Big Five Explorer » Diving Africa

WANTED!! Yemeni fishermen de-fining sharks in Southern Red Sea

Diving Africa — Wed, 26 May 2010 07:55:37 +0000

A Yemeni fishing boat has been spotted in the southern Egyptian Red Sea de-fining sharks. Please report any sightings immediately.

Shark de-fining and fishing are criminal offences, prohibited and punishable by law in the Red Sea, in accordance to regulations set by the Governor of the Red Sea and the Minstry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 2006. This vessel has also violated international and Egyptian law by transgressing Egyptian waters.

The fishing vessel was obeserved at Zabargab and Brothers Islands by several safari boats and was las observed at St Johns at N 23 24.495 E 35 9.282. It is believed to still be in the area.

Do not approach the boat ! Document any activity using photo or video and contact HEPCA immediately.

This is the time to collectively work together and end a direct threat to the ecosystem and livelihoods of those who depend on the Red Sea.

HEPCA would especially like to thank the crew, staff and guests of Seven Seas, Obsession, Sea Serpent, Longimanus and Golden Dolphin who provided information about the location of the vessel and documented the vile activities that have taken place upon it and have deviated from their planned courses in order to fight for the protection of our natural resources.

Please report any sighting immediately to:

HEPCA Office: +20 65 344 5035 / +20 65 344 7728
HEPCA Mobile: +20 10 635 5011
Email: info at hepca.com (change at for @)
VHF Channel: 16

Source: Information provided by HEPCA, 26 May 2010.

How can you get some free days of technical diving?!

Diving Africa — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:11:47 +0000

In this new day and age of technology, Tekstreme are keeping up with the rest. We find ourselves in era where a mobile phone is not just a mobile phone, it reflects your personality, your status, your credibility and much much more (or so they say!!) You can now download for free the latest Tekstreme designs for your mobile. Keep Tekstreme with you where ever you go.

Click on the following link to take you directly to the web site page where you can save the images and then upload them to your phone. It is that simple even I managed to do it!!

http://www.tekstremediving.com/free.php

Also…..

For your interest Tekstreme are launching a competition:

Tekstreme‘s Design Competition

Attention Attention all you budding designers!!

Do you feel that you have a great idea that you would like to see printed on a Tekstreme T-shirt, Baseball cap, Towel or Jumper? Don’t let that design go as you might just be the next designer for Tekstreme diving!!

Any design idea is welcome from text to non-figurative designs. Submit any design you think would look good on a tek diver’s clothing and win 3 days of technical diving with us at Tekstreme!

So start designing and get wet with Tekstreme!

Tekstreme Design Competitions>>>

The Return of the Mantas

Diving Africa — Sat, 01 May 2010 12:43:52 +0000

April is a month to celebrate at Emperor Divers Sharm as summer finally arrives. Each year from April to September we are sometimes lucky enough to have the company of manta rays on our dives (orManta birostris, as Emperor instructor Pete Walsh would say!) All this month there have been numerous manta ray sightings by Emperor guests up and down the coastline. No longer is ‘Ras Mohammed’ or ‘Tiran’ the most popular choice, the ‘local’ dive sites are the place to be!

Manta rays, easily distinguished by their large mandibles, are the biggest winged creatures that inhabit the oceans. The largest known specimen measured more than 7.6 metres across with a weight of about 2,300 kilos. But here in Sharm a smaller, yet still impressive 3-4 metres is more common. Mantas feed mainly on plankton filtered from the water passing through their gills as they swim. Incidentally their top speed is only 7 miles per hour and for those of you that have had the chance to dive with them before, you’ll know it seems like they are going much faster.

Scuba diving with a manta ray is an amazing experience, often ended with a cheer of delight from the dive group upon reaching the surface. They are quite curious animals and they are often known to approach scuba divers, either enjoying the interaction and playing with our bubbles or simply wanting to see what is happening. These magnificent creatures are also frequently seen feeding near or at the surface so those snorkelling also might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse.

When diving with manta rays it is very important to remember that they are wild animals and should be observed only. The less action a scuba diver takes to scare a manta ray, such as chasing it to get a better look or to get that perfect picture, the more likely it is that the manta ray will hang around giving an unforgettable experience. Happy manta ray spotting this summer in Sharm!

