November 2009 Archives

Mark Warner has sent these great Hurghada flight deals. Book today then book your diving and give yourself something to look forward to!

Hurghada
         

Returns
27-Nov	LGW-HRG-LGW	7 nights	VIK155/6	£199.00
04-Dec	LGW-HRG-LGW	7 nights	VIK155/6	£269.00
24-Dec	LGW-HRG-LGW	7 nights	VIK147/8	£399.00
31-Dec	LGW-HRG-LGW	8 nights	VIK147/VIK156	£319.00
One ways
27-Nov	LGW-HRG	O/B Only	VIK155	£79.00
24-Dec	HRG-LGW	I/B Only	VIK148	£79.00
24-Dec	LGW-HRG	O/B Only	VIK147	£129.00

To book or check flight availability please call Seat Sales on 0845 8801 236 or e-mail seatsales@markwarner.co.uk

Book your diving online or email info.reservations@emperordivers.co.uk

 

 

The last week of October saw a busy week for Emperor Divers in Hurghada especially for the group of divers from Dive Odyssea visiting from Rochford, near Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK. Guides Olwyn and Eva took advantage of the good weather to introduce regular Hurghada divers to sites they had not been able to visit before. And with excellent results.

First thing one morning en route to the first dive at Fanous West, the lucky passengers on Sea Dream came across a school of dolphins - some 25 in number and were able to snorkel with them. As if that wasn't enough on the 3rd dive of the day, at Fanous East, the group dived with three dolphins for up to 77 minutes - and Angela Munroe, trip organiser from Dive Odyssea, took some great pictures to prove it!

Sharks were also on the agenda for the week with 2m white tip reef shark spotted on a drift dive at Small Giftun and a baby white tip popped up to say hello at Sha'ab Adel (aka Habili Gota) on the very last dive of the holiday.

He (she?) wasn't alone on that last dive with 2 eagle rays right at the start of the dive (see Angela's photo), two Great Barracuda and a very photogenic leopard shark - Simon Cooper took full advantage - see above!

All in all a fantastic week - and what is most encouraging is that dive guides in Hurghada are unanimous in saying that there is more and more activity on the reefs this year than previously - especially the "big stuff"! So come on down to Hurghada for a week of great diving as well as all the benefits this buzzing resort has to offer.

by Marine Biologist Daniele Zanoni

Sea stars are quite a big group in the phylum Echinoderms (spiky skin). The main ones are split into two different classes: Asteroidea, which are the ones commonly called sea stars or star fish, and Ophiuroidea, commonly called brittle stars. They differ in many aspects, the shape and the means of locomotion being the most evident ones.

The central part of a brittle star is disk shaped, relatively small compared to the diameter of the star and the arms (in almost all the species there are five) are very thin, very flexible and manoeuvrable. The simple nervous system of these organisms coordinates the movements of the arms so the sea star can basically 'walk' on the sea bed by lifting the arms alternately, which you can see with your bare eyes. Some species live on the sea bed whilst others live in crevices or on coral. Most of these stars are herbivore: they consume plants, algae and organic debris along the way.

Brittle Star

Star Fish