Ocean College Dive Centre
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Temporarily closed until further notice
Ocean College Dive Centre
Ocean College Dive Centre
5
This location was reported permanently closed
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Unfortunately after many years of business Ocean College dive centre has now permanently closed. Haste la vista baby
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
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Ocean College Dive Centre
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
759 reviews
Excellent
697
Very good
41
Average
8
Poor
6
Terrible
7
Jason L
Oxford, UK48 contributions
Sep 2019
I've been using Ocean College since 2000, the level of service they provide has always been 1st class. The resort is quiet so over the last few years I have taken advantage of this and visited as often as possible. 2019 was no exception and I managed 3 trips away visiting May, July and September. Pleased to inform you that they catered for my needs and provided me with the service I am used to. The reefs are amazing and are flourishing, as for the marine life, Sharm continues to produce and 2019 was a great year to be in the water. Putting this into one sentence diving with Ocean College is a great experience. I will always recommend them to people wanting to scuba dive in the Red Sea. Thank you to all at Ocean College and I will see you all again in 2020!
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura OB
3 contributions
Jan 2022
I absolutely loved diving with Ocean College, I went from being a nervous open water diver to a confident advanced OW diver with them. I usually only do one or two dives on holiday, but I ended up doing nine this time – including my Nitrox cert, AOW, and a rib dive with Mostafa, and two boat dives with Mohamed (pictured) including one to Shark and Yolanda which is the most beautiful dive site I’ve seen. Both dive instructors were brilliant, very knowledgeable and calm, and enthusiastic about the dive sites which always makes diving more enjoyable. Islam on the front desk is super helpful and welcoming, and the guys who help set up the equipment work really hard. The dive site at the Sensatori is great - lots to see and so easy just to step in off the jetty, but I'd definitely recommend the boat dive to Ras Mohamed. It's a 30-minute drive to the harbour but it's so worth it, and Ocean College arranged everything so it was no hassle. Dives are priced in GBP so it might be worth taking some cash with you. My husband and I are already planning another trip to dive here again this year and we rarely go to the same place twice. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Ocean College again soon!
Written January 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo P
Basingstoke, UK10 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Staying at TUI Sensatori in Sharm, we wandered to the on site diving place, having dived elsewhere in Sharm previously. Fantastic! Complete and utter confidence in fantastic, friendly, professional staff. Islam, who does all the organisation, is terrific. Excellent English, friendly, professional, knowledgeable. Eloise was our instructor as we needed a refresher. She has lived here for 15 years and, in the words of our previous dive instructor, (who is no longer in Sharm), is experienced, extremely professional, knows her stuff, friendly and “you will be in good hands”. What better recommendation than from one equally excellent professional to another. Whether you’ve never dived before or have 200+ dives, can’t recommend them highly enough.
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
patrick f
Cardiff, UK67 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
Visited late march early april 2022. Padi aow diver with about 140 dives.
Really nice friendly staff at the dive centre .. There is a wooden base down by the beach and a much more substantial set of facilities with classroom changing rooms etc just off an access road at the left side of the sensatori hotel.
I think its really important to emphasise that things are only just starting back up for ocean college after covid and prior security concerns with the airport..
So .. its quite important to make it clear that ocean college is operating a limited service only..
They aren't currently (march/early april 22) doing any diving based on site at the sensatori hotel.. so what is available??
Well basically the mainnsite they are using is a short drive away at SHARKS BAY / just within the four seasons hotel. The team organised transfers and it was all easy.
The instructors NINO and MANO were brilliant.. so switched on and helpful.and 100% keen to ensure everyone is safe and has a good time.. cant speak highly enough re either. Would be a great time/opportunity to get certification.
The diving at sharks bay is really easy , just a sandy entrance gradually sloping to the reef virtually no current.. dives up to 30m with nice cloning fish glass fish one or two really big napolean fish a resident large moray and occasionally an angel ray.. ( unfortunately the reef could do with a litter pick, first time I ve ever said that about an egypt dive site)
The other site they took us to.was Ras um sid which is a little further along the coast.. again nice diving.
