The Equalizer Issue Six July 2011

7/31/2019 The Equalizer Issue Six July 2011

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ISSUE SIX

Jul-Aug 2011**FREE**

TH E

B E C A U S E N O T A L L D I V E R S W E R E C R E A T E D E Q U A L

EQUALIZER


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THEEQUALIZERISSUESIX-JUL/AUG2011

CONTENTS

REGULARS

07DiveProle

08WreckBrieng

10ReefBrieng

12SpeciesFocus

14EndemicSpecies

40PhotographyFocus

44PhotoContest

46NarcosisCorner

NEWS

16RedSeaNews

17RedSeaCalendar

18BusinessNews

20EnvironmentalNews

SELECTED FEATURES

22SharmsNewArrival

26TheDeepDeepSouth

30EgyptianLife

32SurfaceInterval

38LighthouseFocus

08

32

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THE EQUALIZER Jul-Aug 2011

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Cover Photo:

Napoleon Wrasse

by James Dawson

AndersJlmsjI have worked as a dive guide/instructor

for many years and I still love every

second of it. I have about 2.500 dives in

the Red Sea under my belt and Im still

excited every time Im about to jump in

the water.

Im very interested in marine life and tryto learn as much as possible about the

species I see. If I cant tell you what it

was we saw during our dive, most likely

Ill have the book to nd out.

MEET THE TEAM

JamesDawsonI had always wanted to dive and rst got

my opportunity on a holiday in Kenya

back in 1999. Since those rst few

breaths underwater, I knew it wouldnt

be a one-off.

Since living in Egypt, I have worked as

a guide and instructor in most areas

and have been fortunate enough to seesome amazing sights and experience

many wonderful dives. Theres

always something new to look for and

somewhere different to dive.

If youve missed any issues ofThe EQUALIZER, you can

download them for free at www.aziabmedia.com

[email protected]

DistributedbyAziabMediaLtd

IssueSix-Jul/Aug2011

BACK ISSUES

TheEQUALIZER. The views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively. Editorial contributions are welcome and should be sent to TheEQUALIZER. All due care will be taken with material submitted, but the magazine and publishers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage.The EQUALIZER assumes no responsibility to return unsolicited editorial, graphic or other material. All rights in letters, e-mails and unsolicitedand graphic material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes, and material will be subject to TheEQUALIZERs unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. The EQUALIZER is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted inwhole or in part without written permission from the publisher. The EQUALIZER retains the right to publish your material in all media, including andwithout limitation, the Internet. Some of the activities covered in this magazine carry a signicant risk of injury or death. Undertake them only withproper instruction, training or equipment. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice and information givento readers, the writers, editor, publisher and proprietor cannot accept responsibility for any damages or inconvenience that may arise therefrom.

CONTRIBUTOR-ClareWildersClare is an instructor and guide for the Ocean College Dive Centre as well as the

creator of the DiveBunnie website, home for women scuba divers.

http://www.blueotwo.com/http://twitter.com/aziab_red_seahttp://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=122917584402364http://www.blueotwo.com/


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EDITORIAL

Welcome to the sixth issue of THE

EQUALIZER.

In the latest instalment of the magazine

we take a look at one of the lesser known

destinations that the Red Sea has to

offer. Few divers have visited the Abu

Fandira and Ohrob areas close to theSudanese border but Anders Jlmsj

has been spending time in the very deep

south to bring you all the news from the

pristine dive sites down there.

We also have a report from Sharm El

Sheikh of a new arrival for Dr Adel. A

state of the art hyperbaric chamber that

opened recently and shall provide vital

support to divers for many years to come.

As well as these stories, we have our

regular features where you can take a

tour of some of the Red Seas best dive

sites and learn a little about some of its

residents.

Mike Onkers (who was recently published

in the UKs Diver magazine) is back

with another tall tale about a tyrannical

captain and the story of his revenge.

We look forward to seeing you in Egyptthis summer and hope you enjoy the

magazine.

As always, if there is anything you would

like to see included in The EQUALIZER,

please get in touch with us at;

[email protected]

Anders & James

DIVEPROFILEDr.TinaGauerAge:51

LivesinSharmElSheikh

Working as a freelance instructor,

photographerandvideographer

When did you start diving?TG: 1990

Why did you start diving?

TG: Because I have always loved the sea

and had a strong interest in the animals

living there. I guess thats why I became

a biologist

How long have you been in the Red

Sea?

TG: With interruptions to the Maldives and

a few other countries, almost 14 years

Which is your favourite dive site in the

Red Sea, and why?

TG: Actually, I have 2 favourites: Ras

Mohameds Shark & Yolanda Reefs in the

summer with huge schools of snappers,

batsh, surgeons, and sharks and for sure

Little Brother - a magnicent reef and lots

of different sharks in the blue

What was your most memorable dive?

TG: There are many, but in the Red Sea it

was a dive on Shaab Farag in St. Johns. Itstarted with a dolphin mother and her baby.

The mother had just caught a jacksh,

and was teaching the little one how to do

that. This is basically impressive enough,

but these 2 dolphins were followed closely

by 2 Silvertip Sharks, which had obviously

smelled the sh. After they left us, we saw

an enormous Manta Ray cruising the

reef and to nish this dive of a lifetime, a

feeding frenzy of 20 Silvertips and Grey

Reef Sharks hunting in a huge school of

blue fusiliers WOW!!!

If you could be a marine species, what

would you be?

TG: No question a dolphin! If you ever

looked a dolphin in the eye when it swims

next to you, youll understand why

What do you think is the biggest threatto the Red Sea?

TG: The increasing pollution of both land

and sea and human impact in general

Who is your dream Buddy, and why?

TG: My better half Oli Burle, but I would

love to dive with the shark lady Cristina

Zenato in the Bahamas. She is one of the

biggest ghters for the conservation of

our sharks and an amazing woman!

Whats on your bedside table?

TG: My alarm clock and a plush dolphin

called Junior

What are you doing in 10 years?

TG: Hopefully the same as today, taking

360-panoramas on land and lming and

guiding under water. If it will still be in

Egypt, I dont know, but I will be near and

in the sea for sure!

RED SEA LEGENDS


Tina relaxing on a safety stop
http://www.blueotwo.com/


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were saved only two days later as they

were right next to the heavily trafcked

shipping lane.

Diving at the east end of Gota Danoba of

course the wreck of Kingston is a major

attraction but its a small wreck and only

the stern half is still intact. This means

you will have plenty of time to enjoy the

reef as well. This is a good thing since this

is likely to be one of the best hard coral

dive sites youve ever seen. The current

sweeping along the reef bringing nutrients

makes the table corals grow so fast they

actually spiral around rather than create

a at surface. You can also nd some

more wreckage in the form of masts and

a propeller which probably belongs to

an earlier wreck. Enormous schools of

fusiliers, sweetlips and goatsh patrol

along the shallow wall while scorpionsh,

on the coral formations stonesh and

octopus lure on prey in stealth. Stayshallow for more light and marine life and

more dive time.