Source: Emperor Divers (http://www.emperordivers.com/news/2010-04-2.php)

HEPCA moves to new headquarters

Diving Africa — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:34:52 +0000

The HEPCA team is very pleased to announce that they have moved to new headquarters. All the HEPCA offices can now be found in building B2 in the New Marina in Hurghada.

Heba Shawky, HEPCA’s Admin Manager said, “I will miss our old offices, we have been there for years but I am very excited about the move, it’s great to have all the HEPCA team under one roof”.

HEPCA’s activities over the last three years have witnessed a dramatic increase, Amir Ali, HEPCA’s Managing Director, explained “We are very proud that HEPCA has expanded it’s activities to encompass a wider range of issues”. This increase in activities had left HEPCA with offices scattered around Hurghada ; “this move has allowed us to expand our team and bring it together in one place, in order to maximise our efficiency and make life easier for those requiring our services”.

The New Marina will also host the HEPCA “fleet”; their boats including the scientific research vessel, the Red Sea Defender, will be moored at the New Marina.

Do YOU care for the Red Sea?

Diving Africa — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:23:33 +0000

If the environmental message is not getting through to you loud and clear and you need some motivation, take a look at our brand new video documentary at www.vimeo.com/9042327

This latest spotlight on the Red Sea really enforces the environmental message — introducing key issues and threats; showcasing what has already been achieved; and finally, emphasising what more there is to be done.

With the Red Sea increasingly under threat from the forces of daily environmental destruction such as pollution, over fishing and unsustainable development, there has never been a more critical time to take action and make a positive difference to our region.

As Amr Ali, HEPCA Managing Director says in the documentary: “People have to take an action and they have to take it now!”

Show that you care for the Red Sea. Watch this inspirational video today and contact us - office@hepca.com — to see how you can be actively involved in helping to protect our Red Sea environment for the future.

Contact HEPCA today

New ‘Palace Housereef’ for Marsa Alam

Diving Africa — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:04:12 +0000

The first official Palace Housereef dive took place recently. Now guests are just one giant stride away from one of the most amazing reefs in the area. Hawksbill turtles, barracudas and lionfish are seen on a regular basis.

Marsa Alam Dive Centre Manager, Vanessa Ronecker and Tom Bauer, Area General Manager for InterContinental Hotels in Port Ghalib, are pictured preparing for the giant leap!

Following his first diving experience, Tom decided to start his open water course straight away. During their dive they were accompanied by a little hawksbill turtle, lionfish and loads of anthias. Guests can choose morning or afternoon dives and even really early morning and night dives!

Source: Emperor Divers Blog (http://www.emperordivers.com/blog/2010/01/new-palace-housereef-for-marsa-alam.html)

From ‘child to adult’…is this the same Nuweiba Frogfish?

Diving Africa — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:27:09 +0000

As many visitors to Emperor Divers, Nuweiba, know, this is a great location for regular sightings of the elusive Frogfish. They vary from tiny little finger nail size specimens to the much larger — and thus named — Giant Frogfish.

Frogfish change colour over time to match their surroundings and, not surprisingly, grow larger as they grow older. Underwater photographer and frequent visitor to Emperor Nuweiba, Jan Davies, has sent us four photos from 2005 to 2009 of what he believes to be the same Frogfish showing how it has adapted its colouration over the years with its surroundings.

Are there any Frogfish experts out there who can confirm that this could be the same fish growing older over the years?

Frogfish 2005

Frogfish 2006

Frogfish 2007

Frogfish 2008

Source: Emperor Divers Blog (http://www.emperordivers.com/blog/2010/01/from-child-to-adultis-this-the-same-nuweiba-frogfish.html)

The Greatest Shoal on Earth

Diving Africa — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:25:43 +0000

Every year during the winter months of June and July in South Africa, one of natures greatest events take place. Millions of little sardines abandon their spawning waters of the Agulhas Bank located in the southern waters of South Africa where the cold Atlantic Ocean and warm Indian Ocean meet. It is the coming together of these two oceans that make the waters ideal spawning grounds as they are rich in nutrients.

The exact reasons why the sardine migrate away from such nutrient rich waters aren’t known but they thrive in water temperatures of around 20 Celsius. As the winter waters of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal cool, it is believed the sardines take advantage of their expanding territory and head northwards up the South Africa coast.

