James and Mac in Hurghada is a good, straightforward dive centre for German speakers, beginners who want a one-to-one try dive and snorkelers happy to tag along on a divers' boat. It is less suited to anyone after a beach-club island day. It sells through its own website rather than GetYourGuide or Headout, so the bookable trips on this page are comparable dive days, not James & Mac's own.
- Type
- German-speaking dive centre; takes non-divers on its dive boats
- Base
- Giftun Azur Resort, Hurghada
- Boats
- Day boats; mini-safari boat MS Bahlul
- What they sell
- Dive days, 1:1 try dives from the boat, places for non-divers, mini safaris, PADI courses
- Where to book
- Own site
- Languages
- German, English
- Prices
- Non-diver on the boat €25 + €7 permit; try dive €85 (1 dive) / €100 (2 dives)
- Status
- Operating; listed by CDWS under the company name Barakuda
Own website: james-mac.com ↗ · 20 October 2026
Our scores
- Boats and setting
- 4/5Dive-centre day boats; mini-safari boat MS Bahlul
- The day as run
- 4/508:15 to about 16:30, up to two dives
- Value
- 4/5€85 one-to-one try dive includes boat, gear and permit
- Transparency on extras
- 4/5Permit fee and payment rules published
- Booking ease
- 3/5Mainly German site; free pick-up only in Hurghada city
- Safety information
- 4/51:1 try dives; no night returns to port explained
Pros
- Try dives with one guide per person, equipment, boat and permit included
- Non-divers can join the dive boat at a low price
- On-site price list and a detailed FAQ in German and English
- Listed in the official CDWS directory (as Barakuda)
- Same prices online and on site
Cons
- No dedicated snorkel trip: snorkelers follow the divers' schedule
- €7 permit fee a day on top of every price
- Free hotel pick-up excludes Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh and El Gouna
- Card payments are charged in Egyptian pounds and may carry fees
Who James & Mac are
James & Mac Diving Center is based at the Giftun Azur Resort, a hotel in Hurghada itself, not on Giftun Island. The website is mainly German, with an English version, and the price list and FAQ are written for German-speaking guests; German speakers will know it as a Tauchschule (dive school).
The official directory of the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (CDWS), Egypt's licensing body for dive and snorkel providers, lists the centre under its company name, Barakuda, at the Giftun Azur Resort. That matters if you check it yourself at https://www.cdws.travel/members/diving-centers: search for Barakuda, not James & Mac.
The centre is clearly active. Its homepage carries recent news posts and webcams, and it runs an information site called Red Sea Partner. Mini safaris run on its boat MS Bahlul.
What James & Mac sells
Dive days. Day trips leave at about 08:15 and return around 16:30, with at most two dives. There is also a later beginner tour that departs at 10:00. The centre does no night dives except on mini safaris, and explains why: boats may not return to port in darkness.
Try dives. The "Discovery/VIP" try dive from the boat comes with a one-to-one guide, equipment, the boat and the permit included: €85 for one dive or €100 for two. From a boat, Egypt's rules require one instructor per intro diver, so this is the standard to expect everywhere. Here it is written into the price.
Places for non-divers. A non-diver or guest on the dive boat pays €25 plus a €7 permit fee per day. There is no dedicated snorkel trip on the price list: you ride along on the divers' schedule, so ask when and where you can snorkel. It suits the partner or friend of a diver, or someone who wants a calmer boat and does not mind the divers' rhythm.
James & Mac sells nothing on the booking platforms. The closest bookable alternatives are full dive-boat days with lunch, and snorkel-or-try-dive yachts. These are comparable trips from other companies, and the listings do not name the boat company.
