7. Essential Gear for November Red Sea Diving
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Dive Computer with Nitrox Capability
The unlimited diving concept at Marsa Shagra dive resort means you’ll log more dives in a week than many divers complete in six months. A reliable dive computer becomes essential for tracking nitrogen loading across 4-5 daily dives. Nitrox availability extends your bottom times and reduces nitrogen accumulation. Your computer must be able to handle enriched-air calculations. We recommend setting your computer to conservative algorithms to prevent pushing limits during high-volume diving.
Shearwater Perdix 2
Has been my go-to dive computer since my last upgrade in 2019, then the Perdix AI. After using this computer for over six years, I can confirm it’s worth every penny, especially for unlimited diving trips where nitrogen overloading can be problematic.
- Vibrant 2.2″ LCD with LED backlight and 320×240 resolution
- Supports 5 Open Circuit and 5 Closed Circuit gases
- Extensive Dive Logging ~1,000 hrs.
- Depth rating of 850′ (260m) and a tough aluminosilicate glass lens
The vibrant color screen remains readable even at midday during surface intervals (many competitors’ models’ screens wash out in bright sunlight), and the easy-to-replace in the field AA battery is stated to last 60 hours. With my maintenance schedule, the battery is replaced before any issues arise, and the Bühlmann GF algorithm with adjustable conservatism lets you dial in your comfort level for high-volume diving.
The large digits mean you can quickly check NDL time during photography sessions without losing focus on your subject. Intuitive presets in the dive computer make switching gas mixtures easy without fumbling through complex menus.
- ENHANCED VISIBILITY
- EXTENDED DIVE TIME
- RUGGED DURABILITY
- VERSATILE GAS SWITCHING
- EXTENSIVE DIVE LOGGING
A reliable, conservative algorithm makes it ideal for newer divers or those seeking a maximum safety margin during unlimited diving.
The screen isn’t as bright as the Perdix’s, but battery life is exceptional (a replaceable CR2450 can last up to 2+ years). This was my first computer and survived 300+ dives before I upgraded.
Budget Option: Suunto Zoop Novo
Important: Whichever computer you choose, be sure to run it in conservative mode for your first 2-3 days of unlimited diving until you understand how your body responds to this dive volume. Your first day of 4-5 dives will feel very different than your usual 2-dive boat trip.
Be sure to master your computer before arriving at Marsa Shagra. It’s one of the most critical pieces of safety equipment.
Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Multiple reviews noted the house reef could benefit from mandatory reef-safe sunscreen requirements. Do your part by using only mineral-based (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) formulas free from oxybenzone, octinoxate, and harmful chemicals. November’s 10+ hours daily sunshine delivers intense UV exposure during surface intervals. Apply generously to face, neck, ears, and hands—areas your wetsuit leaves exposed.
Ocean Friendly & Hawaii Compliant! Made with non-nano zinc oxide minerals, is vegan, reef-safe, and meets Hawaii Reef Act 104 standards, the strictest environmental guidelines for sunscreens
Budget Alternatives:
Happy Ocean SPF 45 earns its spot for being the ideal eco-conscious travel companion. Its non-nano zinc oxide formula is fully biodegradable and reef-safe, plus it’s fragrance-free and organic, making it perfect for sensitive skin. The 2.5 oz tube is TSA-compliant, ensuring you can protect your skin and the ocean wherever you go.
- SUPERIOR UVA/UVB PROTECTION
- ORGANIC & NON-GREASY FORMULA
- ECO-FRIENDLY & REEF SAFE
- WATER-RESISTANT & SEA SAFE
Thrive Natural Care SPF 50 is a top choice for those seeking robust, high-performance protection, Thrive Natural Care is our top pick. It offers a powerful SPF 50, and its 100% vegan, non-nano zinc formula is fully compliant with the Hawaii 104 Reef Act. This is the go-to for consumers who demand high SPF and clean, plant-based ingredients in a generous size for the whole family.
- REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN 23.5% NON-NANO ZINC OXIDE
- SPF 50 BROAD SPECTRUM PROTECTION
- NATURAL SPF PROTECTION
Dive Light
Even daytime diving benefits from a quality light for illuminating coral colors at depth and peering into caves and overhangs where morays, lionfish, and sleeping sharks rest. Night diving the house reef transforms without a powerful light—Spanish dancers, hunting octopuses, and the entirely different nocturnal reef community require good illumination. November’s extended diving hours (until 8:00 PM) mean you’ll use that light regularly.