Measuring up to around 9 inches in length, these little fish travel in massive shoals clearly visible from the surface of the ocean. The shoals can be several kilometres long and up to a kilometre wide so in terms on numbers, they easily rival Africa’s other famous migration of the wildebeest as they head north from the Serengeti into the Masai Mara.

The Sardine Run is a big event of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal. As sardines are pretty much at the bottom of the food chain, it isn’t much of a surprise that when they create shoals more than a million strong that predators are soon on their trail. Under the water, the shoals of sardine are mercilessly pursued by sharks, tuna, dolphin and even whales. As they come under attack, the little fish form defensive bait-balls but it is little protection as time and again, the predators hit the bait-balls, taking a few of the little fish with each attack. There are some many sardines and predators in the water during the Sardine Run that the Natal Shark Board remove the shark nets that usually protect the beaches to prevent the sharks, dolphins and other large sea creatures from getting caught up and dying.

As the shoals come under attack, they are forced into shallower waters where they start to come under attack from the air as the sardine come within diving depth of gannets who join in the bountiful feast that nature has provided. Humans get in on the act too. As the shoals move to try to escape the caravan of predators, they move into shallow waters small fishing boats move in the fish are literally dragged ashore by crowds of waiting people. As well as the fishing nets all sorts of containers are used to scoop up the sardines by people trying to gather as many as they can carry.

The Sardine Run is a natural event and therefore it is by no means guaranteed. There have been no shows in recent years but every winter, the Greatest Shoal on Earth is eagerly anticipated by the people who live up and down the coast of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal in South Africa.

New Year victory for the people of Nuweiba

Diving Africa — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:24:37 +0000

The people of Nuweiba have an additional reason to celebrate this New Year with the announcement today that the power station planned for the South Sinai region has been blocked.

The European Investment Bank has declined a $320 million loan to finance the project amidst considerable pressure from environmental campaigners, investors and other stakeholders to properly consider the impact of its implementation on the local community, environment and tourism in the region.

Campaigners were shocked that the Egyptian Government appeared to be disregarding points from the 1994 Law for the Environment and that once again, the prospect of economic gain had seemingly overshadowed any environmental or social concerns.

On understanding that an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment, which is required by the Ministry of Environment for any project approval and permits) was not issued by the project managers, a group of experts were commissioned on behalf of HEPCA and other campaigners to comprehensively assess the situation and present a report to the parties involved. We also aggressively lobbied for a public hearing (also a legal requirement) in order to assess the consent of the local community and other stakeholder groups.

We would like to thank the people and communities of Nuweiba, and all those who actively added their voice to this campaign and successfully achieved the obstruction of this project.

The Ministry of Electricity and Energy is now believed to be looking at an alternative site to Nuweiba. Environmental campaigners will be watching closely to see what is proposed in the future.

*HEPCA wishes our supporters a happy and successful New Year.*

Source: HEPCA (http://www.hepca.com)

2 for 1 on Diving Packages in Sharm, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Nuweiba

Diving Africa — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:36:05 +0000

Hurghada, Nuweiba, Marsa Alam & Sharm el Sheikh:

2 for 1 package — SAVE up to 279 GBP

01 Jan — 28 Feb 2010

Offer applies:
- Daily Dive Packages
- PADI Open Water Course

- PADI Scuba Diver Course

- PADI Referral Course

- PADI Advanced Open Water Course

- BSAC Ocean Diver

- BSAC Ocean Diver Referral

- BSAC Sports Diver

- BSAC Sports Diver Referral

Free package for the 2^nd person must be of the same value or less than paid package

We can also book your flights, hotels and transfers and have a wide range of accommodation available at all resorts.

For more information, you can visit our website http://www.redsea.explorertravel.co.uk/DivingInEgypt.htm or call us on 0208 816 8789.

Terms & Conditions

2 for 1 offer based on standard rates and applies to Emperor Dive Centres in Hurghada, Nuweiba, Marsa Alam & Sharm el Sheikh.

Offers are for diving services taken within dates shown and valid on bookings paid prior to arrival.

Course materials and certification are additional, paid locally. Also available from Explorer Travel Shop

Diving includes 2 dives per day with tanks & weights.

Extras in resort (special trips, third dives, night dives etc), equipment, fees & taxes are additional, paid locally.

This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers and is valid on new reservations only!