The assistants and drivers were brilliant as always.. They were so helpful. Always keen to help carry and set up kit.. real superstars.
One thing just to clarify is that at the moment Ocean college will offer courses and shore dives only and wont take you on boat trips eg to Ras Mohammed/tirana island etc etc. So if booking with this company , for experienced divers at the moment you should be aware that the offering is a little limited.
Otherwise reccomend.
Really nice friendly staff at the dive centre .. There is a wooden base down by the beach and a much more substantial set of facilities with classroom changing rooms etc just off an access road at the left side of the sensatori hotel.
I think its really important to emphasise that things are only just starting back up for ocean college after covid and prior security concerns with the airport..
So .. its quite important to make it clear that ocean college is operating a limited service only..
They aren't currently (march/early april 22) doing any diving based on site at the sensatori hotel.. so what is available??
Well basically the mainnsite they are using is a short drive away at SHARKS BAY / just within the four seasons hotel. The team organised transfers and it was all easy.
The instructors NINO and MANO were brilliant.. so switched on and helpful.and 100% keen to ensure everyone is safe and has a good time.. cant speak highly enough re either. Would be a great time/opportunity to get certification.
The diving at sharks bay is really easy , just a sandy entrance gradually sloping to the reef virtually no current.. dives up to 30m with nice cloning fish glass fish one or two really big napolean fish a resident large moray and occasionally an angel ray.. ( unfortunately the reef could do with a litter pick, first time I ve ever said that about an egypt dive site)
The other site they took us to.was Ras um sid which is a little further along the coast.. again nice diving.
The assistants and drivers were brilliant as always.. They were so helpful. Always keen to help carry and set up kit.. real superstars.
One thing just to clarify is that at the moment Ocean college will offer courses and shore dives only and wont take you on boat trips eg to Ras Mohammed/tirana island etc etc. So if booking with this company , for experienced divers at the moment you should be aware that the offering is a little limited.
Otherwise reccomend.
Written April 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ada A
2 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
The best diving experience!
Starting from the first communications until the end of the diving trip, they have been amazing, helpful, professionals and simply the best really. Ahmed helped me preparing for the trip and making it real. Manu, the best diving instructor ever was so careful, detail oriented, teaching and supervising in the best way also doing so was very funnand helpful. Thank you so much!! Not only I saw amazing Red Sea underwater life but also learned a lot and improved in my diving skills. Totally recommended!
Starting from the first communications until the end of the diving trip, they have been amazing, helpful, professionals and simply the best really. Ahmed helped me preparing for the trip and making it real. Manu, the best diving instructor ever was so careful, detail oriented, teaching and supervising in the best way also doing so was very funnand helpful. Thank you so much!! Not only I saw amazing Red Sea underwater life but also learned a lot and improved in my diving skills. Totally recommended!
Written October 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ashley H
12 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Myself and two friends have just finished a weeks diving with OC and I must say it’s great to be back. We flow direct with Enter air from the UK and spent a week enjoying sharms amazing dive sites. OC were as professional and friendly as I remembered. Great value and great week. Thanks again and hopefully I will be back soon.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nick A
11 contributions
Jan 2020
After a recommendation, I came over to Sharm El Sheikh for a diving holiday at the beginning of the year and was lucky enough to be the 2nd direct flight from the UK in a long time. The guides at the dive centre were truly amazing at the knowledge of the dive sites and professionals, down the diving detail and fun. And yes if you see a picture of a guy wearing cookie monster pants for their 100th dive thats me. It was truly a remarkable dive and not too cold for a UK diver haha. And at the beginning of the year to see some wrecks as it's not too busy either. The Million Hope and the SS Thistlegorm are some of the best wreck dives I've ever done and the marine life/corals are insanely great. I'm definitely coming back to Ocean College later in the year for some more epic diving.
Thanks an awesome time. See you soon!
Thanks an awesome time. See you soon!
