Aqaba Warnings and Dangers

What your VT hosts may not think to tell you - as VT hosts for Israel seem to think this is something you should find out for yourself or suffer the consequences (and if you do expect them to be able to tell you there is some strange message in there that means you are expecting them to be your social worker, tour agent or psychologist!!) - is that during the Shabbath time there is pretty much NO transport from Eilat up to Tel Aviv - so even if you think leaving Friday for your evening plane on Saturday is an okay plan - be warned - there are NO buses or shared taxis from 3 pm onwards through to 1130 am the next morning - leaving no way of getting to any flight departures on a Saturday other than very late evening planes.

What you probably wont get told either is that on Saturday there are no buses or trains to the airport either until they start running from whatever time it is Im yet to find out but from midday or later. So you are at the mercy of taxi drivers charging whatever price.

Be careful if you are planning to move on to Petra or Wadi Rum at the end of a day's diving. To get to Petra you have to go over 1500 meters over sea level, and Wadi Rum is about 1000. Similarly, if you're heading towards the Dead Sea, the rise in altitude is something of the same order. It can be dangerous to dive and then travel to such altitudes within the same day. It is equally unsafe to dive within 12 hours of travelling down from these heights.

The same thing applies if you are flying out. You must tell your dive centre your plans and they will take you to a suitable dive site.

They are invisible when you are dipping in water, but you would definitely feel it, especially wehn you are bit by it. I remember there were two French girls asking me
" what are those little round balls"
"Oh, they are jelly fish, they bite you..."
And the quantity are so so so so much, I mean it's unavoidable, so prepare yourself to be bit and enjoy the hurt.
That's all I can say.>"
At least, you are not fatal, so don't worry if you are bit by them.

This happened to some friend of mine, not to me but I was there when the confromtation started, anyways... In Jordan like many countries in the middle east there is a picture of the King on the money, so when my buddies went to some kind stip club, they were given money that was for exclusive use at this club. needles to say when they left and tied to purchase something with the "other money" and were turned down by the merchant, they were an unhuppy bunch. So be aware of the currency you are given in exchange for real money, all official bill will have the kings face on it.

All year around it is usually sunny here. In the spring, summer and autumns it is also very hot here. Project your skin in the sun, wear a hat and drink lots of water.