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Red Sea 2007...
...So it came and Went the long awaited diving trip for sixteen to Sharm El Sheikh Egypt, yes trip, not holiday, this was the basic wording requirement for a marital pass or permit for many.
After many months of hard work planning and organising Ian finally conceded he really was the right man for the job, after all he had no hair left to lose.
We were collected one by one on route to the airport each of us to be renamed in some form or other for better or worse setting the tone for the week ahead.
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An Irish liquid breakfast later to fortify our constitutions and we're ready to board the flight. |
Every one was wearing the tour shirt later to be known by the local Egyptians as team red. Full of anticipation of what was to come, the flight seemed short but not uneventful as Mark's jeans could testify. |
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St Georges Three Corners was to be our home for the next week. |
Our first call of sixteen beers was greeted with slight bewilderment by the hotel barman, taste bubs wetted & thoughts focused on the first days diving to come, we occupy an area of the lounge bar which would become the scene for many enlightening conversations and reflections of the diving and other experiences to come.
If only Libby knew of the fate that awaited her.
Day 1
A short bus ride to the diving centre to acquaint us with Sinai Dive Club, and our hosts aboard the Angelina III, this was to be our floating base for the next five days diving.
Off to Ras Katy for our first dive led by our guide Mohammed, followed later by a drift dive as Ras Um Sid which was the scene for TADSAC history in the making when a Napoleon Wrasse all five to six feet of him donned his invisibility cloak just to avoid Libby's chattering underwater. Only Libby failed to see the magnificent specimen settled on the sea bed some 25 mtr down. |
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We rest our case!
Day 2
Saw us off to Near Garden for a reef dive where beauty was in the eye of the beholder when presented with fourteen TADSAC bottoms lined up in front of Howard (Papa Smurf) and Wayne to gaze a turtle.
This was followed by a drift dive at Amphoras which proved a little more bottomless.
Day 3
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Pharaoh's revenge makes its first appearance with Radda the deck hand skilfully dealing with all sixteen divers aboard with varying degrees of sprint ability to the Holy Grail that became the toilet. A typical view from the Holy Grail |
The boat was accompanied by some Risso's dolphins on route to Thomson reef for the first of the days dives.
With divers falling foul of the Pharaoh we were reduced in number but not in spirit thanks in part to Imodium instants, soon to be renamed 'anal weld' by all who benefited.
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The second dive of the day was to be at Jackson reef which for the lucky few was an exhilarating drift dive (Flying underwater) later to be coveted as one of the best dives of the trip. |
Dive three was a gentle drift dive at Woodhouse reef with a hugh shoal of Fusiliers engulfing many of us. |
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Day 4
Today was the day we headed for Ras Mohammed, with a few divers still attached by a bungee to the lavatory, some sit it out. (yes I did say sit). it was to be an eventful dive with wide ranging experiences for all.
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Many enjoyed the encounter with a shoal of Barracuda among other fantastic marine life, until we reached the corner of Sharks reef and junction to Jolanda reef where the current sorted us out, some struggled with current, some breezed around and some even became separated. |
Thankfully everyone returned safely to the Angilina III reflecting on what was a dive to remember to forget for some having gained more valuable experience.
Onto Ras Kaslani for the second dive which was a sedate pleasurable affair with the marine and reef life on show. |
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Dive three was to be a night dive off Ras Katy, this again proved to be a fantastic dive with Lion fish central, the only place you can take a fish for a walk with a torch beam.
Day 5
The reality starts to set in that we have almost finished our diving adventures for the week. Jackson reef was our first splash, nice and gentle up and down the reef studying all to be seen.
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Dive two was to be at Gordon's reef where a team photo was to be taken with the Welsh flag 16mtrs down on the sea bed. |
Ian & Maria were to undertake some freelance Slimming World advertising |
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The last dive was again one to behold with a close up encounter with a turtle lasting several minutes up to the end of the dive. |
There was more to the week than diving however, with the crew of the Angelina III we were blessed with some great characters who knew how to share the fun and still take care of everyone on board.
Our guide Mohammed "briefing everybody briefing" those immortal words carved into the trip history. Radda the deck hand and all round top sport, evening finding time to take a Parry splash on day five. Mini Mohammed the cook, what this guy could do with a four foot galley was amazing, keeping sixteen divers plus crew well fed is no mean feat.
These are just a few of the memories I'm sure we all share
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Chilling encounters with Egyptian masseurs |
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Libby's walk on water |
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The night out at Naama bay |
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Marks sideways `G` string show |
Kevin's dash for the holy grail mid briefing, Howard's impression of living embalmment, Lyndon's fancy dress shows, Paul's cabaret, Gail and Steve's fetch and carry on, Taxi rides were always excellent sport with some amusing results.
With even the hotel bar staff lining up sixteen beers on sight every time we returned it was really a trip to savour. Safe diving, incident free with good buddies and a great laugh, you really must do this given the opportunity.
Special thanks to Ian for his hard work organising the trip and arranging Kevin's Ocean Diver instructor. To Richard who baby sat everyone over and above the superb crew on board.
Congratulations to Kevin who completed his Ocean Diver on day 1.
Ian would like to thank Sinai Dive Club for arranging the diving and a last minute BSAC instructor to complete Kevin's Ocean Diver training
When do we do it again?
Briefing everybody please!