Our Top Pick: Dive Rite CX3 1900 Lumens – After field-testing multiple dive lights, The Ultimate 2025 Scuba Dive Light Comparison: 8 Key Factors, the CX3 delivers the power and reliability that unlimited diving demands. With a burn time of 3 hours at 1900 lumens on high beam, it cuts through even moderate particulate in the water, while the 950-lumen medium setting (50%) provides perfect illumination for up to 5.5 hours without draining the battery.
The 8-degree focused beam illuminates coral walls without creating harsh hotspots that wash out colors in underwater photography—critical when you’re shooting the house reef’s purple soft corals and yellow sponges. I particularly enjoy the magnetic charging, which keeps you from searching for missing parts and pieces on your knees late at night or on the boat. Another function I appreciate is the strobe mode, which works great for signaling underwater or potentially getting someone’s attention at the surface.
The Goodman-style handle (sold separately) is worth considering if you’re shooting video or want a hands-free lighting system. The standard hand-held configuration works perfectly for recreational diving and general illumination.
Critical Backup: Orcatorch D710 – This isn’t a “cheap backup”—it’s a legitimate 3000-lumen dive light that serves double duty as both your backup safety light and a secondary primary when you need it. The remarkable output at this price point makes it the backup that outperforms many divers’ primary lights.
I keep mine clipped to my BCD chest strap and test it before every dive. A backup light isn’t optional—it’s the difference between completing your safety stop safely and a panicked ascent in darkness. The D710’s battery indicator prevents the “dead light mid-dive” scenario I experienced before learning this lesson the hard way.
The tight 6-degree spot beam makes it excellent for signaling (essential for night diving and independent house reef diving, where you need to communicate with buddies across distance).
Pro Tip: Remove batteries for extended storage, always charge batteries before storing, and charge both lights the night before your arrival at Marsa Shagra, and recharge after every 2-3 dives. Don’t wait until they’re dead. The unlimited diving schedule means you might suddenly decide on that sunset dive, followed by a night dive, and discovering dead batteries at 7:00 PM ruins those plans.
Surface Marker Buoy with Reel
Independent diving on the house reef and boat diving Elphinstone’s currents both require reliable surface signaling. The Red Sea sees significant boat traffic, and surfacing away from shore without a visible marker creates serious danger. A 2.1-meter tall SMB in high-visibility orange or pink with 30+ meters of line allows safe ascents and three-minute safety stops while signaling your position to surface craft.
This equipment isn’t optional; it’s essential safety gear that can prevent serious incidents and even save lives. I learned this the hard way during a drift dive when my group surfaced nearly 200 meters from the boat in choppy seas. Without our SMBs, the captain might never have spotted us. Unfortunately, not all divers are as fortunate. In fact, situations like this are at the heart of my “Left at Sea: Stories of Divers Adrift & How Not to Become One” article, which highlights how quickly a routine dive can turn dangerous when visibility, currents, and communication break down.
Our Recommendation: XS Scuba Safety Sausage 7ft with Finger Reel. I’ve never purchased anything less than 6ft and would recommend a 10ft DSMB if Marsa Shagra offered diving further out. This SMB outperforms its competitors with:
- Stainless steel D rings
- Overpressure (burb) relief valve
- MIL-SPEC nylon
- SOLAS reflective tape
- 3 options to fill (oral, BC, bottom baffle)
- Chemical light stick loop fastener
- 50 lbs positive lift
- Step-thru leg harness, enabling hands-free operation while the buoy is inflated at the surface.
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to know your equipment—especially when it comes to deploying your SMB. In an emergency, the last thing you want is panic caused by uncertainty or getting tangled in the line. If you’re not comfortable with the process, that anxiety can quickly escalate an already serious situation.
Alternative for Tech Divers: Dive Rite Surface Marker with 100ft Reel offers heavier-duty construction and includes a dump valve for controlled ascents.
Thick-Soled Dive Boots
Reviews consistently emphasize the requirement to wear thick-soled boots for Marsa Shagra’s shore entry, which crosses rocky substrate that will shred thin-soled boots or damage bare feet. The resort’s rocky entry isn’t walkable without serious foot protection.
