What's Feefo? You may have come across it if you were buying clothes or the like. Feefo has expanded their service to the travel industry so, as we welcome your opinion on how you think we are doing, we signed up so you can tell us.

Feefo is entirely independent and monitors our guests' feedback on the service they have received from us and then shows them online for all to see - whatever the feedback.

A big thank you to all who have used Feefo so far, it helps us to continually improve our service.

This year only 57 Course Directors in the whole world have reached this level. Steve has been awarded the "Platinum" award every year since it started in 2006.

Great news for Emperor, but what does this mean for you? It means that if you are thinking about becoming a PADI instructor with Emperor Divers, you will be trained by a Course Director who is "Match Fit" and you'll know that you will be getting the very best training that can be found anywhere in the world. Steve is very popular, and you don't need to look far to find excellent, successful instructors who have been taught by him.

Steve is pictured here with Janet his IDC Staff Instructor wife, together they make "Prior Knowledge".

You can ask Steve any questions on idc@emperordivers.com

Details of how you can get involved will be provided by your dive centre locally - so do ask and help to make a difference.

After a bit of research on the web, and some distractions of rather fitter bodies than mine, it turns out that one of the best ways to burn calories is to do something that we all love – diving! Great, that’ll save me money on having to buy some new trainers as well then.

According to glamour.com – which I was looking at as research, honest – diving is one of the best sports to keep fit whilst having fun at the same time. Looking back on it, I can’t see why this has never occurred to me before. I have always put on a bit of weight over Christmas (my ‘winter stores’ as I call it) when I am not in the water as much, then always lost this over summer when I diving daily, with no change in diet, or importantly, drinking habits. It turns out that during an average hour-long dive, you can burn up to 650 calories! 650 calories! That’s the same as using a cycling machine in the gym for an hour!

Of course, in order to lose weight, it means I also have to cut out the post-pub Burger King on a Saturday evening but after some quick calculations, I can lose weight by eating a little more healthily and just diving! Whilst this remains to be seen, it is a fact that diving is a great workout for your body. It won’t help you build body mass, but to tone and trim, diving is ideal. Diving helps you tone the muscles in your thighs and calves (as anyone who has had to swim against anything other than a mild current will attest to) as well as your gluteus maximus (that’s your bottom). Diving is also a great cardiovascular workout and studies have shown that divers in general have a larger lung volume and vital capacity than non-divers.  

And it’s not just me. It’s a new fitness trend that our celebrity friends are doing too. Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes, Sandra Bullock, that woman from ‘The Vampire Diaries’, Martin Clunes; they’re all doing it. "Scuba diving provides a full body workout that combines cardio and strength training to burn calories, tone muscles and even improve breathing," says Theresa Kaplan, director of communications for The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). "Although your body is buoyant underwater and you feel virtually weightless while scuba diving, manoeuvring through water requires constant motion by your entire body, thus toning and strengthening muscles in your thighs, shoulders and your core.

" Just remember though, like any sport, it’s important to warm up, stretch and stay hydrated, especially if you come out to dive with Emperor in the Egyptian heat.  "Although you may not feel it underwater, you are actually sweating and exerting energy while scuba diving, so it’s important to stay hydrated during your diving excursion," Kaplan says. "Getting plenty of rest and stretching beforehand will also help prevent any cramping underwater and will allow you to swim through the waters with ease."

So, next time you’re out diving in the Red Sea and you see some idiot swimming against the current during your drift dive, don’t worry, that’s probably just me burning off those extra Sakaras. All I have to do now is convince Jessica Alba to join me.

Of course, if you would care to join me then please do so. There's more about diving El Gouna right here...

human.resources@emperordivers.com

Do you and your partner long to work in the sun? Then grab this opportunity for a couple to help set up and look after an exciting new project at Emperor Divers in Marsa Alam, Red Sea, Egypt.  We've recently opened a new Dive Centre and Boutique Sales Point at two neighbouring hotels (4 star Resta Reef and 5 star Resta Grand) and we're looking for a couple who can take responsibility for providing first class customer service while generating sales of diving trips, snorkelling excursions, boat trips and shop merchandise while living in the sun!
 
Duties also include planning and scheduling boat trips, liaising with sales people, liaising with nearby Emperor Centres, inventory management, cash handling and some basic housekeeping.  
 