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jhb
Toronto, Canada3 contributions
Serious safety incident
Dec 2018 • Friends
I was on the Noble Sehikh. We did two dives in two different places. The first dive was so much fun, professional and smooth. The second one left me shaking. I went under with the instructor Hussein (he told us to call him Sam). Once in the water he said he needed to loosen my diving jacket as it was too tight so I can breathe better (I told him it didn't feel too tight and that I could breathe fine). I just want to say that while I'm no professional, I have gone on about eight dives before, so I've got a feeling for my equipment.
Once under, he unzippped my wetsuit. I thought he was fixing something but instead he lingered and put his hand inside my bathing suit, cupping my breast. I tried to pull away but he kept it there. I zipped it back up once I got his hand out and he pulled me deeper. Throughout the dive he kept unzipping my wetsuit and trying to put his hand inside my bathing suit again to "fix" something. At one point, he was on top of me as we were at the bottom and instead of hovering, he got on top and gave me a hug while making my arms dance. I asked to go back up, terrified. I avoided him the rest of the boat ride. Another family friend was on the boat and he also unzipped her wetsuit in the water. If you're a woman and care about your safety, avoid this company at all costs.
Once under, he unzippped my wetsuit. I thought he was fixing something but instead he lingered and put his hand inside my bathing suit, cupping my breast. I tried to pull away but he kept it there. I zipped it back up once I got his hand out and he pulled me deeper. Throughout the dive he kept unzipping my wetsuit and trying to put his hand inside my bathing suit again to "fix" something. At one point, he was on top of me as we were at the bottom and instead of hovering, he got on top and gave me a hug while making my arms dance. I asked to go back up, terrified. I avoided him the rest of the boat ride. Another family friend was on the boat and he also unzipped her wetsuit in the water. If you're a woman and care about your safety, avoid this company at all costs.
Written December 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dmytro S
5 contributions
Serious safety incident
Oct 2018 • Couples
Instead of 20 mins, he was holding her underwater for 40-50 mins, which resulted into headache a dizziness. In the end, last 15 mins he was intentionally touching her in the trousers zone like 7-8 times. Every 2 mins was doing some manipulation with diving devices near her left breast, tearing to it. Also getting above her and tearing to her butt by his heap. She was disoriented and didnt realized it. I was snorkeling above them and saw everything!!! Disgusting, disrespectfull!!! Awful! Manager said he will provide another diving for free!!! Well, welcome to these great guys!
Written October 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kl48
Edinburgh, UK1 contribution
As an advanced open water diver, a holiday to Egypt obviously included diving in the Red Sea. My hotel rep recommended Ocean College as the dive centre to go with. As I was traveling with a non-diver, and someone who wasn't too keen on open water, and was on holiday for only 1 week, I only wanted to do 1 day in the middle of my holiday.
When booking, I phoned the company and specifically asked for at least 1 30metre dive (not been advanced for long so wanted experience) and was told that I would definitely get at least 1 30m dive.
Cannot fault the day itself, picked up on time, correct forms/procedures followed, kitted out with good quality things, my friend was made to feel involved and included although not diving. Boat crew were lovely and accommodating, lunch was varied and nice.
Unfortunately the dives themselves were absolutely awful. Once you are on the boat and away from the centre, you get told you will have to book another day if you want to dive anywhere good. They take you round the coast to a site 30m from the shore and dive to 15 metres with you- and then so it again the next dive!!!!
So an advanced diver who requested to get to 30m was made to dive to 15m twice, which I felt was a complete waste of money for me, and especially annoying when another boat went out with people who had paid to get another day.
I hardly feel this is fair on people who cannot dive 2 days in the holiday.
When I discussed this with my rep she suggested contacting the centre to discuss with them, and so she phoned on my behalf. The girl she got on the phone wanted to speak to me so I took the phone. I got absolutely SCREAMED at down the phone, and she was so rude to me I could not speak to her and had to hand her back to the rep. It was a very upsetting conversation. I have worked in customer service and that was AWFUL!!
So as a round up- if you are going out with ocean college- expect boring monotonous dives on the first day. If this is all you are doing, don't try and complain or your ears will end up bleeding! If you are doing more than one day, supposedly the dives in the famous locations (Ras Mahammed, Tiran, etc) are fabulous.......
