Language: Arabic is the official language although English is widely spoken.

Climate: Generally very warm & dry! The hottest months are June to September, when temperatures can reach a maximum of 35-40°C at the Red Sea resorts or up to 50°C in Southern Egypt around Aswan.

Electrical supply: Power is rated at 220 volts, the same as the UK, however they use 2-pin sockets so you must bring an adapter in order to use your own electrical equipment.

Time: Egypt is 2 hours ahead of GMT.

Passport: A full passport is required, with at least 6 months validity remaining.

Visa: British passport holders require a Visa for entry to Egypt. This can be obtained in one of three ways:
i) Aquatours can arrange your visa for you, in which case you will be assisted through immigration without queuing. This service costs £17 from Aquatours & is available at both Sharm & Hurghada airports.
ii) You may purchase a visa on arrival. Join the appropriate queue. Cost is approx. $15.
iii) You may purchase a visa before departure from the Egyptian Consulate in London, tel: 020 7235 9777.

Additional health requirements: None required, but you should check with your GP & consult the government website 'Advice for Travellers' can be found at the Foreign and Commonwealth website here.

What to take: In addition to your usual travel items, the following may prove useful: medication for stomach upsets & diarrhoea, sun block & after-sun cream, diving certification & logbook, spares for any diving equipment (such as dive computer batteries etc.).

Tipping: You will be lucky if you get to the baggage carousel before you are accosted! Egypt is the country of 'Baksheesh'. Small tips are expected for everything & you should think of it as what 'oils the wheels'.

Currency: The Egyptian Pound (LE) is divided into 100 piastres. One British pound is worth approximately five Egyptian pounds.

Credit cards: Most major hotels, larger restaurants & larger shops accept credit cards. Most smaller shops and dive centres will not, so do not rely to heavily on your card. New Waves Dive Centre in Sharm does not accept credit cards.

Banks & ATMs: Generally open Sunday to Thursday. Opening times vary but usually open 08:00-14:00 and then open again in the evening. Most larger hotels will be able to change money for you. In Sharm El Sheikh there are Thomas Cook exchanges and various banks including HSBC. Cash machines are available in Na'ama Bay, Sharm.

Shopping: Lots of interesting souvenirs are available, including traditional handcrafts. Gold and silver are relatively cheap. Beware of bogus antiques, and be prepared to haggle for everything - you should get goods less than half the original asking price. DO NOT be tempted to purchase any dried marine animals or shells; they are probably illegal and you'll find that they look much nicer under the sea than on your mantelpiece!

Food & Drink: Local food is very good and cheap. Beer is available in most hotels and in many restaurants. In most main resorts such as Sharm, Hurghada & Cairo, there is food for all tastes (including McDonalds, Pizzahut & KFC!).

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