Basically Satu was the primus motor for this trip. She was making the first bookings already in late summer, at that time the destination was Eilat. But 11.9. changed all. Travel agency cancelled our flight and couldn't offer anything for replacement. Second try was for Hurghada, but this one was cancelled, too. That time I suggested, that we will just wait and see. We started to check web-pages where travel agencies were advertizing those last seats in the planes. That's how we finally got our own trip.
Our travel agency turned out to be Aurinkomatkat. We booked 7-day trip to Hurghada, Egypt. The cost of the week with breakfast was| The trip for 2 persons | 2 * 1795,00 = 3590,00 FIM |
| Visa | 2 * 150,00 = 300,00 FIM |
| Service charge | 1 * 40,00 = 40,00 FIM |
| Total | 3930,00 FIM (660,98 EUR) |
The discount from the normal prize was 2800 FIM (470,93 EUR), which was quite nice.
Our hotel was Aida Verdi Hurghada. It was very nice and clean place in the southern part of town. Breakfast was good with plenty of different courses. Atmosphere was quiet, no noisy discotheques.
We booked our diving trips from the hotel. In the lobby there was a desk with Ayman Ali, who was prepresenting New Sea-Ray Diving Center & Shop. It is a German-owned center and run by Walter Heil. We agreed to 35 USD (40,47 euro) per person per day for 2 dives, diveguide, tanks, weightbelt, lunch and free water/coffee/tea onboard. The transport from/to hotel was also included in the price. I had made some inquieries via internet regarding the prices of dive-trips, and they all seemed to be about the same amount.
| Dives in Hurghada December 2001 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Max depth | Averige depth | Dive time |
| Day 1 | Fanous West | 11,9 m | 8,0 m | 36'00'' |
| Tuesday 11.12. | Turtle Bay | 11,0 m | 7,6 m | 40'40'' |
| Day 2 | Abu Ramada South | 21,0 m | 12,2 m | 33'10'' |
| Wednesday 12.12. | El Aruk | 10,7 m | 8,5 m | 53'30'' |
| Day 3 | Shaab El Ergh | 16,2 m | 9,7 m | 49'20'' |
| Thursday 13.12. | Shaab Iris | 15,5 m | 11,1 m | 46'40'' |
| Day 4 | Small Giftun | 26,5 m | 15,7 m | 32'20'' |
| Friday 14.12. | Shaab Sabrina | 14,9 m | 9,3 m | 48'20'' |
| Day 5 | Fanous East | 22,3 m | 12,8 m | 44'00'' |
| Saturday 15.12. | El Fanadir | 17,1 m | 10,5 m | 47'40'' |