fun, but also extremely professional and safe, and I knew Camel was the place.
Camel operates as a boutique hotel and dive club under one roof. How does that integration affect the experience compared to staying separately from where you dive?
No lengthy morning or afternoon transfers. I can’t emphasise enough what a difference this makes. Sitting in a mini-bus for an extra 45 to 60 minutes after a good day’s diving can ruin the day, if you ask me.
What “effortless” actually looks like
You describe the experience as effortless. Can you walk us through what that actually looks like day to day, from the morning briefing to the evening back at the hotel?
Camel lets you book your breakfast the evening before, so you don’t even need to think about it first thing in the morning. They simply bring it out to you, and the coffee is the best in Naama Bay, which is essential for me. Then it’s a ten-metre walk to greet your guide and head down to the boat. Even when it’s busy, the atmosphere at the club is calm and relaxed, which is exactly what you need before a good day’s diving.
It’s a ten-minute walk to the boat, easy embarkation, and the Camel boats never feel overcrowded: there’s ample space for everyone, on the dive deck, the sun deck, or in the cabin. Again, it’s calm and controlled, no stress. You just get to focus on the easy bit: the diving. Then, on the way back, it’s a walk to the hotel and deciding whether you fancy a beer or an ice cream.
A guide who feels like family
You mention your guide Muhammad Maher by name. What does having a trusted, consistent guide mean for a trip like this, especially when you’re diving with family?
He’s become part of the family. My daughter looks forward to seeing him even before we’ve booked the trip. We know how he dives, he knows how we dive, so there’s none of that initial unease of getting to know each other again at the start of a trip. Each trip just feels like an extension of the last one. And having worked in diving for over 30 years, the fact that they keep the same staff year after year says a lot about how the business is run.
The diving itself
You dived the Thistlegorm for the first time 34 years ago, and this trip you did it with your son. What was that experience like?
One of life’s great moments. I was a little wary going in, knowing how many thousands of divers have passed over that wreck over the years, but the Thistlegorm is such a huge wreck, covering such a huge area, that it was honestly difficult for me to see much damage at all, which is astounding.
A whale shark on the first dive, a dolphin on day two. How representative is that of what divers can realistically expect in the Red Sea right now?
This is the thing I love most about the Red Sea. Even without those two sightings, which I know aren’t everyday occurrences, the reef alone would have made for a great dive. But you always have the chance of encounters like that, and it only elevates the experience.
For divers who haven’t been to Sharm El Sheikh before, which sites would you say are unmissable, and why?
Ras Mohammed, the Straits of Tiran, and the Thistlegorm. Having travelled the world diving for over 30 years, I can safely say these sites are in the top ten worldwide. I actually learned to dive in the Red Sea, so for years afterwards I assumed all diving was wall diving. I then spent the next ten years diving on patch reef, always a little disappointed. When there’s nothing below you for at least 600 metres, that’s something special. And the “fish soup” you get at the Straits of Tiran and Ras Mohammed is a sight to be treasured.
Steve’s advice for 2026
If a diver came into Mike’s Dive Store tomorrow and asked whether they should book Sharm for 2026, what would you tell them?
Get booking, and take me with you!
Is there anything you’d tell a first-time visitor to Camel Dive Club to make sure they get the most out of their trip?
Just relax. You’re in the best hands. Camel will make sure you have the best trip you can imagine.
Steve’s trip is a good snapshot of what a week with Camel actually feels like on the ground: short walks, familiar faces, calm boats, and diving that speaks for itself. If his answers have you thinking about your own trip to Sharm, our team is always happy to help you plan it.
And if you’re based in London and gearing up for your own trip to the Red Sea, Steve’s team at Mike’s Dive Store is the place to go for regulators, wetsuits, computers, and advice from divers who know these reefs just as well as we do.