WRECKBRIEFINGKingston,GotaDanoba

a.k.a.ShagRockwords and illustration by Anders Jlmsj

Kingston was discovered by Shlomo

Cohen in early 1990s and was called

Sarah H before the true identity of Kingston

was established. Cohen was writing onhis book, the now classic Red Sea Divers

Guide, and needed to give the wreck a

name - not an uncommon practice by any

means. The captain of his dive boat at

the time was David Hillel and as his wife

Sarah was DM on the boat. They decided

to name the wreck after her. It would take

years before the wreck was correctly

identied as the Kingston.

She was built in Sunderland by the

Oswald Shipbuilding Company, and

launched early in the year 1871 and was

one of the slender steam/sailing cargo

ships that at the time started to be more

and more common. She had a single, 2

cylinder compound steam-engine that

delivered enough power for Kinston to

cruise with the speed of 11 knots. With

the measurements 78 meters long and 10

meters wide so she was smaller than both

Carnatic and Ulysses.

Her last voyage started January 20th 1881

when Captain Cousins let the moorings

slide in London with the destination

of Aden. The route went through the

Mediterranean and the Suez Canal.

Captain Cousins stayed at the wheel for

almost 48 hours till the end of the Straits

of Suez. Just as so many captains have

done before he relaxed as the landmasses

fell into the horizon. Now he felt he could

leave the ship in the hands of the rst

mate so he could nally get some well

deserved rest in his cabin.

Early in the morning February 22nd the

Kingston sailed straight into Gota Danoba,a.k.a. Shag Rock. As they knew that help

would not be long, Captain Cousins and

his crew remained onboard even when

most of the ship was submerged and

WRECK BRIEFING - KINGSTON, Gota Danoba

LOCATION:

On the western side of Gota Danoba, near

the exit of the Gulf of Suez

DIVESITEDEPTHS:

Maximum of 24 metres at the seabed

coming as shallow as 2 metres

MARINELIFE:

The Kingston is probably best known for its

resident surgeonsh that vigorously defend

their territory. They are often seen trying to

scare divers away from their home patch.

The surrounding reef has spectacular hard

corals and the table corals are in particularly

good condition at this site

CONDITIONS&HAZARDS:

The currents can be strong which can

make it difcult to stay on the wreck. It is

important to follow the side of the reef that

was planned in the brieng to ensure you

can be picked up safely at the end of thedive


Opposite: The location of the Kingston at Gota Danoba

Below: The wreck as she looks today


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REEFBRIEFINGErgSomaya,Hurghadatext & illustration by Anders Jlmsj

photographs by James Dawson

Some say that Somaya was the rst

female martyr in the Islamic religion.

This reef might be named after her or

after Somaya who was an early daysdive guide, either way this reef is so

beautiful that it is denitely worthy the

name of a saint.

A drift dive is highly recommended

because if there is a fairly strong current

you may miss the best part of the dive

with a stationary dive plan. When you

jump in the water, make sure that you

are close to the reef because the drop off

goes straight down to about 65 meters.

On the way south back to the mooring

line you will rst pass two big pinnacles,almost pyramid shaped, and a few

minutes later another smaller coral

formation. These are covered with deep

purple, red and blue soft corals

and gorgonias. If you ever

thought about bringing a under

water camera you should do it

on this dive! Between the rst

and the second pyramid you

may just as well swim straight

through the blue water. You

will still see the wall and thenext pyramid. On the slope

between them you see a big

table coral. After this you

swim closer to the reef and

the third formation. If you go


REEF BRIEFING - ERG SOMAYA, Hurghada

between this one and the wall you may

get a fun ride on the current that often is

quite strong in this bottle neck.

After you pass the third formation you

look to the left and you will see the rst

mooring line going from the bottom

to the boat. If you have air and NDL

time enough you might go through

the chimney and then nnish the divearound the actual Erg Somaya. Here

youre swimming around the reef

making your safety stop around the top

where you whish you could stay for ever

and that you could change the memory

card in your camera under water.

Left: The variety of marine life will

always offer something to see

Right: The currents bring essential

nutrients for the reefs health
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7/24

SPECIESFOCUSWrasses(Labridae)

words & photographs by James Dawson

Wrasses are one of the most diverse

families of reef sh with large variations in

both size and form. It is perhaps because

of this diversity that whenever a diver

cannot identify a particular sh species,

they simply name it a wrasse and call it

a day.

There are still some similarities across

the family though, with most having an

elongated body ending with a mouth that

has thick lips and protruding canine teeth.

Many species are able to extend their

mouth forward by means of a protruding

lower jaw. This allows them to achieve a

fast and powerful bite to aid in the capture

of prey or to remove shells or urchins from

the reef.

Wrasses also tend to have a continuous

dorsal n that runs the length of the shs

back and many have bright colour patterns

that evolve with growth or sex. As well as

changing colours, almost all species of

wrasse also possess the ability for sex

reversal and females will change sex to

a male when the need arises. Some may

see this as a promotion but Im sure there

will be others who see it as a punishment.

Mating most commonly takes place in the

open water with spawning to fertilise the

eggs. These then drift on the currents and

there is no contact between the juveniles

and parents after that point. Some species

have complex haremic mating systems

while others mate in pairs.

The size of wrasse varies greatly by species

with the largest being the Napoleon (or

humphead) wrasse. It can reach sizes

of up to 2.5m in length although they are

usually smaller than that.

Among the smaller species is the cleaner

wrasse which lives among the reefs and

removes parasites from the mouths and

Above: The wonderfully named Abudjubbe Wrasse

Right: A Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse works on an anthia

MARINE LIFE OF THE RED SEA

THE EQUALIZER Jul Aug 2011

gills of larger sh. They feed mainly on

the parasites or dead tissue and scales

of their customers and form a mutualistic

relationship where both parties benet

from the service.

Despite the opportunity for an easy meal,

the larger sh doesnt eat the cleaner

wrasse since the long-term benet seems

to outweigh the chance for a quick snack.

So the next time you cant identify a sh

that youve seen during a dive, dont just

assume that it was a wrasse. Theres a

good chance that it was, but wouldnt it be

nice to know which one?!

This page clockwise from top left: An Axilspot Hogsh showing its juvenile colour pattern. Adults have a

red front half of the body with white a t the rear. A Napoleon wrasse cruises along the reef at Brother Islands.

The Red Sea Falsher wrasse is found only in the Red Sea. An adult slingjaw wrasse that is able to extend

its jaw to aid feeding

Range: Throughout Red Sea

Size: Varies greatly from 6cm (minute

wrasse up to 2.3m (Napoleon

wrasse)

Depth: Potentially as deep as 250m

but many species are most

commonly seen shallower

than 30m

Hazards: Wrasse species are typically

shy and cautious around

divers although the Napoleonwrasse can be inquisitive.

Some have been known to

nip divers after becoming

accustomed to being fed by

hand


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ENDEMICLIFEOF

THEREDSEA

MaskedPuffersh(Arothron diadematus)

words & photographs by James Dawson

Puffersh are named after their defensive

mechanism that allows them to inatetheir bodies to deter predators. They draw

water into a specialised chamber near

their stomachs and can greatly increase

their size.