Editor’s Choice: Mares Trilastic 5mm Boots – Mares built these boots for divers who need reliable grip and warmth without unnecessary bulk. The 5mm Trilastic neoprene keeps your feet comfortably insulated during shoulder-season dives when water hovers around 24–27°C. Reinforced heel and toe panels protect against wear from fins and rocky shore entries, and the molded rubber sole holds traction even on slippery launch ramps. The side zip makes gearing up quick between dives, an underrated convenience when you’re hustling for that final daylight descent. Over multiple dive trips, the durable construction and solid stitching set them apart in the midrange price bracket. Dependable gear that won’t quit when your logbook fills with unlimited, high-volume diving days.
Budget Pick: Cressi Standard 6mm Boots are for divers looking to save without sacrificing warmth. Cressi’s 6mm boots offer solid value in cool-to-moderate waters. The thick neoprene keeps feet comfortable during extended bottom times, while the minimalist tread provides just enough grip for boat decks and sandy shore entries.
You’ll want to step carefully on slick rocks as the sole isn’t as rugged as premium models, but for travel or short dive trips, these boots punch above their price. A dependable, no-frills option that gets the job done when you’d rather spend your budget on extra tank fills than footwear.
Sizing Tip: Order one size larger than your shoe size to accommodate thick dive socks, and ensure your fins will fit over them. Nothing ruins a dive trip like discovering your boots don’t fit your fins five minutes before the first dive.
Heavy-Duty Mesh Gear Bag with Wheels
Transporting full equipment through airports to remote Red Sea destinations demands durable luggage that drains completely and withstands baggage handlers. After watching my previous gear bag disintegrate on a Cairo baggage carousel (wheel ripped off, zippers split), I learned this lesson expensively.
Akona Roller Duffel 100L ($105) – Industrial-grade mesh construction drains instantly, oversized wheels actually roll smoothly through airports (most dive bags have toy wheels that collapse under weight), and the heavy-duty zippers have survived three years of international abuse. The 100-liter capacity accommodates fins, mask, boots, wetsuit, BCD, and accessories while meeting airline size limits. The reinforced bottom prevents road rash when dragged across rough surfaces—inevitable during Red Sea dive boat boarding.
Critical Feature: The wheels are recessed so the bag can stand upright on the dive boat without tipping. I’ve watched countless dive bags tip over during boat movement, spilling contents across the deck. This won’t happen with proper wheel design.
Budget Option: Phantom Aquatics Mesh Backpack ($45) – If you’re checking your BCD/regulator separately and only need to transport soft goods, this 120L backpack works well. No wheels means you’re carrying it, but at half the price it’s viable for divers who pack light.
Reef Hook
Elphinstone’s strong currents allow reef hooking on designated areas, enabling you to maintain position while watching for sharks without fighting the current and burning air. One can burn through a tank of air in 25 minutes trying to hover in Elphinstone’s current before learning this technique. With a reef hook, that same dive lasted 52 minutes and delivered three oceanic whitetip encounters instead of zero.
Critical Technique: Only hook into dead coral or bare rock—never living coral. Elphinstone has designated hooking areas that dive guides will show you. The hook lets you maintain position hands-free while keeping your camera ready, watching the blue for those distinctive white-tipped fins.
Note1: Some marine parks prohibit reef hooks. They’re permitted at Elphinstone but banned at sites like Dolphin House. Always confirm with your dive guide before deploying.
Note2: Remember, when deploying a reef hook, only hook into bare solid rock, dead coral, or large rubble.
Note3: Do not depoy your hook using:
- live coral (soft or hard)
- sponges, sea fans, or any other living organism
- fragile or loose rock that could break
Mask Defog Solution
This seems trivial until you’re on dive four of the day and your mask keeps fogging during a turtle encounter, forcing you to clear it repeatedly while your buddy gets the perfect shot. November’s multiple daily dives mean constant mask clearing and defogging. Skip the toothpaste method and invest in purpose-made defog that lasts all dive and doesn’t damage mask seals or skirts.
GEAR AID Sea Gold Anti-Fog Gel – I used Sea Gold as a mask defog for years and had no issues or concerns with it. This highly concentrated gel formula has earned its reputation as the industry standard—rated #1 Tester’s Choice by Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine, with one application lasting through multiple dives even in extreme conditions. The thick, clear gel provides up to 600 applications per bottle, and it works in any water temperature including challenging cold water dives. Many dive professionals swear by this product, and for good reason—it simply works reliably, dive after dive.