When booking, I phoned the company and specifically asked for at least 1 30metre dive (not been advanced for long so wanted experience) and was told that I would definitely get at least 1 30m dive.
Cannot fault the day itself, picked up on time, correct forms/procedures followed, kitted out with good quality things, my friend was made to feel involved and included although not diving. Boat crew were lovely and accommodating, lunch was varied and nice.
Unfortunately the dives themselves were absolutely awful. Once you are on the boat and away from the centre, you get told you will have to book another day if you want to dive anywhere good. They take you round the coast to a site 30m from the shore and dive to 15 metres with you- and then so it again the next dive!!!!
So an advanced diver who requested to get to 30m was made to dive to 15m twice, which I felt was a complete waste of money for me, and especially annoying when another boat went out with people who had paid to get another day.
I hardly feel this is fair on people who cannot dive 2 days in the holiday.
When I discussed this with my rep she suggested contacting the centre to discuss with them, and so she phoned on my behalf. The girl she got on the phone wanted to speak to me so I took the phone. I got absolutely SCREAMED at down the phone, and she was so rude to me I could not speak to her and had to hand her back to the rep. It was a very upsetting conversation. I have worked in customer service and that was AWFUL!!
So as a round up- if you are going out with ocean college- expect boring monotonous dives on the first day. If this is all you are doing, don't try and complain or your ears will end up bleeding! If you are doing more than one day, supposedly the dives in the famous locations (Ras Mahammed, Tiran, etc) are fabulous.......
Written November 4, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iain Moodie
Chudleigh, UK4 contributions
Hi, please can you confirm when you will be opening? We are staying at the TUI Sensatori in October and want to dive but no point in travelling if you will still be closed. Thanks.
Iain Moodie
Chudleigh, UK4 contributions
I’ll answer my own question. I’ve heard back from Coral Sea Imperial Sensatori to say Ocean College Dive Centre does not have a Covid 19 licence to operate and so is closed until further notice. This is despite its and TUI’s website saying otherwise. So, as at 27 Sep 21, it’s closed and there is no on site dive centre at TUI Sensatori.
Andy v
Geldrop, The Netherlands25 contributions
is there a website, the one i found doesn't seem to work
thanks
Fabrizio R
Sirmione, Italy5 contributions
What's the minimum age for a short and not deep immersion?
My son (who is almost 10, only 2 months left) can't wait to try!
What activities for him apart, of course, snorkeling?
Melinda P
Budapest, Hungary178 contributions
Hi guys. we are planning to travel for diving to Egypt. We had sone OWD exam we did only 8dives. I am little bit confused which part of Egypt (Hurghada/Sharm el Sheikh/Marsa Alam) would be suitable for a diving holiday if we are beginners and we are not interested in wreck diving? We enjoy the beatiful corall reefs and colourful fishes, turtles and dolphins. We would prefer daytrips rather than liveboard.
Thanks for any help
NCC
LONDON, United Kingdom3 contributions
What is the cost of the PADI Open Water Diver Course.
I have done the Discover Scuba Course in the Maldives
and also dived in the sea with a professional.
James Perkins
Cedar Rapids, IA13 contributions
My wife and I will be staying at the Marriott Renaissance hotel next Oct and will rent equipment and dive for five days. Advanced open water, nitrox, ~275 dive ea. What arrangements are available with our hotel to get our gear, be checked out and get to and from the boats each day?
Tks
dazscuba
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK554 contributions
Hi, the dive centre will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel each day. They will take you to the dive centre on the first day to get your dive gear and each day you dive they will arrange for it to be waiting for you at each dive site.
Gustavo E
Corrientes, Argentina260 contributions
Hola, en abril estoy viajando con mi pareja a Hugardha y estamos interesados en realizar nuestra primera inmersión ya que no contamos con experiencia en buceo. Por favor necesito conocer los precios para esta actividad entre el 18 y 22 de abril del año 2.017.
Dr.Ahmed Hesham
Cairo, Egypt18 contributions
Hi, I would ask how much advanced open water padi course and how much shore dive including equipments. Thnx in advance.