The masked puffer is a common sight in

the Red Sea and tends to be found in coral

rich areas shallower than 25m. It has a

grey/brown colouration with a dark mask

from the eyes running back to base of the

pectoral n. They are most often seen

resting on the seabed or on a coral head.

It is a solitary sh but gathers in groups to

court and spawn.

The masked puffer has a tough skin which

is highly exible to allow for the potential

increase of body size and is without scales.

The beak like mouth has

two dental plates which

it uses to scrape algae

from the corals and bite

through sponges.

They lack n spines,pelvic ns and ribs, and

this restricts their mobility.

If you see a puffersh

swimming quickly you can

see that it uses its entire

body for momentum and

is still a slow swimmer

capable of only short

bursts. This is why it has

developed the specic

defence technique of pufng its size to

ght off predators.

It goes without saying that you should

never provoke a puffersh to see it inate

since this is places a great deal of stress

on the animal and can cause it to be

vulnerable to attack after the event.

Range: Red Sea only

Size: up to 30cm

Depth: 3-25m (10-85ft)

Similar Species: replaced by Blackspotted

puffer (A. nigropunctatus) from Gulf of Aden to

Samoa with less black around pectoral n

THE EQUALIZER Jul Aug 2011

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9/24

REDSEANEWS

Eloise and Clare from Ocean College have some interesting sightings to report. In

early June Eloise met two hammerheads on the back of Jackson Reef in Sharm El

Sheikh and on the same dive she also saw an Eagle Ray and two Sailsh! These

may be the rst hammerheads of the year in Tiran. Last year, Jackson was worryingly

bereft of hammers for the whole summer but this year seems to start good.

Clare saw a Whitetipp Reef Shark and a Manta Ray within ve minutes of each other

on the local Sharm dive site of Fiddle Garden on the 24th June. Mantas have beenspotted repeatedly at the site both during dives and snorkelling, one of which was

particularly large, with no less than eight remoras attached to its belly and wings.

Fiddle Garden rocks at the moment says Clare and continues Ras Mohammed has

been pretty cool too. We had a leopard shark 1st July on the Alternatives, the biggest

tuna I have ever seen is currently residing on Jack Fish Alley. We are talking the size

of a pretty meaty shark here. And, the shoal of barracuda are back on Shark and

Yolanda Reefs... they were barely seen at all last year. It seems to be a good time to

visit Sharm El Sheikh right now.

Its mating season for Blue Spotted rays

again and in the Red Sea you are now

likely to nd them chasing each other

along the bottom and when one catches

up with another there is action guaranteed.

The Damselsh are having their little

ones on the way and are protecting their

eggs from other sh trying to eat them

while they are attached to rocks and hard

surfaces. Its great to see how brave they

are chasing larger sh away.

Sandra Caramelle from the SWDF

team and her guests on the boat

Dolphin Dancer met a group of False

Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)6th of June around 16:00 west of

Big Giftun in front of Sunny Days el

Palacio. Often mistaken with Short-

nned Pilot Whale (Globicephala

macrorhynchus) this species is more

often encounter around Fury Schoal

and further south but it happens they

swing by Hurghada area as well.

** NEWS **

Juveniles

Spring has sprung and now that we move into the summer months,

you will have a good chance of seeing plenty of juvenile sh that

were born recently. Sheltered shallow reefs are the best place to

look for juveniles, since they offer protection as they grow and a

chance to develop before heading into deeper waters.

REDSEACALENDAR:What to look for in the coming months

Photo:JamesDawson

** CALENDAR **

MatingTurtles

It is quite rare to see turtles mating but this is the time of year to

look for it. Courting takes place several weeks before the nesting

season and individuals will gather just offshore. Mating is done in

the water and males use claws on their front ippers to grasp the

females shell. Females will generally visit the breeding grounds

every two years, while males will mate every year.

Photo:JamesDawson


ImageCredit:JeremyCa

sdagli

Image Credit: Csilla Pall
http://www.emperordivers.com/


10/24

NEWS(Continued)

On Monday night, the 27th of June, HEPCA received a call that a large whale shark

was trapped in a lagoon near Shalateen. The 10 metre long sh had entered the

lagoon and could not nd its way out through the intensive coral formations at the

mouth of the bay. Despite the large size of the lagoon, this rare and magnicent

creature would have only survived a short time in the conned space.

After making countless

calls the same night, ateam including the HEPCA

Mooring Team and the

Elba National Park was

formed quickly to help the

whale shark nd its way

out of the bay and back

into the open sea. The

team spent 3 days with

the massive shark using

different techniques to

get him out of the lagoon

by trying to minimize the

stress factors the colossal

sh was exposed to.

Late Thursday afternoon the team managed to free the whale shark and release him

into the open sea again. The HEPCA Mooring Team sent back the news expressing

their joy that the animal was in good health.

We would like to give very special thanks to the Elba National Park for their help in saving

the whale shark. We are glad to see them operating again and hope for successful

cooperation in the future. Thanks also go to the local shermen, who dropped all their

work in order to save the worlds largest sh. Everyone did an amazing job and can

be very proud of their accomplishments. (Source: HEPCA.com)

On a sadder note, the planned world record attempt scheduled to take place in

Hurghada this summer has been cancelled. An ofcial statement from the organisers

said The Team of Egypt Scuba Challenge is apologize to announce the cancellation

of the challenge previously plan for July 26th, 2011 due to lack of participants. We

want to thank everyone who supported us and participated in the organization. [sic]


ForevenmorenewsandupdatesaboutallthingsRedSea-visit

www.aziab.com

** NEWS **

Image Credit: Dray van Beeck

SAVING WATER STARTS AT HOME
http://www.emperordivers.com/


11/24

TenSimpleWaysto

SaveWateratHomeby GREENandSAVE

If you havent taken the following steps

towards water conservation in your home

then today is the day to start.

1. Fix all leaks. This is the most obvious

thing that you can do to stop wasting water

at home. Why isnt it done yet?!

2. Replace your showerhead with a low-

ow alternative. You shower every day

so its important to reduce the amount of

water that youre using when you do.

3. Install aerators in your other faucets.Your showerhead isnt the only faucet

where too much water is coming out at

once. Add aerators to your other faucets

to reduce the amount of water ow.

4. Convert your toilet to a low-ush toilet.

Waste less water every time that you

ush. One simple way to do this is to ll

a plastic milk jug halfway with pebbles or

gravel and put it inside of your toilet tank.

5. Insulate all of your hot water pipes. You

waste a lot of water by running it to heat it

up. This is a lot less likely to be a problem

if your water pipes are properly insulated.

6. Water your plants with your extra

water. Collect rainwater as well as safe

greywater around the house and use this

water in landscape watering around your

home.

7. Begin composting around the home.

Just because you have a kitchen sink

disposal in your home doesnt mean

that you need to use it. In fact, if youre

concerned about wasting water around

the home then youll reduce your use of

the disposal immediately. Thats because

the disposal needs a lot of water to work

properly. Instead, save those scraps and

use them to start a compost pile.