You’ll have a professional appearance, demonstrate punctuality and initiative and have the ability to work under pressure. Most importantly you must have excellent customer service skills – a background in face to face customer service, bar and restaurant service and hotel/reception work (especially supervisory levels) and planning and organisational roles will give you a definite advantage.  If you are great team players, flexible and able to work in a remote location, then you may be just what we're looking for.

Both of you must be Open Water Divers (that’s diver – not instructor!) as a minimum and have a love for the sea. For the right candidates this could become an intern position, where we will train you to PADI Divemaster and Assistant Instructor level and at the end of your first year you will have the opportunity to take an OWSI/IDC with Emperor. Once a Divemaster, there may also be some opportunities to work in the water. It should be noted that it is advertised as a ‘dry’ job, though you are more than welcome to dive with Emperor for free on all days off and holidays! The job can also be offered without an internship - to those who don’t want to go down the professional route as yet - at a higher salary.

You must both be fluent in English, speaking and writing, and one must be able to speak, read and write in German. Other languages are advantageous, especially Italian. You also need a minimum certification level of PADI Open Water (or equivalent) and we will also consider PADI Divemasters. Instructors need not apply unless there is an additional reason why you should stay dry. You must be well presented with no imposing tattoos or excessive piercings.
 
We are offering a 12 month contract starting as soon as possible, monthly salary, commission plus accommodation at the Resta Reef and full board.  

If you meet our criteria, please send your CVs showing all relevant diving and non-diving experience along with clear and recent photographs to human.resources@emperordivers.com quoting reference ED102.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We don't often post our guest feedback on our News page, but Mike and Helen Drew were so effusive and praising of our Sharm team that we really wanted to share it...over to Mike...

"If you are looking for the best in Red Sea Diving, I suggest you go check out Emperor Divers.

My wife and I have had 3x great holidays with them over in Sharm and have subsequently booked a fourth trip comprising day boat diving in Hurghada. I've logged 100+ dives although my wife prefers to sunbath/snorkel...fortunately, Emperor Drivers cater for your every need and all grades of diver ability.

It's their attention to detail that sets them apart from other dive organisations. From that initial Internet contact, your request is efficiently dealt with, personalised, and the whole booking process could not be simpler.

When on holiday, your hotel pick-up via courtesy bus is always on time. Their "meet and greet" is a pleasure to be a part of and their Dive Club facilities are of a high standard. Once on-board, Captain, Crew and Dive Leader(s) always make you feel very welcome and the whole day is a relaxed affair which runs like clockwork. However, please don't think "relaxed" means carefree...! Their role calls and dive logs show true professionalism and safety is never taken for granted.

Ooooh...I nearly forgot, the diving is absolutely magic and groups are small and abilities well matched. 1x, 2x, 3x or 4x dives a day, you choose...
Then, as the sun sets, you can laze back with a beer, nurse a little sunburn, and reminisce, "Yes, that was a great days' diving".

So, to all the boys and girls at Emperor Divers, 10 out of 10 for all your hard work in making Red Sea diving such a fabulous experience. It's a pleasure to go diving with you."

Mike & Helen Drew, Kidderminster, England

Want to find out more about Sharm team and diving? Click here.

Our 'control centre' is now at the Moreen Beach, situated 20km south of Marsa Alam airport and Port Ghalib, but for guests who want to stay in the hotels around Port Ghalib, we still offer the same, easy 'zero transfer' diving that we always have done; here's how:

• Our classic dayboats will still be moored in Port Ghalib and will run the same trips to the same dive sites you know and love.

• Through our easy to use booking system, you can book as many days on Port Ghalib classic dayboats as you want - starting from the first day of your trip!

• We'll bring the dive centre to you! Equipment, tanks, weight - whatever you need - and we'll check you in on the boat.

Walk onto our boats from the Marina Lodge hotel or take a short boat trip across the Marina from Crowne Plaza or Intercontinental Palace.

