Sharm el Sheikh, July/August 2010
09.08.2010 Location: Ras Za'atar, Ras Mohammad No. 412
Dive Time: 62mins Max. Depth: 30.7m
This was also a morning dive and we did it as Nino wanted to show Hatem a rare species of ghost fish. As it happened he
did indeed locate it but as there was a Japanese melee way above us we stayed put at around 28m. I don't like getting caught
up with a large group underwater so we stuck to our own plan. This is a lovely wall dive for the first 20mins and reminded me
a little bit of Shark Observatory. Lots of Gorgonians and a beautiful florescent pink anemone which I had never seen before.
A Napoleon sailed above us in shallow waters on the coral garden. Lots of very pretty coral pinnacles which allowed for ample
photos and videos. To finish the day off we got sight of a very large turtle which had just surfaced for air as we were on the
way back to Travco. A really lovely day on the boat with two delightful children who were snorkelling with their dad. Aubrey
and B snorkelled together and a great finish to a fantastic holiday.
09.08.2010 Location: Anemone City, Shark and Yolanda Reef No. 411
Dive Time: 61mins Max. Depth: 27.8m
A pod of Humphead dolphins on the route out from Travco proved to be a sign for how the rest of the day would unfold.
There must have been around 7 in this group and they enjoyed playing around the boat and showing off their aquatic skills!
We were on "Delfinus" but this wasn't to be confused with the Delfinus crew of maybe 5 or 6 years ago. The crew didn't interact
nor were they particularly helpful, however the rest of the paying clients were lovely. We were guided by Davina who had guided us
before and she was just great. Dropped in deeper than usual on Anemone and unfortunately missed most of the clown fish and anemones
which gave the reef it's name. Anyhow the route to Shark reef is always interesting as it's a steep drop off. The jacks and snappers
were still hanging in the blue and as we progressed around onto to Yolanda the visibility was dramatically cut down. Hatem later
told me this was due to the high water temperature and consequently there was an eerie yellowish colour through the water. Davina
was forced to surface early as one of our divers was low on air so Dave, myself and a Russian photographer made our way over the
Yolanda wreck where Dave found a huge stone fish and I got sight of an eagle ray. Also saw yet another crocodile fish. Finished the dive
after an hour underwater which was just great!
06.08.2010 Location: Jackson Reef, Tiran No. 412
Dive Time: 56mins Max. Depth: 22.4m
Dived the opposite side of Jackson in hope of seeing the famous hammerheads. Finned out into the blue for a good 15mins but nothing!
The reef on this side of Jackson is absolutely beautiful and conditions today allowed for us to visit this side of the reef. It was
teeming with wildlife. As we approached the end of the dive a small group of snappers were hanging shallow and as I was filming them
Matty got sight of a white tip reef shark further down the reef. What a way to finish a diving holiday!!! It was great. We met a lovely
Scottish couple, Dave and Aubrey on the boat and it was a lovely day out. Sharm at it's best today. Thanks Matty for being a great
diving buddy and let's hope we can dive together soon in the future...Vanuatu, Truk or Maldives????
06.08.2010 Location: Jackson Reef, Tiran No. 411
Dive Time: 50mins Max. Depth: 27.7m
A day on the boat doesn't get much better than this! An early start yes but worth it to avoid the queue at Sharks Bay Jetty.
Onto dive boat New Age with a super crew and first dive was the conventional route on Jackson. Managed to get a little deeper
and further down the reef due to lack of current on first part of the dive. Consequently saw a large shoal of Banner Fish which
was really lovely. Plethora of small wildlife on the route back with a classic view of the large salad coral from below. Just
a perfect way to complete Matty's final day of diving. Fantastic dive guide Davina just let us be and was super chillaxed!
02.08.2010 Location: Shark and Yolanda Reef, Ras Moh'd No. 410
Dive Time: 49mins Max. Depth: 22.5m
Dropped directly onto Shark Reef and immediately saw large shoals of Snappers and Jacks. Unicorns hugged the reef wall.
We finned out into the blue to get a closer look and I managed to film Matty amongst the plethora of wildlife. Quite brilliant!
It was a little disorientating as completely lost sight of the reef wall and we must have been in the blue
for a good 15mins. Once back onto the reef Matty sighted 4 morays and a crocodile fish on Yolanda. I then found another crocodile fish
towards the end of the dive. A really brilliant dive and well managed by our super guide Marcello.
02.08.2010 Location: Jackfish Alley, Ras Moh'd No. 409
Dive Time: 58mins Max. Depth: 23.1m
We descended onto the satellite reef and explored this for first half of the dive. There was a slight current
but nothing too ferocious. Group of large Jacks and pretty coral pinnacles. Led by Marcello and a very pleasant dive
too.