8. Turn off the water when you are at the

sink. When brushing teeth and shaving at

the sink, stop letting the water run. Learn

to wash your face with cool water instead

of letting it run to heat up. These little

things do make a difference day after day.

9. Do full loads of everything that requires

water. Dishwashers and washing

machines should never be run when they

are only half-full. Its a waste of water.

10.Find ways to replace water use with

other options. For example, if you usually

use running water to thaw your frozen

meats then consider stopping that practice

and thawing them in the refrigerator

instead.

For more information on how to life a

greener life, visit;

www.greenandsave.com

SAVING WATER STARTS AT HOME


SHARM EL SHEIKHS NEW CHAMBER


12/24

ANewArrivalin

SharmElSheikhby Clare Wilders

There has been a new arrival at Sharm

el Sheikhs Hyperbaric Medical Centre.

Some weeks ago, I had brought a student

for a diving medical and Dr Adel was very

keen to introduce us to his new baby.

Somewhat excited, and fully expecting

to meet a newborn child, we walked

through to another room, where we were

teleported into another century. We

found ourselves stood in what looked like

NASAs Ground Control.

Dr Adels new baby was in fact a HAUX

Starmed 2200 hyperbaric chamber. The

very latest in treatment for decompression

illness. With gleaming white walls anked

by no less than four video screens, and a

whole computerised operating system, it

was truly spectacular to behold.

So, to give you a little history of the

chamber here. Prior to Egypt ruling the

Sinai, there was in fact a tiny chamber in

Sharm, which rather resembled a torpedo.

Once put out of action, this sat underwater

as an articial reef for some time in

Naama Bay. However now it has since

been recovered, restored and repainted a

glorious, sunshine yellow and sits outside

the Hyperbaric Medical Centre at Travco.

The current chamber was born back on

8th March 1993. Then the Hyperbaric

Medical centre was nothing more than a

group of four containers that had recently

arrived from the United States of America,

together with their own engineer. These

giant cartons held all the required

components needed in order to make a

hyperbaric chamber.

In less than four days, working a solid

forty hours, four men (Dr Adel, RaulfShmidt, Claude Antoine and the American

engineer) transformed the four containers

and built the chamber and surrounding

Medical centre that we know today.

SHARM EL SHEIKHS NEW CHAMBER


They used the containers themselves to

form the building, within which they set

up the generators, compressors, oxygen

tanks, air-conditioning units and all that

is required to host a hyperbaric chamber

and medical centre.

It was apparently the fastest government

project to come into existence, possibly

the fastest in Egypt even. On the morning

of the tenth of March 1993, the generators

were powered up, and the Sharm el Sheikh

Hyperbaric Medical Centre was born, with

fully functioning hyperbaric chamber. To

this day, however, it has still yet to have

its ofcial opening ceremony.

Since then, over 1,500 cases of DCI

(covering DCS, AGE and CAGE) have

been treated here, peaking at maximum

usage a few years ago with a total of 123

in one year. And right up to the present

day, this faithful chamber continues totreat patients, having passed all its recent

safety checks due to the TLC and top

quality maintenance that it has received

throughout its career. It can treat two

people lying down at any one time, more

if seated and until recently, has more than

sufced.

It was only when there was an incident

involving ve people, resulting in them

having to buddy breathe the oxygen, that

it was decided that they were going to

need a bigger boat, or chamber in this

instance. And with Sharm being such a

busy divers location, it made sense to

have the facility to treat more patients. So,

after much banging on doors of various

ministers, the government were nally

persuaded to help fund the new baby.

And so was born the amazing, space

age, third generation chamber. It is

phenomenal. I was treated to a guided

tour by both the proud father Dr Adel and

Dr Ahmed his second in command. It

sports a bank of padded seats, and two

beds allowing no less than twelve peopleto be treated at once (eight if two need to

be lying down on the beds).

The re ghting system is apparently the

best in the world (well when you are

dealing with such high levels of oxygen,

you need to take precautions). I was

shown racks of gleaming oxygen tanks,

two impressive Bauer compressors with a

circuit board to make your eyes water not

to mention enough buttons, switches and

keyboards on the control panel to send a

pilot into melt down.

Now I have been in the previous chamber

having fractured my foot, I was allowed to

tend a diver I knew, who had been in need

of a treatment. So even though I am really

quite tiny, for two of us, I was still very

aware of feeling pretty cosy with my fellow

dry diver. Banished will be that sensation

in the new chamber, with so much space
http://www.tekstremediving.com/


13/24

you could play a game of tennis. Ok, so

maybe that is a slight exaggeration.

Today, I took it to the real extreme and

decided to try out the little yellow chamber

that sits outside the centre, and to me

has always looked far too cofn sized for

me to want to ever enter. Well (thankfully

knowing the lid is still well and truly buried

somewhere in Naama Bay), I decided

to see just how small it really was. And

again, bearing in mind that I am far from

big, this is a tiny, tiny space in which to be

spending any amount of time.

Most treatments last well over one hour

usually a few. Something I would not

have enjoyed one bit at least even in

Dr Adels current chamber, there was

room to move, and we could sit and chat

amongst ourselves. Well there wasnt

much else to do for three hours. Thankfully

this archaic chamber has long been out ofaction.

The latest, super chamber also boasts

the most incredibly sophisticated control

systems, which can be programmed via

computer or manually, and which can

monitor all the patients vital signs. Well,

it was built in Germany and they are

known for their engineering. There is

even a collection of mobile phones that

are suitable to use inside the chamber for

communication purposes.

With all this extra space, they will not

only be able to treat accidents such as

the aforementioned, it will also allow

treatments for less serious ailments such

as fractures, and diabetic foot. These can

now be treated with compression and

high partial pressures of Oxygen without

the guilt issue of worrying that by doing

so, could delay the treatment of a serious

dive accident.

Already Dr Adels new baby has been

paying her way, having treated four people

so far. Already making herself a hugely

valuable addition to the family.

How fantastic that we are able to benet

from such improvements to the system. As

it is, there is a wealth of research into dive

medicine that is constantly undertakenhere, and for people to get the best

possible treatment in such a busy divers

destination, it really does make sense.


BORDERLANDS DEEPER SOUTH THAN DEEP SOUTH
http://www.facebook.com/l/3e092iFsZUefgbgeUqFyI17rb9w/www.divebunnie.comhttp://www.tekstremediving.com/


14/24

AbuFandira&Ohrob

TheNewFrontierby Anders Jlmsj

The St. Johns area combined with

Zabargad and Rocky islands has long

been considered The Deep South of the

Egyptian Red Sea, but in recent years

a few liveaboard operators have been

venturing even further south, edging

toward the border with Sudan. Due to the

distances, sailing time mean its almost

only possible to do this itinerary during

the longer summer days. Coincidentally,

this is also the best time to dive the area

and the rewards for divers choosing this

journey are extraordinary. I went on the

liveaboard vessel Blue Fin with Ahmed

Fadel, one of the most experienced dive

guides for this area, this summer.

