Yoga & diving holiday, Egypt
| country: | Egypt |
| location: | Red Sea |
| departures: | Weekly departures available throughout the year on a day to suit you. |
| price: | £545 (7 days) excluding flights. Includes daily yoga class with one free day, tuition in both Yoga and diving as above, diving equipment on organised dives, accommodation with breakfast, airport transfers and desert safari meditation trip. |
| offers: | Receive a 10% discount on holidays returning to the UK on or before 21st December 2008. We also still have some availaibility for our Alternative Christmas. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 3 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
This trip is an innovative marriage of yoga practice, meditation and scuba and/or free diving. We explore how diving can become a personal meditative experience for the diver. Inexperienced divers learn scuba diving enhanced by yoga techniques, particularly breathing exercises (pranayama).
Divers unfamiliar with yoga learn to integrate a meditative, holistic attitude into the enjoyment of diving. Our activities focus on experiencing the stillness and beauty of the reef ecosystem in a respectful, gentle way. Beginner divers are taught in an individualized program following the standards and procedures of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors).
Dives are conducted in small groups with the emphasis on understanding nature and our impact on the reef ecosystem. Meditation and visualization techniques aid in the improvement of dive skills for both beginners and advanced divers. Divers can obtain a PADI dive license during the course depending on their level, aptitude and desire. Yoga classes are inspired by the Sivananda system of Hatha Yoga and are taught by experienced, trained yoga teachers.
The Yoga diving course is completely unique and the first of its kind in the world. Led by the pioneers of Yoga Diving, Monica Farrell and Barbara Gordon, the week will give you an introduction to Yoga and diving with a Yogic approach to the latter. It is suitable for everybody - divers and non-divers, experienced Yoga practitioners and beginners in both fields.
Divers unfamiliar with yoga learn to integrate a meditative, holistic attitude into the enjoyment of diving. Our activities focus on experiencing the stillness and beauty of the reef ecosystem in a respectful, gentle way. Beginner divers are taught in an individualized program following the standards and procedures of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors).
Dives are conducted in small groups with the emphasis on understanding nature and our impact on the reef ecosystem. Meditation and visualization techniques aid in the improvement of dive skills for both beginners and advanced divers. Divers can obtain a PADI dive license during the course depending on their level, aptitude and desire. Yoga classes are inspired by the Sivananda system of Hatha Yoga and are taught by experienced, trained yoga teachers.
The Yoga diving course is completely unique and the first of its kind in the world. Led by the pioneers of Yoga Diving, Monica Farrell and Barbara Gordon, the week will give you an introduction to Yoga and diving with a Yogic approach to the latter. It is suitable for everybody - divers and non-divers, experienced Yoga practitioners and beginners in both fields.
course details
The course includes: 6 Yoga classes, 8 Scuba dives, Freediving practice depending on level, all equipment, transport and tuition in yoga and diving. Bedouin dinner, meditation included in the week. Course participants stay in a family run hotel in Dahab. Safari participants stay in the hotel and in Bedouin style accommodation out in the desert or by the sea. travellers' tales
Brilliant! Should have gone for longer. The most memorable was the diving. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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Our dives are assisted by local Bedouin, many who have been working and living side by side with us for over a decade. We have trained Bedouin to scuba dive and regularly include their participation in the dive plan as surface supervision, equipment handlers and drivers. The hotel where our guests stay is Bedouin owned and we have a long standing relationship with them and the owners of the diver center. That is, our team includes the local people—they are not simply hired labor. We have our midday meals with Bedouin in their cafes. Because we speak the language of Egypt and live there we also introduce the guests to other income generating activities that our hosts promote such as: the handicrafts made by women, local food, camel expeditions and treks.
The most important difference we make is in the intention and ability we have to cooperate and learn from our hosts. Cultural exchange and respect is fundamental to our program as yoga is a spiritual and moral exercise for the wellbeing of all. We give what is lacking in most mass tourist activities—ie. An aid for travelers to get to know the culture in which they are visiting in a down to earth and real way. We pay our workers fairly and encourage travelers to follow the protocol for a Muslim, tribal culture. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |