Back in the days before Sharm el Sheikh became Blackpool On Sinai, Dahab was a spot on the hippy trail that just happened to have some great diving. Although it has grown considerably as a tourist resort, Dahab is still mainly for divers while the hippies, bless their long hair and sandals, have left behind a legacy of laid-back attitudes and the camps. We stayed at one of the upper-mid-range camps, Dolphin Camp (motto: For Nice People). If you really need a swimming pool and your towels arranged into amusing animal shapes, by all means book into one of the hotels in Dahab - there are plenty to choose from. But you are reading this because you love your diving and so presumably will be spending your days doing something more interesting than lounging by the pool so why not save the cash?

A nice hotel will cost 50 - 60 Euros a night for a basic double (more if you want a terrace or balcony). Dolphin Camp charges 20 Euros a night for their most expensive double (a triple is 25), and this includes air-conditioning, fridge and a private bathroom. If you're really on a tight budget, you can get a double room with a ceiling fan and shared bathroom for 8 - yes, 8 - Euros a night. And if you absolutely cannot live without swimming in chlorinated water, the Nesima Hotel next door will allow you in theirs for a token sum.

These are the rooms at the posh end of the camp. Notice all the dive gear which I failed to put away before taking the photograph..		The breakfast room.  It's buffet service for coffee, tea, pastries and cereal but you can order a delicious omlette or anything else that takes your fancy
Above, the bamboo huts which are basic and simple		A nice spot to relax and soak up some rays.
Nora, a batty dog		The Chill Zone. Bedouin-style cushions and a campfire make this a perfect place to relax when the sun goes down. If you're really lucky, Dolphin Camp will have a barbeque night while you are there. If they haven't got one planned, suggest it

Dolphin Camp is Bedouin-owned but run by Kathy, an ex-diving instructor who has been in Egypt for 10 years. Contact them at www.dolphincamp.net