Ahmed Fadel has been working as a diveguide and instructor in the Red Sea since

1993 and for the last few years he has

explored the new dive sites to the south

of St. Johns. Most people coming this far

south are trying to dive the sites as they

would dive the sites up in the north he

says and explains that this is not always

the right way. You have to use your

imagination and look for signs where

the best part of the reef is. This is why

many operators have discarded the area,

thinking that the diving is not so good.

This of course is good for us we saw

only one other dive boat the whole time

we spent down there and that was only

travelling to its new owners in Djibouti.

We departed from Marsa Ghaleb and

sailed through the night to arrive at Abu

Fandira at 7am the following morning. This

is about 16 nautical miles off the Egyptian

coast and not far from the Sudanese

Border. Abu Fandira got its name from

the big rock on top of the reef, which

sherman called Fandira and is used for

navigation along this long reef. This is a

short description of three of the many dive

sites in the Abu Fandira and Ohrob area

the Red Sea at its best in the summer.

FasmaAbuFandira

This is a dive that might challenge your

navigation skills. Basically there is a gap

in the main reef that forms a small channel

from the open sea to the inside of the

reef. In the middle of this channel there

is a fairly large Habili which is connected

to the main reef in the south-

east with a very pretty hard coral

garden. The site can be dived

either from the boat stationary

on the moorings or by rolling in

from the Zodiac on the outside

and swimming back through the

channel.

If you go for the Zodiac option

you drop in on the north side of

the Habili and simply put the reef

on your right shoulder. Keep one

eye out into the blue where Tuna,

Rainbow Runners and Trevallies

BORDERLANDS - DEEPER SOUTH THAN DEEP SOUTH


often patrol along the reef. Make sure that

you are not too deep and ready to nd the

passage over the reef, which could easily

be missed if youre too deep or too far out.

Take your time in this area since the huge

hard coral formations are stunning and

big schools of Black and White Snapper,

Unicornsh and Surgeonsh almost

always hang in mid water.

As you exit the passage on the inside of

the reef a at sandy sea bed speckled by

coral towers of various size and shape

invite for some pretty amazing exploration.

Here you nd the usual bottom dwellers

like Blue Spotted Rays and Goatsh plus

the famous Red Sea beauty of soft coral

and Anthias. The white sandy bottom at

14 to 17 metres, in contrast to the colourful

pinnacles makes for a mind-blowing

atmosphere and its easy to lose track oftime and directions. Make sure you have

a reference point or you might nd you

have to nish your dive under your SMB.

Your safety stop ideally conducted while

following the reef back to the boat.

HabiliAbuFandira

This little dive site consists of one small

main reef in the north and two pinnacles

in the south plus numerous small coral

towers and blocks scattered over

a at sandy bottom, each and

every single one beautiful enough

to spend an entire dive at. In my

own humble opinion this is - if not

the most then at least one of the

prettiest dive sites in the Egyptian

Red Sea.

The oval shaped main reef is

around one hundred meters long

and forty meters wide stretching

out in an east-west angle. The

shallow part, down to 10 to 12

meters, is more or less vertical

but then it turns in to a slope giving the

reef a hat-like shape. The foot of the reef

meets the at sandy sea bed at 18 to 20

meters on the south side and 27 to 30

meters on the north side. Special for this

dive was the big schools of sh hanging

Far Left: Ahmed briefs the divers at Habili Abu

Fandira Top: A sample of the pristine corals that

can be found in the areaAbove: A pair of divers

with big smiles after their dive

ImageCredit:AndersJlmsj

ImageCredit:MarkGlynn



15/24

series of pinnacles you might experience

some stronger currents so this is a good

time for turning around. On your way

back you should shallow out to 10 to 12

meters where the light and the colours are

amazing. The safety stop is conducted

while swimming from the bow mooring to

the stern.

Yet another feature of the area south of

St. Johns Reef is the Rissos Dolphin that

are often seen standing on their heads

with the tailn and up to half of its body

sticking out of the water. They are quite

shy and not often encountered under

water but still an awesome sight during

sailing. They also dont seem to like riding

the bow wave as much as their bottlenose

cousin.

There are advantages and disadvantages

with this itinerary. If you dont like sleeping

while the boat is moving, then this is not

for you. Due to the long travel distances

there might be up to four hours between

dives and the night is often used to move

from one area to another. The advantages

are winning though, by far!

You get to see pristine dive

sites in an unspoiled area

where you will be one of

the rst. The marine life is

outstanding with extremely

rare species not yet scared

off by herds of divers. The

corals are in absolute mint

condition and the amount

of sh astonishing. The

best time to go here is in

the summer months May

through July when the

days are longer. This is

also plankton season so

the chances to encounter

larger plankton feeders are

good. The visibility might be slightly less

than in the winter but the action on the

reef overrules a few extra meters visibility.

Small sh are pulsating out from the

reefs to catch the food brought by thecurrent and predators are not late to take

advantage of the situation shooting in and

out trying to catch a bite. If you have a

chance to make a dusk dive here do not

hesitate. This is your chance to come

face to face with the giants of the south.

Half an hour before sunset the Bumphead

Parrotsh are returning to their sleeping

quarters in the reef and you can nd

yourself in the middle of a school of a

hundred individuals.

All in all the Abu Fandira and Ohrob area is

likely to be one of the best locations in the

Egyptian Red Sea. Pros and cons taken

in calculations it all equals up to WICKED!

in the split point of the current. In addition

to the usual suspects like Snappers,

Goatsh, Sweetlips, Surgeonsh,

Tangs and Trevallies you will also see

Sleek Unicornsh plus the Blue Spine

Unicornsh probably the most sh-

shaped sh in the sea.

The two pinnacles to the south are

extraordinarily beautiful covered by soft

corals and with a veil of anthias swaying

with the water movement. On the west side

of the eastern pinnacle, near the bottom

you nd a big anemone with anemonesh

and an equally big one on the west side

of the western pinnacle at a depth of 15

meters. This pinnacle also has a bump

at 8 meters on the south side with a small

cave/overhang where you can get great

camera angles featuring Glasssh.

Here we also encounter one special

feature for this time of year. Its mating

season for Octopus, Bluespotted Ray

and Tangs. We see enormous schools

of Sailn Tang pulsating from the bottom

towards the surface where they release

eggs and sperm in a big cloud. Along the

sandy bottom Bluespotted Rays chase

each other in a race to nd a mate and

on the main reef Octopus are wondering

around in the same business. Its an

awesome experience to see the sea

rejuvenate.

OhrobSouth

This almost circular reef is about two

hundred meters in diameter and with

the right conditions it is theoretically

possible to circumnavigate the entire reef.

However, its better to concentrate on one

area and the east side is far better than

the west, which makes a morning dive the

natural choice.

The boat is normally moored up on the

south side and depending on the direction

of the wind it might be on either the east or

the west corner. The top of the reef is an

almost inverted wall and half way to the

bottom it starts sloping steeply out from

the reef giving it a slight hour-

glass contour. At the foot of thereef - around 19 to 22 meters on

the east side and 24 to 28 meters

on the west side - large ridges

reach out over the at sandy

sea bed. All around the reef

large outcrops of coral create a

beautiful garden-like landscape

with an astonishing number of

Yellow Margin Triggersh.

On the east side, half way from

the mooring to the north end

you will nd a satellite pinnacle

connected to the main reef by a coral

ridge. Here you often encounter a group

of Bumphead Parrotsh with up to 20

individuals. A few n kicks later you pass

an area inhabited by Garden Eels right at

the base of the reef.

As you reach the point where this south

reef is connected to the north with a

Opposite: A red anemone that is home to a

family of anemonesh

Above: The distinctive bumphead parrotsh

that is often seen at these dive sites during the

summer months


ImageCredit:MarkGlynn

ImageCredit:JamesDawson

THE MAGIC OF CAIRO


16/24

Clockwise from top right: The mosque of Bin Saladin, the maze like alleyways of

Kahn El Khalily where bargains wait to be found, a view of the river Nile - the life blood

of Cairo, a small sample of the history and heritage that Cairo has to offer, one of theiconc pyramids at Giza - a must see attraction on any visit to Cairo, the entrance to the

world famous Cairo Museum, the step pyramid at Saqarra - one of the early prototypes

of pyramid design, the Cairo Tower where you can get birds eye views of the city.

EGYPTIANLIFEAPhotographicTourofCairo

Cairo is one of the most inuential cities in the Middle East region and has a rich history

dating back millennia. Here are just a few samples of some of the delights that you could

see on your next trip to this vibrant capital;


THE MAGIC OF CAIRO

AllImages:JamesDawson

UNDERSTANDING LOCAL CUSTOMS


17/24

be tipped. But at the end of the day it is up

to you. You are under no pressure to do

so, but it does leave a good impression.

Be aware of the fact that many Egyptian

people are depending on tips.

In the western world co-workers often

socialise after hours which might includeafter work drinks in a pub. Muslims do

not drink alcohol and places like a pub, a

bar or a disco are not considered suitable

scene for recreation. If your Muslim friend

politely declines an invitation, do not take

that as bad manners or unfriendliness. Its

just a difference in cultures that should be

respected. Its a better idea to meet up in

a restaurant or a coffee shop.

Egyptian society has a very hierarchical

nature, which means that status is always

an issue and everything is a competition.Using someones titles like Doctor or

Sheikh will be highly appreciated. If you

dont know the title you can use the word

Ustaz, which means Mr. For women you

just add an a at the end of the word like

Doctora, Sheikha and Ustaza.

All famous and major mosques are open

to tourists except for when the Friday

services are in progress at noon. Western

Christian churches are considered houses

of God, whereas Mosques are more a

gathering place. There are a few simple

rules for entering a Mosque.

You must take your shoes off before

going into the prayer hall.

The clothes youre wearing must be

respectable. Do not come in shorts, or

mini skirts, or tight clothes. Knees and

elbows should be covered. Womenshould cover arms and legs. Easiest is

just to wear long trousers and a long

sleeved shirt.

Even if there is no rule that women

cover their hair it is recommended.

Do not bring pets.

Egypt is a warm and welcoming country

but as when visiting anywhere, it is always

respectful to be aware of local cultures,

customs and traditions. By following a few

simple guidelines you can be sure that you

are making a good impression yourself.

VISITORADVICE

Cultural

Considerationsby Anders Jlmsj

Egypt is a country with huge mix of cultural

heritage and you will nd traditions dating

back to the times of the Pharaohs as well

as customs brought in by other culturesthrough history. This mix has given

Egypt a colourful culture and seems

very different compared to other Middle

Eastern countries.

All those cultural differences make a visit

to Egypt an amazing and memorable

experience. But just like any other culture

in the world, it can be confusing and

misunderstandings may occur. There

are issues that need to be considered

to avoid unnecessary offence and byunderstanding local traditions and

respecting your host you will get more

from your visit.

If you would get invited to an Egyptians

home its considered polite to bring some

sweets, cookies or pastries. You can

also buy owers, especially when visiting

someone who is ill or newly wed. A bottle of

wine is not a good idea since Muslims are

not allowed to drink alcohol and it would

probably not be allowed in the house.

Egyptians love it when you greet them

in Arabic and Salaamo Alaykom is the

most common salutation. It means Peace

be upon you and is often combined with

a kiss on each cheek. Normally you would

also shake hands but remember, many

are not comfortable with shaking hands

or kissing with the opposite sex. To play

it safe when meeting someone from the

opposite sex greet them verbally and wait

before reaching out your hand until you

see if he or she presents their hand rst.

Showing the soles of your shoes to

someone is considered extremely

offensive so think of how youre positioning

your feet in relation to others. Also avoid

sitting with your legs wide apart. Also

remember to dress appropriately when

out in public. In the resort towns such as

Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada, there is

more tolerance towards casual dress, but

it is still a good idea to cover shouldersand knees to avoid offence.

Egyptian hospitality is one true piece of

culture that everyone will experience no

matter how long or short your stay is. You

cant go anywhere without being handed

hot tea, food or both, and you cant leave

without an invitation for next time or a bag

of food.

Another rule of etiquette is that greetings

must precede all forms of social

interaction. A person joining any kindof group, even a group of strangers, is

expected to greet those already present.

In less anonymous situations handshakes

are due. Embracing is also common as a

form of greeting, usually among members

of the same sex.

Tipping is a part of daily life in Egypt and if

someone puts in extra effort, they should

UNDERSTANDING LOCAL CUSTOMS


RAMADAN KAREEM


18/24

or serenity. You should avoid arguments,

and show kindness. The very nature of

Ramadan is a month of mercy and good

deeds. It has very spiritual aspects, since

a real fasting is not limited to resist eating

and drinking only, but also to refrain from

committing sins. It is a matter of behaviour

as well as a matter of food and drinks.

As the sun is setting, everyone wants to

get home for food and drinks and maybeeven more importantly, a cigarette and

a cup of coffee. Staying away from your

addictions seems to be the hardest. The

family has to be ready at the dinning table

before the cannon shot - announcing the

break of fasting. After iftar most people

visit the Mosques for prayer.

Muslims celebrate this month with delight

and cheerfulness. They pray and read the

Quran - they have to read the entire Quran

at least once during that month. They

prepare for the celebrations by hanging

up coloured decorations in the streets

and banners announcing that Ramadan is

coming soon. They also hang up lanterns

called Fanus.

The activity of the day seems to shift during

Ramadan. Some workplaces change

the working hours so the employees

can sleep longer and miss some of the

daylight hours. Most fasting Muslims get

on with their everyday routine as normal,

maybe just shaving an hour or two from

work. Sleeping late into the day is not

technically a fast breaker but considered

as cheating by some.

Some get up before sunrise and eat

sohour - snack - and then go back to

bed. Shops are open later, and streets

swarm with happy crowds until late at

night. Some of the tourist sites will close

earlier, around 3.00pm so some operators

will most likely starting some tours a little

earlier in the morning.

The feast after Ramadan

called Eid el Fitr meaning

the small feast. The rstday of the feast everybody

dresses in new clothes and

go to the Mosque to pray.

After prayer everyone goes

home to enjoy a cup of tea

and some kahk in daylight.

This year Ramadan will start

1st August and nish the

29th in sizzling temperatures.

Egypt is the largest of

Arab countries where the

population of 80 million ismainly Muslims. One of the things ex-

pats normally nd rather pleasant is the

fact that during Ramadan the streets are

completely still for the hour after iftar and

the call to prayer. The only other time you

see this is during the World Cup.

TheHolyMonth

inEgyptwords by Anders Jlmsj

Ramadan Kareem is the number one

greeting during The Holy Month, like

when we say Happy New Year or

Merry Christmas. Kareem is Arabic for

generous and generosity is one of

several virtues a Muslim wishes to achieve

during Ramadan. During this time its

considered very polite and appreciated

to greet Muslim people with the words

Ramadan Kareem.

Ramadan is the month during which

Prophet Mohammed received the

inspiration of Quran. This is celebrated

each year by Muslims around the world.

Since the Islamic year is based on the

lunar year the start of Ramadan moves

eleven days earlier each year.

Ramadan is a period of purication for

Muslims, in which they abstain from

food, drink and sex from dawn till sunset.

People who do not fast are expected to

provide food for those who are fasting, or

donate money to the community for public

meals.

This manifests in long tables along the

streets for iftar at sunset - the time to

break the fast. Anyone passing by can just

walk in, have a seat and eat. Egyptians

like their sweets and Ramadan is well

known for special desserts like Kunafa,

Kataief and Khushaf - a mixture of

dates, apricot, black plums and raisins

as well as a particular apricot juice called

Kamar El Din.

At the end of Ramadan, women bake

kahk which are cookies lled with dates

or nuts. Even if its the time of fastingEgypt consumes three times its normal

food during the month of Ramadan.

It is a Ramadan tradition that families who

can afford it feed people with less means.

Companies also arrange workplace-iftar

where all levels of employees together

break their fast. During Ramadan rich and

poor is equal in suffering by going all day

without food, drinks and cigarettes.

Although visiting non-Muslims are surelynot expected to fast during daylight hours,

it is considered somewhat impolite to eat,

drink or smoke in public. Some of the

Egyptian Christian population take part

in Ramadan as well, and many dont eat

during the daytime and share fasting with

their Muslim neighbours.

Equality is one part of the principles of

Ramadan while another is contemplation


RAMADAN KAREEM

Opposite: An example of the iftar when the fast is

broken for the dayAbove: Pilgrims praying at the holy

city of Mecca during the month of Ramadan

BackgroundPhoto:BernadetteSimpson

ImageCredit:AliImran


COMMUNITY SPIRIT
http://www.papasbar.com/


19/24

BeachCleanUps

inElQueseirby Steve Rattle

Pharaoh Dive Club in El Quseir have

been operating their Project Aware

Volunteer Programme for 2 years with

some amazing achievements.

The primary objective is educationwith community involvement, rather

than continuously clearing debris from

the beaches and sea. With a meagre

budget but enthusiastic support from the

community, our staff and the volunteers,

PDC have endeavoured to join the

communal effort to cure the problem at

the source.

Where better to start then with the

children, PDC in conjunction with local

schools, now run regular adventure days

for the local children. They have a day

on the boat at a local dive site where

they are shown how to snorkel under the

supervision of professional guides and

shown the beauty of the reefs.

The following day they all meet again

on a local community beach not used by

tourists and conduct their own clean up

under the volunteers direction. The smiles

and enjoyment on the childrens faces are

there for all to see, as is the fruits of their

efforts.

If we all continue to make a small

contribution whether with time or

donations, great things will be achieved.

For more information on how you can

help or for full details on the Volunteer

Programme please contact;

[email protected]


COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Right: The children cleaning up their beach

Below: The fruits of everyones hard work

LIGHTHOUSES OF THE RED SEA
http://www.papasbar.com/


20/24

ZAAFARANA

LIGHTHOUSEby Anders Jlmsj

Zaafarana is located on the west coast of

the Gulf of Suez, around 240 kilometres

north of Hurghada and 219 kilometres

south of Cairo.

This area is sometimes called the

Egyptian Riviera and the sandy beach -

the main beach nearly 2 kilometres long

- and the crystal clear, azure blue waters

are indeed brilliant.

Tourism has not yet exploded in Zaafarana

like in other Egyptian destinations but the

area is under steady development and will

most likely be a sensation in the future.

The light house of Zaafarana, managed

by Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety,

was built in 1862, and is still an active aid

to navigation. It has a focal plane of 25

metres from where a white light ashes

every 10 second.

The round stone tower located on the

plateau of the small peninsula rises 25

metres over the ground with lantern and

gallery. It is painted white and surrounded

by the one-story lighthouse keepers

quarters.

Zaafarana is one of many sites of a large

wind power farms that are becoming more

and more popular in Egypt. Zaafarana

also hosts an interesting historical

sight, however often overlooked due to

its location. Its the monastery of Deir

Quaddis Antunyus in the valley of Arabah.

The Monastery houses ve churches, the

spring and the cave of St. Anthony plus

a library with 1562 books, 1438 of which

are in manuscript form. Located in the

foothills of Gabal Gallalah Al-Qibliyyah

it was founded in the 4th century and

dedicated to the godfather of priesthood

St Anthony.

Today you can reach it by car but in

ancient times, pilgrims and supplies were

lifted up to the monastery by a simple lifthand operated by pulley of wheels and

the ropes.


LIGHTHOUSES OF THE RED SEA

Above: The lighthouse at Zaafarana with its

iconic stone towerBelow: The Monastery of

Deir Quaddis Antunyus

PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS


21/24

ManualWhite

BalanceExplainedwords and photos by James Dawson

White balance is a setting that is becoming

standard on more new cameras. It allows

you to set the colour temperature for the

environment and the light source that is

present.

Manual white balance - MWB (or custom

white balance) takes these preset levels one

step further by allowing you to manually set

the camera for what is white.

To see how to do this, check your cameras

instruction manual for the specic method for

your particular make and model. Follow the

details in the manual and simply hold a white

object in front of the lens when setting the

manual white balance.

A white slate works well but it is also possible

to achieve good results with a grey slate or

even the palm of your hand. Your hand has

the added benet of not oating out of easy

reach when underwater!

Whilst diving, the rst colour lost is red due

to the water absorbing the shorter wave

lengths of light. By setting the manual white

balance you are effectively telling the camerato compensate for the loss of red by digitally

replacing it.

As your depth changes so will the level of red

that is lost. You, therefore, need to reset the

manual white balance whenever your depth

changes. The deeper you go the more red

colour the manual white balance replaces.

Another important thing to remember is to

point the camera in the same direction as

PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS


Above: Two examples of the same photograph - one with auto white balance (left) and one where the

manual white balance was set for the depth (right). The MWB has compensated for the lost colur in the

water and produced a photo with more natural colours compared to the blues of the auto settings

Far Left:Another example of the same image using the two white balance settings on the camera

Left: Some of the most commonly found white balance settings on modern digital cameras

your intended photograph. This ensures

that the light and colour loss, which are

compensated for, are the same when you

set the manual white balance as when

you take your photo.