01.08.2010 Location: Ras Umm Sidd, Tiran No. 408
Dive Time: 51mins Max. Depth: 30.3m
A change of dive guide meant we had probably the best dive on Sidd ever! We descended over the wall of Gorgonians
and I was pleased we didn't have to fin for 10mins before reaching this spectacular site. We spent a lot of time on
the gorgonian forest, zig zagging our way back onto the coral garden where we saw a very large Napoleon, followed
by a free swimming moray and it was BIG! Another Napoleon out on the drop off and lots of lovely stuff to finish
on the coral garden. Marcello the guide was simply fantastic and even took lots of photos of me and Matty
on the reef. It was a fabulous dive and one to remember! Cheers Marcello!!!
01.08.2010 Location: Temple, Tiran No. 407
Dive Time: 41mins Max. Depth: 19.6m
A rather overzealous dive guide ensured we surfaced with 80 bar!!! Nevermind as we made up for this
on the second dive. A very lovely dive with Matty. Crocodile fish, large Bat fish and 3 lion fish together
and lets not forget the heaps of nemos!! All good fun!
28.7.2010 Location: Thomas Reef, Tiran No. 406
Dive Time: 56mins Max. Depth: 26.3m
Quite an unbelievable dive! A small reef shark swam by fairly soon after we descended and then
we were lucky enough to see a white tip reef shark just hovering on the drop off. It did a U turn
and I managed to film it just below us. It was great and haven't seen a shark since 2003. Also saw a
huge Potato Grouper just after the first shark so a quite remarkable day's diving. Thanks Matty!!
28.7.2010 Location: Jackson Reef, Tiran No. 405
Dive Time: 43mins Max. Depth: 26.1m
A really lovely dive and current not too ferocious. Spotted a large turtle and managed to get some
decent photos and video of it. Large Jacks marauding the upper part of the coral reef. Matty's air
consumption as good as mine and we were last up. Top dive!
25.7.2010 Location: Near Garden No. 404
Dive Time: 48mins Max. Depth: 16.7m
Unfortunately just too many divers on the boat, all trying to kit up at the same time! Once we jumped in
someone's fin strap broke and had to wait on surface about 15mins before the boat came back to replace it. It
mattered because we ended up surfacing with 80bar!! Not a great dive with viz cut down considerabley and my
mask is still fogging up...pain! Matty did well and his air consumption is brill. A very pleasant day's
diving to start off the holiday.
25.7.2010 Location: Fiddle Garden No. 403
Dive Time: 55mins Max. Depth: 20.2m
A nice first dive back with Matty. Hardly any current. Peppered, juvenile Moray, large shoal
of blue triggerfish. Then saw a huge Moray, tail first! It got rather agitated after spotting me.
Large grouper inside the reef. Fantastic visibility and led by dive guide Christina from Russia.
Sharm el Sheikh, April 2010
17.4.2010 Location: Ras Um Sidd, Local South No. 402
Dive Time: 55mins Max. Depth: 24.1m
Not much current. When we arrived on the vertical wall with Gorgonians, a lone jack fish
was chasing a ball of sardines. The coral garden above was teaming with life and I enjoyed spending
a little longer filming & photographing the glass fish on one of the pinnacles.
17.4.2010 Location: Temple, Local South No. 401
Dive Time: 54mins Max. Depth: 24.3m
I haven't dived Temple for a while and had forgot what a lovely site this is. Current picked up
towards the end of the dive when I spotted a lone bat fish and very large moray inside the little cave.
Dived this with 2 Russian instructors.
13.4.2010 Location: Gordon Reef, Tiran Dive No. 400
Dive Time: 49mins Max. Depth: 15.7m
An exceptionally strong current for at least 30 mins of the dive. However once we reached the sandy section at around 10m lots to see including the largest moray ever and a stone fish. Nice dive and worth the effort.
13.4.2010 Location: Jackson Reef, Tiran Dive No. 399
Dive Time: 56mins Max. Depth: 28.6
A lovely dive with strong current in the middle of the dive. The red Anemone is just gorgeous! Nice buddy too and a good group of 4 with Sushi guiding.
11.4.2010 Location: Anemone City, Shark & Yolanda Reef, Ras Mohammad Dive No. 398
Dive Time: 55mins Max. Depth 26.3m
A really lovely dive from Angelina 3. Only 9 of us on board and just easy and relaxing. Came the route from Anemone City which is one of my favourites. A little heavy with 8 kgs & used more air than I usually do. Great dive with Veronica guiding.
11.4.2010 Location: Ras Ghozlani Dive No. 397
Dive Time: 61mins Max. Depth 20.5m
One of the best dives in recent times. Just loads to see including groupers, large puffer fish and a Manta Ray just before we were due to surface. That was then topped off by a pod of more than 20 dolphins on the route back to Travco jetty. Fabulous!!
8.4.2010 Location: White Knight. Dive No. 396
Dive Time: 38mins Max. Depth: 24.4m
I used this as a check dive for my new Proear mask without prescription lens. It fogged despite ample burning & cleaning. The new 5mm wetsuit was fantastic & easy to get on and off.
8.4.2010 Location: Ras Nasrani. Dive No. 395
Dive Time: 42mins Max. Depth: 26.2m
Probably one of my least enjoyable dives ever!!! The mask was fogged the whole of the dive. Burning the silicone off once is obviously not enough. Very frustrating!