GetYourGuideFull day
Hurghada: Full-Day Boat Trip with 2 Scuba Dives and Lunch
4.8 (400)
from $53Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Hurghada: Snorkeling or Try Dive Luxury Yacht Trip
4.9 (184)
from $44Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Hurghada: 2 Dives for Beginner OR Snorkeling Trip with lunch
4.8 (615)
from $30Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Intro Diving Beginner and Discover Red Sea Underwater
4.8 (1,485)
from $52Check dates
Prices checked on 20 October 2026
James and Mac prices: direct vs platforms
From the centre's on-site price list:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Non-diver / guest on the dive boat | €25 + €7 permit |
| Try dive from the boat, 1:1 (1 dive / 2 dives) | €85 / €100, permit included |
| Day trip, 2 dives | €68 |
| Beginner tour from 10:00 (1 dive / 2 dives) | €45 / €68 |
| PADI Open Water course | €420 |
Payment is preferred in euros; US dollars, pounds, Swiss francs and Egyptian pounds are also taken. Cards are charged in Egyptian pounds and may carry fees. Prices are the same online and on site, with promotions online only.
For a non-diver, €25 plus €7 makes €32 for a day on a dive boat. A shared snorkel yacht on GetYourGuide starts from $26 with lunch and a beach stop, so the dive boat is not the cheapest seat. You pay for a calmer dive-centre day. The try dive is a different story. Platform try dives start lower, but some are a 10–15-minute taster. A one-to-one €85 dive with everything included is fair value. Dive centres around Hurghada all add a daily charge on top:
| What | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Colona Divers — mandatory reef tax | EUR 5 | Per day, on top of boat and dive prices. colona.com ↗ |
| Blue Paradise — environmental & entertainment tax | EUR 6 | Per person per day, paid on the spot; lunch (€6) is also extra on its snorkel day. blueparadise.be ↗ |
| James & Mac — permit fee | EUR 7 | Per day for non-divers and divers on its boats. james-mac.com ↗ |
Checked on 20 October 2026. Many boat trips include the island or park fee, many don't: read the listing.
James and Mac Hurghada reviews: what to check
We have no independent review themes for James & Mac that we could verify, and we do not quote reviews. Before booking, read recent reviews on a platform you trust and look for comments on boat crowding, how snorkelers were looked after while the divers were down, and the pick-up from your hotel.
How to book James & Mac
Booking James & Mac
- Book through james-mac.com (German, or the English version) or at the centre.
- If you are staying in Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh or El Gouna, ask the transfer price: free pick-up covers Hurghada city hotels only.
- For a try dive, fill in the medical questionnaire honestly; asthma, heart conditions, recent surgery or pregnancy need a doctor's sign-off.
- Bring euros for the permit and anything extra, and ask about the cancellation terms in writing.
- Leave at least 12 hours between one dive and your flight home, and 18 hours after several.
Before you pay any dive centre, two free checks help: the CDWS member directory (under Barakuda here) and the CDWS black list of illegal operators at https://www.cdws.travel/blacklist. Make sure your travel insurance covers diving and sea rescue.
Alternatives to James & Mac
- Blue Paradise on the Corniche runs a dedicated snorkel day (from €30 online, lunch and tax extra) and try dives to 5 m with a personal instructor, with a site in five languages.
- Colona Divers at Zahabia Beach has a house reef from €15 a day and a boat snorkel day with lunch at €28.
- Emperor Divers no longer has a day centre in Hurghada; it runs only liveaboards from the area.
- For the rules on try dives and Discover Scuba, see snorkeling plus diving; for the reefs themselves, the best snorkeling spots and Giftun Island.
James and Mac Hurghada: questions
Where is James and Mac diving center in Hurghada?
At the Giftun Azur Resort in Hurghada. In the official CDWS directory it is listed under its company name, Barakuda.
Can non-divers go on the James and Mac boat?
Yes. A non-diver or guest pays €25 plus a €7 permit fee for the day. There is no separate snorkel trip, so you follow the divers' schedule; ask when you can snorkel.
How much is a try dive at James and Mac?
€85 for one dive or €100 for two, with a one-to-one guide, equipment, boat and permit included.
Does James and Mac pick up from Makadi or El Gouna?
Free pick-up covers Hurghada city hotels only, not Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh or El Gouna. Ask for the transfer price when you book.
Is James and Mac German-speaking?
Yes. The website, price list and FAQ are mainly in German, with an English version.