SCUBA Travel News

A female French tourist was attacked and killed by a shark while snorkelling at the Saint John's reefs in the Red Sea. The first fatal shark attack in Egypt for five years.

The woman's leg showed visible bite marks, and medics said she probably bled to death before being lifted to the surface.

The shark was an oceanic white tip. Although inexperienced divers sometimes confuse it with the white tip reef shark, the oceanic shark is much bigger, stockier and often accompanied by pilot fish. Whereas the reef shark is no threat to divers, the oceanic white tip is one to be wary of and treated with respect. It is almost fearless and credited with many open-ocean attacks on people after air or sea disasters.

Saint John's is in the Southern Egyptian Red Sea. It is a popular destination for divers, a place where you often see large pelagic species. If you should encounter a oceanic white tip it is advisable to stay close to the reef and not to make any sudden movements.

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Labels: Red Sea, SCUBA diving, SCUBA News, SCUBA Travel, sharks

SCUBA News is offering you the chance to win a logbook and guide to Northern Wrecks and Reefs of Egypt's Red Sea. To win your copy just e-mail news@scubatravel.co.uk with the number of diving guides currently in the Travelling Diver series. For a hint see Issue 104 of SCUBA News.

The prize comprises a loose-leaf pack of pages in full colour, each dedicated to a single dive site. Every page gives a detailed dive site description or wreck history, with room for you to write your own notes. There is also a very good map of the dive site, information on difficulty and location. As well as being a guide the pages are designed as a dive log, with boxes for you to fill your dive details: sea conditions, temperature, maximum depth, bottom time, etc.

The guide really does manage to pack loads of information into a small space and covers most of the dives you will do on a week's liveaboard holiday.

The pack has two spare logbook sheets with room for you to log four dives. The sheets are standard 3-hole diving logbook size.

The Travelling Diver series make it easy for you to record your dives in much greater detail than the few notes most of us scribble down about the site. Focusing on a very small area - just the dives you might experience on a week's trip - means the guide is compact and light. No need to pack several thick, heavy books. The downside of course is if you visit different areas of the Red Sea often, it can become expensive to have to buy a new guide for each trip. Although not if you win one in the SCUBA News competition!

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Labels: books, competition, dive destination, Red Sea

The Governor of the Red Sea in Egypt has decreed that the Red Sea will be the first plastic bag free Governorate with effect from 1st January 2009. This decree represents a considerable step forward in tackling the issues caused by excess rubbish and in particular plastic bags in the Red Sea.

Plastic bags pose a massive hazard to birds, turtles, dolphins and other marine creatures that are killed in alarming numbers each year after swallowing or becoming entangled in plastic bags blown out to sea. Turtles easily mistake plastic bags for yummy jellyfish. Once in the stomach, the indigestible plastic wraps itself around the intestines of the creature and it slowly starves to death.

Typically plastic bags are used for only 20 minutes before being thrown out; but they will each take up to 1,000 years to rot away. During their long decay millions of bags litter and pollute our streets, the desert, and are blown out to sea where they become a toxic plastic soup that threatens the existence of marine and wild life.

The Red Sea campaign follows many high profile campaigns in Europe to limit this most damaging form of pollution. The government in Ireland introduced a bag tax, which led to a 90 per cent reduction after its introduction in 2002. In 2007, the biggest supermarkets in France imposed a ban on free carriers. They now charge between 2p and 42p for reusable bags. This has removed millions of free bags from high streets and the French government will impose an outright ban in 2010.

Environmental group is working alongside the Governorate to suggest practical solutions and alternatives for plastic bags. As part of the campaign in support of this decree they will also be undertaking education initiatives and lobbying activities.

Further Reading: HEPCA

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Labels: environment, Red Sea

SCUBA News are giving away two copies of the Hurghada Dive Guide and Log Book. To enter the competition e-mail name of the author of the Hurghada dive guide, together with your name and address, to news@scubatravel.co.uk before 30 April 2008. (To find out visit http://www.travellingdiver.com/.)

The prize is the forth guide in the series and covers the very popular diving area around Hurghada, on Egypt's Red Sea coast.

The format remains consistent with the other guides - loose sheets designed to fit into a diving logbook binder.

The guide covers 16 dive sites, usually with 2 dives per site. Most of the sites are reefs but there is one wreck at El Mina.

There is an A5 double sided page for each site which can be slid into a 3-ring binder with your other dive logs. The first part of the guide allows you to write in all your personal dive details (time, gas consumption, conditions, weight, temperature, cylinder details). There then follows a description of the site, its location including co-ordinates, a 3-D map and usually a couple of recommended dives. The maps are excellent - showing the dive site very clearly.

Turning over there is a more detailed description of the site covering, geography, history and marine life you are likely to encounter. It really packs in loads of information. At the bottom of the page is a space for you to add your own dive notes.