FREE transfers are provided from the following hotels: Triton Beach Three Corners, Iberotel Coraya, Solaya, Lamaya, Samaya, Sol y Mar Dar El Medina, Resta Reef, Resta Grand, Crowne Plaza Sahara, Oasis/Sahara Sands, Intercontinental Palace, Marina Lodge, El Fayrouz Three Corners, Tulip, Shoni Bay, Nada, Badawia, Equinox El Naba, Moreen Beach, Hilton Nubian Resort, Sol y Mar Abu Dabab, Abu Dabab Diving Lodge, Solitaire, The Oasis, Calimara Habiba, Blue Reef, Kharamana, Abo Nuwas, Brayka Bay.

With our new dive centre located further south and on the beach, we can offer so much more:

• Unlimited housereef diving - pick up your tanks and off you go!
• Shaab Abu Dabab on our doorstep - a set of six offshore reefs with stunning visibility, corals and marine life. Now just a short RIB trip departing direct from the new centre.
• Regular trips to Elphinstone by fast RIB - smaller groups, shorter sailing times, more flexibility on dive choice, varied departure times and quicker pickups. Dive the jewel in our crown in style!
• Guided shore diving to help your diving budget go further.

If you would like more information, email reservations@emperordivers.com and they will be very happy to help.

The added bonus is that there is now a great housereef and the Centre is closer to the Marsa Alam jetty saving time when visiting southern sites.

Built to a customised design giving spacious facilities and all the necessary amenities expected from a world class dive operator, including a rooftop bar for that all-important post-dive socialising, the location adds to the variety of dives on offer.

Just 20 km south of Port Ghalib marina, our classic hardboat trips will operate as usual with more diving options to include the unspoilt and uncrowded Abu Dabab offshore reef system, now just 15 minutes away by speedboat.

The housereef is literally on the doorstep and ideal for more experienced divers offering plenty of guided or unguided options, day and night, as well as regular morning and afternoon trips to Elphinstone for those 'big' encounters. With the Centre being closer than ever to the Marsa Alam marina, we continue to offer Dolphin House trips to divers and snorkellers and with shorter transfer times, guests can dive even more southern sites such as Shaab Marsa Alam whilst still enjoying the famous 'Overnight Elphinstone' trips.

Moreen Beach is a 4 star hotel operated by Concord Hotels and is the ideal venue for divers and non-divers alike.

For divers with family and friends who simply want to relax, then this is the place to do more half-day trips and lazy starts while everyone can enjoy the sandy beach and fabulous facilities.

We still offer free transfers from other hotels; however, for those staying in Port Ghalib, the same renowned Emperor service is on-hand where you wake up and walk to your dive boat or have a short zodiac transfer.

Luke Atkinson, Emperor Marsa Alam's Manager explains, "Our operation in Port Ghalib will remain virtually the same with the addition of a super housereef at the Moreen Beach and easier access to Shaab Abu Dabab and Marsa Alam's sites. We look forward to giving our guests more choice, memorable diving and the same customer-focused service".

It's business as usual at the current Marsa Alam centre in Port Ghalib. The move will be seamless so guests won't feel a thing...except a better location and more choice of dive sites!

For more information, please email reservations@emperordivers.com

We will have more information on our Marsa Alam web page by September.

Do you have the skills for Receptionist/Administrator role, working behind the counter? You'll have excellent customer service, interpersonal skills and computer skills, together with the know-how to sell diving, courses and retail products.  You will also be a multi-tasker who is confident in dealing with guests as well as being a dab hand with administration tasks. 

If you're a Divemaster, we would like you to work in the water as and when required.  The split between office and non-office work will be determined on a weekly basis. 

If you are not a Divemaster we would still like to hear from you, and you will be based in the office each day.

You must speak fluent English with German being an advantage. Preference will be given to those candidates already living in the Hurghada/El Gouna area.

We are offering a six month contract and the chance to work with a successful and welcoming team.

Please send your CV to human.resources@emperordivers.com quoting reference ED095.

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It has some cute little features: easy to get to know, simple to find your way around, prices so much easier to find and, of course, the usual accurate, interesting information on all things to do with Red Sea diving with Emperor Divers.

Our Liveaboard pages are just brilliant with availability now on each Itinerary page so you can easily find when you can travel and on which lovely liveaboard.

And you can meet the team that works so hard to give you the holiday you deserve!

But most of all, it's been designed with you in mind so that you can find what you want quickly and make that booking effortlessly...and remember that when you book your diving online, you save money!

Do visit our new arrival as soon as you can at www.emperordivers.com