Stream2Sea Professional Mask Defog – Our Current Recommendation – I now primarily use Stream2Sea, and honestly, I’m pretty happy with Stream2Sea’s performance as well. What prompted the switch? Stream2Sea seems to be safer for the marine environment when it comes to ingredient transparency, testing, and sustainability. The formula is biodegradable and has been tested and proven safe for baitfish, freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and coral larvae—backed by actual scientific testing rather than just marketing claims.
The ingredient list is completely transparent: Deionized Water, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, and a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to help with lens evaporation. No hidden chemicals, no proprietary mystery ingredients. Even the bottle is made from recycled plastics and sugarcane resins. Testimonials from dive professionals report it holds up through multiple dives, and my personal experience confirms this—two drops per lens, spread with fingers, light rinse, and you’re fog-free for 45+ minutes.
My problem is that when I find something I like, I generally stop looking and exploring for more options. So there may be other excellent reef-safe options out there, but Stream2Sea works well enough that I haven’t felt compelled to keep testing alternatives. The TSA-compliant 2oz bottle provides 50+ applications and easily lasts an entire dive trip.
Pro Tip: Apply defog after your dive brief, not right before entry. Letting it sit 5-10 minutes improves effectiveness dramatically. And regardless of which product you choose, the most important thing is bringing your own—multiple daily dives exhaust resort supplies quickly, and mask fogging ruins both photography and dive enjoyment.
Dive-Specific First Aid Kit
Marsa Shagra has medical facilities and the hyperbaric chamber, but minor injuries benefit from immediate treatment. After thirty-five years of globe tottering, here’s what I keep with me:
Essential Additions to Standard First Aid:
After Bite Sting Relief – Whether its pesky bug bites, jellyfish stings, fire coral contact, and sea lice are common in Red Sea. Immediate application reduces pain and potentially prevents secondary infection. You can normally find me with three or four tubes at a time which I keep it close, normally in my dive bag, on the boat, etc.
Waterproof Tegaderm Transparent Dressings – I have had great success with these staying on longer while diving and works great for multiple dives, keeping the antibiotic ointment in place, protecting cuts from infection while allowing you to continue diving.
Ibuprofen/Naproxen/Acetaminophen (paracetamol)/Aspirin – Seek your own medical advice as pressure, scuba diving and/or flying, and can change the way medications interact with your body. For me, sore muscles after five dives daily are inevitable. Anti-inflammatories help me sleep and recover for the next day’s diving.
Antibiotic Ointment – Small coral scrapes turn into infections quickly in tropical environments. Immediate antibiotic treatment after each dive day helps to prevent further problems.
What’s Already at the Resort: The dive center stocks basic first aid, vinegar for jellyfish stings, and oxygen for emergencies. You’re supplementing, not replacing their capabilities.
Personal Nitrox Analyzer
If you’re nitrox-certified, or even if you are not, you should always want to analyze the gas you’re breathing. But if you’re planning 4-5 dives a day, you’ll want to analyze each tank yourself rather than rely on resort analysis. Marsa Shagra’s dive center is professional, and I believe their analysis is reliable, but when you’re pushing nitrogen limits across five consecutive dives, verification becomes critical to risk management.
The Analox O2EII Pro Nitrox Analyzer is what I have personally used since 2019, but it appears to no longer be available. I have seen the analyzers below around dive shops and operations, and from discussions, and from what I can tell, these are well reviewed and liked.
When This Matters: If you’re diving 32% nitrox for your first three dives and the center accidentally fills your fourth tank with air (21%), but you set your computer for 32%, your computer will show remaining NDL time you don’t actually have. This error has caused bent divers. Personal analysis prevents this scenario.
Reality Check: Most recreational divers don’t need this. The cost is hard to justify unless you’re doing 50+ nitrox dives annually. Marsa Shagra’s analysis is reliable. But if you’re a tech diver doing deep profiles at Elphinstone or planning decompression diving, this becomes essential equipment.
Stay Within Safe O2 Limits With these Portable NITROX Analyzers
These are ideal for verifying nitrox mixes, calibrating your gas fills, and keeping your dive profile within NOAA and Navy guidelines.
Oceanic whitetip sharks reach their peak presence from October through December. These substantial animals (up to 3.5 meters) display curiosity rather than aggression, often accompanied by schools of pilot fish. Their populations have crashed globally, making each encounter precious. Early November offers water temperatures still in the 27°C range when these sharks patrol most actively. Dive operators report regular sightings during this window, though marine life never offers guarantees.