All in all these are great little guides and money well spent if you are going to the area as nearly all the dives you will do are covered. If you are planning a trip to Hurghada then this will help you prepare and give you a good idea of what to expect.

Copies may be purchased from http://www.travellingdiver.com/ or Amazon.co.uk.

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Labels: competition, dive destination, Red Sea

Voted one of the best dives in the world, the SS Thistlegorm was deteriorating because of the numbers of divers visiting it.

In December 2007, the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) installed installed 32 mooring lines at the site of the wreck to help protect it. However, in the three months since the conservation work, at least half of the lines have been damaged

Divers from the HEPCA mooring team have spent the last few days working on the mooring system and have lengthened the lines to minimum 18m depth. All the lines are now fitted with steel eyelets to make tying on easier, and each line has a buoy to aid easier identification. In addition, boats are no longer permitted to use the mooring system unless they throw an anchor from the stern. This extra stability should help to ensure that the lines do not become shredded by rubbing against the structure of the wreck in wind and strong currents.

It is hoped that these new enhancements to the system will eliminate any issues with diving operators using the mooring system and will ensure that all who visit the SS Thistlegorm comply with its use. This additional work was undertaken with minimum disruption and without the need for closure of the wreck.

The conservation work on the SS Thistlegorm is part of HEPCA'S Saving the Red Sea Wrecks Campaign.


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Labels: Red Sea, wrecks

Win a dive guide to Safaga, on Egypt's Red Sea coast. To enter just tell us how many dives sites are included in the Safaga pack (visit http://www.travellingdiver.com/ to find out) and e-mail your answer, together with your name and address, to news@scubatravel.co.uk before 29 February 2008.

Designed for the recreational holiday diver, the guide integrates detailed site-by-site information and maps with loose-leaf logbook pages. The pages fit into a standard 3-hole diving binder and let you research, plan and record your dives in one place.

You can purchase the Safaga guide from http://www.travellingdiver.com/ or Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/asin/0955640229/nws-21. Or wait and see if you win our competition!


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Labels: competition, Red Sea

Win a logbook and guide to Marsa Alam in the Egyptian Red Sea.

The guide comprises loose sheets designed to fit into a diving logbook binder.

The pack covers 16 sites in the Marsa Alam area: 11 shore dives and 5 off-shore reefs which you would need to dive from a boat.

The guide is extensive and covers all the sites you are likely to do on a week's holiday to the area and more. It includes Elphinstone reef which in my view is one of the best sites in the Red Sea and one I am particularly familiar with. The coverage of this site confirms my belief that these guides are accurate and do detail most of what you will need to know for the dive.

The pack contains the dive guides and also 2 spare logbook sheets (4 dives). All the sheets are standard 3-hole diving logbook size and contain a section for collecting dive data, a guide to the site including a 3D colour drawing, a description of the site and marine life. Finally there is a section for you to add your own notes on the dive.

The data section is very detailed and covers: the usual dive data on duration time, air consumption, weight as well as gas mix, tank type, visibility, water temp, sea conditions. In my view more than enough information.

All-in-all a good idea: I like the idea of a combined dive log and guide.

Review by Andrew Reay-Robinson

About the author of the guide
Julien Stein began exploring the remote diving destination of Marsa Alam in 1999, when it was still a largely unknown diving region. Over many years he created detailed maps of the different dive sites in the area. Today Julien continues with his explorations of new dive sites, while also coaching beginner divers and writing articles for diving magazines.

Win a free copy...
SCUBA News has two copies of the Marsa Alam dive guide and log book to give away. To win your copy, name three of the 16 dives sites included in the Marsa Alam pack (visit the publishers - http://www.travellingdiver.com/ - to find out.) To enter e-mail your answer, together with your name and address, to news@scubatravel.co.uk before 31 January 2008. Note: your details will be deleted when the competition ends - you will not be sent any junk mail.

If you are not lucky enough to win a copy you can purchase one from http://www.travellingdiver.com/ or Amazon.
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Labels: competition, dive destination, Red Sea

Following an intense operation, conservation work to preserve the wreck of the Thistlegorm has been successful and finished on schedule.

Diving boats and operators can now make use of the new mooring system.

More details of the newly installed moorings can be found on the HEPCA website.

In addition to the moorings, a quantity of holes have been drilled in the wreck as air-escape outlets. Further holes will be drilled at a later date but will not require further closure of the site.

The conservation work on the SS Thistlegorm will now be followed by a similar project on the Rosalie Moller and other wrecks under threat as part of the HEPCA ‘Saving the Red Sea Wrecks’ Campaign.

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Labels: dive destination, Red Sea, wrecks

Conservation work has now started on the SS Thistlegorm off the Red Sea coast of Egypt. The intense operation to install moorings and air-escape outlets on this legendary wreck is being undertaken by Red Sea NGO Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA). Members of the HEPCA diving and mooring team are currently working alongside volunteer divers from the Red Sea community to preserve the SS Thistlegorm for the future.

