Visit Date: October 2012

Just back from Happy Life hotel Dahab.

Diver with Lagona divers, on site dive school.

They were typically German, efficient and professional, their equipment was new and in good order, the trips were well organised and Bianca at reception is very pretty.

Unguided house reef diving was the most relaxed diving I have ever done, you just wander into the centre whenever you like, they give you a tank and run you to whichever entry point you choose and pick you up 1 hour later.

Saw turtles at Lighthouse, eagle rays at Ricks Reef (snorkelling) Spanish dancers at Golden Blocks, Octopus at Golden Blocks, Moray Garden and 3 Pools

However, on the down side, they weren't particularly friendly, they were helpful if you sought them out and the dive masters were nice if you were on their trip, but except from Taz, nobody sought you out to see if you were OK, or even to sell you more trips.

There was no social aspect at all.

Consequently, you came, you dived, you left. leaving me with no sense of belonging or loyalty.

Also disappointing was the quality of the Coral Reef, which was excessively damaged largely by non-policed shore access by snorkellers and divers alike, exacerbated by bleaching, resulting in the majority of the fish having moved on.

Can't blame the dive centre, as they did care, and aren't responsible for other operators and snorkelling trips ...

But nonetheless .... I shan't go out of my way to dive here again.

Visit Date: June 2012

We stayed at the Happy Live Village from June 8 - 15. Lagona Divers are new here replacing Orca, they did a revamp of the premises most noticeable is the reception area. The rental equipment, BCD's, regulators and suits appeared to be new and everything neatly stowed . The air compressors and air tanks looked new as well.

Did the compulsory check dive at Umm Sid a few minutes drive south of the base, then Golden Blocks and Moray Garden from the jetty a couple of times on our own unguided. The Caves and 3 Pools were on the menu as well. I took a day off and my dive buddy together with only one other diver went to Gabr el Bint about an hour sailing from the Dahab Marina they thought it was great to have the boat to themselves .

On our last day we went to the Blue Hole a 40 mins drive from the base. We didn't want to start the dive from the Bells instead we entered the hole and went over the saddle on the way back we could observe a free diver clad in sort of Spider-man gear on a vertical rope at 12 m depth quite impressive. After lunch we went to Rick's Reef for our final dive, we should have insisted to go to the Canyon, we had a good day nevertheless.

There were few divers during our stay and the atmosphere was easy going a bit lax actually. We didn't encounter any big stuff except 2 large Trevallys at Golden Blocks no turtles this time. Temp. 36 - 38C during the day, underwater 25, almost no wind and calm sea.

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