Deep Diver Specialty: Do You Really Need It for Hurghada? (An Honest Assessment)

It is one of the most common questions we get during the Advanced Open Water course: “Should I keep going and do the Deep Diver Specialty?”

There is an allure to depth. The deep blue calls to many divers, promising mystery, adrenaline, and things that others don’t get to see. But training takes time and money. So, the real question is: Is it actually worth it for a holiday in Hurghada?

As a dive center, we could simply say “Yes, buy the course!” But at Scubadore Hurghada, we value honesty over upsells.

The answer is: It depends entirely on what you want to see.

Here is our breakdown of the limits, the benefits, and the specific Hurghada sites that require that extra 10 meters.

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The Limits: What Does the Card Give You?

First, let’s clarify the rules.

• Open Water Diver: Limited to 18 meters (60 feet).

• Advanced Open Water: Limited to 30 meters (100 feet).

• PADI Deep Diver Specialty: Extends your limit to 40 meters (130 feet).

That extra 10 meters might not sound like much, but in the underwater world, it is a significant boundary. It is the edge of recreational diving before you enter the realm of technical diving.

The Case for “NO” (Why AOW might be enough)

If you are coming to Hurghada primarily for colorful reefs, fish schools, and photography, you arguably do not need the Deep Specialty.

• Light and Color: The best light and the most vibrant coral growth happen in the top 20 meters. Sites like Gota Abu Ramada or the coral gardens of Small Giftun are most beautiful shallow.

• Bottom Time: The deeper you go, the faster you burn through your air and your No-Decompression Limit (NDL). At 40 meters, you might only have 8 minutes of bottom time. At 18 meters, you could have 50.

• The Famous Wrecks: The legendary SS Thistlegorm sits at 30 meters max. The Carnatic and Giannis D at Abu Nuhas are also accessible within the Advanced limit (20–27 meters).

The Case for “YES” (The Locked Doors)

However, if you stick to 30 meters, there are specific, world-class doors in Hurghada that remain locked to you. If you want the “full” experience, the Deep Specialty is the key.

1. The Rosalie Moller

We mentioned this in our previous post. The Rosalie Moller is the “deep sister” of the Thistlegorm. Her deck sits at roughly 35 meters, and the seabed is at 50. To dive this wreck safely and legally, you absolutely need deep training. Without it, you miss one of the best wrecks in the Red Sea.

2. The Hebat Allah

This is Hurghada’s purpose-sunk wreck. It was intended for recreational depths but sank deeper than planned, resting at 45 meters. It is strictly a tech or deep-specialty dive.

3. The Caves of Umm Gamar

There are stunning caverns and overhangs at offshore sites like Umm Gamar that sit right in that 30–35 meter range. While you can see the reef above them, you can’t explore the features themselves without the rating.

4. Narcosis Management

The course isn’t just about the card; it’s about the experience. Learning how your body reacts to Gas Narcosis (the “martini effect”) under the supervision of an instructor makes you a safer diver, even if you rarely go that deep.

The Verdict

• The Casual Diver: If you just want to relax, see Nemo, and enjoy long, sunny dives, your Advanced Open Water is perfectly sufficient for 90% of Hurghada’s sites.

• The Wreck Hunter / Thrill Seeker: If you want to dive the Rosalie Moller, explore deep drop-offs, or prepare yourself for technical diving in the future, the Deep Specialty is a must-have.

The Scubadore Deep Experience

If you decide to take the plunge, doing it with Scubadore is the safest way to learn. Deep diving requires discipline.

• We use drop tanks and redundant air sources for safety.

• We teach in private or semi-private groups, ensuring your instructor is right next to you to monitor for narcosis.

• We combine the course with Nitrox education (if you aren’t already certified) to maximize your safety margins.

Depth is a tool, not a goal. If you want to add that tool to your box, we are ready to take you down.