The conservation operation on the SS Thistlegorm is expected to last 10-15 days. HEPCA is ensuring that the work causes minimal inconvenience and will be completed as timely as possible subject to the prevailing weather conditions. During this time no diving activity is permissible on the wreck for safety reasons.

The temporary closure of the SS Thistlegorm is part of the ‘Saving the Red Sea Wrecks’ Campaign, which was launched by HEPCA at the UK Dive Show in October. The Campaign will later target the Rosalie Moller and other Red Sea wrecks under threat. The aim is to stop further damage to our wrecks and also encourage all Red Sea diving operators and divers to adopt a more environmentally aware operational and diving code.

The SS Thistlegorm has been voted one of the Top Ten Dives in the World.


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Labels: dive destination, Red Sea, wrecks

The wreck of the Thistlegorm will be closed to divers from 15th November till 15th December 2007. This is to allow for conservation measures that will help to preserve this historical and legendary wreck for the future. The closure is part of the new Saving The Red Sea Wrecks Campaign, launched by HEPCA (Hurghada Environment Protection and Conservation Association).

The campaign proposes a detailed plan to change in common vessel operational procedures that contribute to the degradation of the wreck. A complete educational and awareness program will also be rolled out to encourage more environmentally friendly briefings and best practice. The campaign will later target the Rosalie Moller and other Red Sea wrecks under threat.

During the intense conservation operation, the wreck of the Thistlegorm will acquire a complete buoy mooring system; separate descent and ascent lines; and air-escape outlets to allow for pockets of disposed air from scuba tanks to escape.

Hepca says "We have witnessed for too long the long-term effects of an unprecedented level of use on the SS Thistlegorm and many other wrecks in the Red Sea. Without the intervention of proper preservation management we will lose these valuable wrecks forever.

We hope that all diving operators and organisations will stand together to assist in the realisation of this unique operation and the Saving The Red Sea Wrecks Campaign."

The Thistlegorm has been voted one of the Top Ten Dives in the World. A British vessel, it was attacked from the air and sunk in 1941 whilst carrying a cargo of war supplies: rifles, motor bikes, train carriages, trucks. These are still inside the wreck.





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Labels: Red Sea, wrecks

Israeli and Jordanian scientists has developed the Red Sea's first artificial coral reef.

Take a dive off the coast of Eilat these days and you're liable to find yourself swimming around a huge yellow concrete and wire construction that stretches four yards up from the seabed, is four yards wide, and is full of holes.

The reef is a unique new approach to conservation in the Red Sea and part of a joint co-operative project between Israel and Jordan.

Dr. Nadav Shashar, the supervisor of the research project, and a marine biologist at the National Center for Mariculture, says "Because of the increase in the number of visitors, the coral reefs are unable to overcome the damage caused and are beginning to die out.

Part of the problem is novice divers. "They kick up the sand, or damage the corals by accident. Multiple that by 100,000 people and that's considerable damage," says Shashar. "These people don't mean to harm the reefs, but they just don't know how to dive properly."

The developers hope that the artificial reef will create a new attraction for these divers, steering them away from the natural reefs, reducing the pressure there and enabling them to recover from some of the damage inflicted on them over the last few years.

At the same time, the Tamar reef which is located near Coral Beach also provides the researchers with a unique underwater laboratory, enabling them to observe and unravel the development and growth of this unique and complex ecosystem.

Further reading: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Labels: coral reef, dive destination, Red Sea, SCUBA diving, SCUBA Travel

Following several months of research, Paul Vinten and Aaron Bruce from Hurghada Emperor Tekstreme have found the wreck of a ferry lying at a depth of between 64 and 83m. The Al-Qamar Al-Saudi Al-Misri sank north of the main port of Hurghada. It is intact and lying on its starboard side

Says Paul, "When the image of the wreck came on the echo sounder, smiles appeared on the faces of me, Aaron and the captain & crew. To find a wreck like this, and then to dive it, gave us all a great sense of achievement and whilst swimming round the wreck I couldn't stop thinking that I may be the first diver to see this. An amazing feeling!"

The 125m-long ferry sank in a fire caused by an explosion in its engine room in 1994.

The boat's 505 passengers and 63 crew were forced to abandon ship. Several vessels came to the aid of the stricken vessel, including the USS Briscoe, however the ship capsized and 21 people lost their lives.

Source: Emperor Divers

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Labels: Red Sea, wrecks

Egypt have cancelled a decree which allowed companies to collect reef fish and export them to Europe and other markets .

According to the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA), the previous decision had a devastating effect on nature and on the coral reef condition in the whole area. HEPCA launched a huge campaign against this decision and lobbied with other agencies, enthusiastic individuals, and major media representatives.

As a result of the decision HEPCA have ceased legal actions against the Minister's old decree.

Further Reading: http://www.hepca.com/

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Labels: environment, fish, Red Sea, SCUBA Travel, sealife