Its usual to turn off the ash when using

manual white balance as this will replace

light (and therefore colour) which will

lead to uneven colour balance across the

image. The areas that the ash illuminates

will be too red, whilst those that the light

doesnt reach will be too blue.

Practise setting the manual white balance

on your camera before diving so that

you are familiar with the process and

the buttons. This will allow you to set

your equipment up safely and quickly

before a shot and make your diving more

comfortable.

Practisemakes

perfect!

More tips and advice

can be found in this

new guide. Available

as an app for both

iPhone and iPad.

Click here for details

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER - Kitty Jempson
http://itunes.apple.com/eg/app/guide-to-underwater-photography/id395146722?mt=8http://itunes.apple.com/eg/app/guide-to-advanced-underwater/id410525821?mt=8http://itunes.apple.com/eg/app/guide-to-underwater-photography/id395146722?mt=8


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This months featured photographer is Kitty Jempson. Kitty has always been fascinated by the underwater world and as a girl, would take

endless photos in the pool with a disposable camera. She now runs underwater photography workshops with Worldwide Dive and Sail,

where enthusiasts can gather to learn from Kitty and their fellow passengers. To see more of Kittys work visitwww.underseaimages.co.uk

AllPhotos:KittyJempson

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER - Kitty Jempson


PHOTO CONTEST


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The winners of the latest EQUALIZER photo contest are;

FIRSTPLACE - PAUL COLLEY

SECONDPLACE - STEVE RATTLE

THIRDPLACE- JOAKIM KRASSMAN

Congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you to everyone who took the time

to send in their photographs. The quality was very high but after a lot of deliberation,

the judges all agreed on the nal three. To enter, see the details opposite.

PHOTO CONTEST

FIRST PLACE - Paul Colley (UK)

2nd Place - Steve Rattle (Egypt) 3rd Place - Joakim Krassman (Sweden)


COMPETITIONRULES

If you fancy yourself as a budding Alex

Mustard or simply have a photograph

that you think can cut the mustard, why

not share it with us?

Each issue we will choose three

underwater photographs to be published

in THE EQUALIZER, with the best ofthe three receiving a special prize. So if

youve ever wanted to see your favourite

image in a magazine - this is your chance.

Please read the guidelines below before

sending your les to ensure that they

meet the requirements.

Yourlemustbesavedasajpegand

beamaximumof250kbinsize.

Theimageitselfshouldbeaminimum

of500pixelsalongthelongestedge.

Please rename the le so that it is your

name (i.e. JamesDawson.jpg) and include

in the body of your e-mail any details you

would like to add.

Then simply e-mail your images to us at

[email protected]

Our panel of judges will then select the

top images each issue to be published in

the magazine.

So dont be shy. Send your favourites to

us now and you could see your work in

the next issue of the magazine.

Checklist

Image must have been taken

underwater

Lessthan250kb

Atleast500pixelsonlongestside

yourname.jpg

NARCOSIS CORNER with Michael Onkers
http://www.aziabmedia.com/ONLINE%20SHOP.htmhttp://www.aziabmedia.com/


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Call me Michael. Some weeks ago - never

mind how long precisely - having little or

no money in my bank account, I took some

work on a dolphin spotting boat sailing

about a bit. The ship was called the SS

Piquant and was renowned in these waters

for its reputation and fearsome captain.

As I arrived at the boat for my rst day, I

was introduced to one of my shipmates. His

name was Flip Flop and although he had

being spotting dolphins for years, he was

also new to the Piquant. We chatted a bit

and I knew at once that this was someone I

would learn a lot from. We were discussing

the ner points of blow hole identication

when the ships captain arrived.

Captain OHab was a towering man with awild mane of red hair and a beard to match.

He has a scar on his face that some say

is from a bolt of lighting that struck him,

while others say it is a shaving scar. Once

aboard, he immediately began bellowing

instructions to the crew who, to a man,

performed their tasks in a professional

manner. Flip Flop and myself were given

our instructions by the rst mate, Costa

and we at once set about our duties.

As I passed the captain I noticed that he

had only ngers on his left hand and no

thumb. I thought no more of it at the time,

but would later learn how he came to lose

his digit.

It was on a voyage not unlike the one

ours would be when the ship came across

a white dolphin. Dolphins are spotted

regularly in these waters but white ones are

highly prized for their speed in the water

and acrobatic nature. The captain was

pointing at this almost mythical creature

so that his guests would be better able to

take their photos when, without warning,

the beast leapt from the waters and bit his

thumb clean from his hand.

It was said that the captain changed that

day and became the fearsome leader that

his reputation states. Some say that he

was driven mad with rage, while others

claim that the white dolphin stole part of

his soul in that moment. I dont know which

story is true or whether it is idle talk from

sailors, but I learnt as the season went on

that the captain had never forgotten that

day. He seemed driven to nd the white

dolphin and make good his revenge.

I worked aboard the Piquant for many

months and saw many marvellous things.

Every day the captain would steer the ship

from the wheel - which had been modied

to allow for his missing appendage - while

crew were stationed to scour the horizon

for dolphins. Our guests left happy from

each trip and while the mood was always

one of good humour and levity, still the

captain would look scornfully at the sea.

As the season drew on and the weather

began to turn, we were receiving fewer

guests and we all knew that soon we would

need to search for alternative employment

until spring. It was in these latter weeks of

the autumn that the captain seemed even

more detached and distant.

He would offer bonuses of great wealth

to whosoever would nd him the white

dolphin and offer his chance of making

THERESHEBLOWS!A light-hearted look at a dolphin spotting season in the Red Sea

by Michael Onkers

NARCOSIS CORNER with Michael Onkerspeace with the creature. Everyone was

highly motivated by the purse offered and

we all turned a keen eye to the water. I

shall never the forget the moment when

I heard Scurvy Steve shout Dolphin Ho!

and the captain, upon seeing the white

back dipping below the waves, became

like a man possessed. Guests and crew

alike were all thrown scrambling across

the deck as captain OHab sped across

the sea in pursuit of his quarry.

The chase was to come to nought

however, as the dolphin remained

submerged and never again came into

view. The guests were less than amused

by the captains antics and there were

some stern words writ on the feedback

forms that day.

As time came to pass, the season ended

and the Piquant was moored for the

winter months. Captain OHab left on amisty morning and has not been known

to return since. Some say that he lost his

mind through dreams of vengeance and

to this day remains in a home for insane

dolphin spotting boat captains. While

others claim to have seen him walking

from the beach into the surf with a butter

knife in his hand.

I dont think we shall ever learn the truth

of what happened to him, but I still feel

a shiver in my heart whenever I see a

white dolphin or a captain with red hair.

Footnote: The events set forth here are

all a true account and any similarity to

classic American literature is entirely

coincidental - honest

MikeOnke

rsHappy Diving
http://www.aziabmedia.com/

Documents

The Equalizer Issue Six July 2011