Emperor Divers News

HEPCA proves Red Sea recycling works

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:57:01 +0000

Since August 2009, the Egyptian government has granted HEPCA sole responsibility for the management of waste collection and recycling in the southern Red Sea. The scheme has achieved some incredible results - proof that recycling really does make a difference and dramatically helps to reduce daily damage to the environment.

HEPCA's latest figures show an outstanding success rate in helping to reduce the Red Sea's carbon footprint:

The following are the figures recycled each month:

PAPER

more than 8.5 tonnes of paper and cartons saving:
- 145 trees
- 34 barrels of oil
- 25 cubic metres of landfill space
- 34,000kw hours of energy
- 59,500 gallons of water.

Simply put, the monthly HEPCA recycled paper total saves enough energy for heat, electricity and air-conditioning for the average Egyptian home for almost 30 months!

ALUMINIUM

more than 41,500 cans saving:
- enough energy to run a television, or operate a computer for 14 years, or a computer centre with 20 computers for over one year.

GLASS

at least 6000kg of glass saving:
- enough energy to power a computer for 296 days, a 100-watt light bulb for 5.93 years and saves the equivalent of 272 litres of oil.

PLASTIC

almost 259,000 plastic bottles and parts saving:
- enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 89.9 years.

STEEL and TIN

an average of 4.5 tonnes of steel and tin saving:
- 24.9 tonnes of iron ore, 14 tonnes of coal, and 1.2 tonnes of limestone.

HEPCA saves around 65 tonnes of CO2 pollutants from entering the atmosphere of the Red Sea each month.

HEPCA's solid waste management strategy is not only concerned with saving the environment but also saving livelihoods. Many valuable employment opportunities have been created for the local community in waste collection, transportation and staffing at the MRF. Further employment and income is also generated through the selling on of recyclable material. We estimate an additional 70 jobs will be created annually in support of this program.

Better 'Seasafe than sorry' - Emperor's new alert tracking system for divers

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:12:51 +0000

Although it is very rare in this day and age for someone to go missing at sea, unfortunately it can happen.

As Emperor Divers has always been at the forefront of safety in the Red Sea, it's reassuring to know that we will soon have a Missing Diver Location System on all Emperor Fleet liveaboards. It's hoped that other operators will also install this in order to help us give search cover for much of the Red Sea's famous dive sites.

The system is called Seasafe, whereby the diver wears a small compact tracking unit on either their arm or BCD. With just the touch of a button a missing diver at the surface with a problem can alert all boats in the area with the Seasafe system. This alert triggers a series of steps to co-ordinate a search using a powerful directional antenna to pinpoint the missing diver. During an Emperor training and demo session recently the system tested accurately up to 18km away.

Sharm's 'A' list marine life sightings & where to find them

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:47:54 +0000

In just 6 days, this is the 'A' list line up for marine life sightings that guests at Emperor Sharm have enjoyed.

Now is the time to book those flights and let Emperor do the rest (well the fish play a bit of a part in it too...)

Friday Black Tip, large shoals of Giant Trevallies,

Snappers, Batfish Shark Reef/Ras Mo

Sat Manta Ras Ulm Sid/Local

Large Feather Tail Ras Gamilla/Tiran

Sun Manta, 2 x Turtles Amphoras/Local

Marbled Sting Ray Fiddle Garden/Local

Mon Manta, Feather Tail Ray Ras Ulm Sid/Local

Dolphins Ras Mo

Wed Manta Tower/Loca

Thursday 2 x Turtles Ras Ghozlani/Ras Mo

Tiger shark sightings - HEPCA advises

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:55:28 +0000

In recent weeks sightings of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) have been frequent at certain sites in the mid and south Red Sea particularly at Elphinstone Reef, which is level with Marsa Alam. There is much excitement among guides and guests but it is worth mentioning that tiger sharks are highly developed, but not particularly discerning, predators.

HEPCA (Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association) - of which Emperor Divers is a founding member - has issued the following useful and informative statement - it's worth a read.

"Recent reports of Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) sightings at Elphinstone and the reaction of some divers to encountering these sharks under water prompted us to release this statement to all of you.

Meeting one of these magnificent creatures is an absolute privilege, that not many people will have a chance to experience. But remember what you are dealing with, a species that is second only to the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in number of reported shark attacks worldwide. Despite this fact, a Tiger Shark is not a dangerous animal per se.

They are, however, among THE top predators in the sea, and probably the least discriminative shark species in terms of feeding habits and items. Coupled with a maximum length of more than 5 meters, they must be treated with great caution and respect.

But there is no reason for hysteria or panic. Following some simple behavioral rules and having basic knowledge on shark biology does help to avoid potentially dangerous situations.

Calm and controlled behavior from the human side is the key to an enjoyable and truly impressive encounter. As a predator, a shark will react with interest to erratic or hectic movements, as well as to rapid ascents (especially directly above it).
Stay alert, keep looking around you, so that they don't have the chance to sneak up on you or startle you. Staying next to the reef helps you keeping the overview and limits the open areas around you.

If you are circled by any shark, take a vertical position, calmly turn around with it, and keep it in sight at all times. This shark is not getting ready to attack you, it only makes use of the pressure sensors along its sides to figure out what you are. Keep in mind, that a group of people is less likely to be closely approached than single divers.

If you are not sure, that you can manage to stay calm when meeting a Tiger Shark - or any other large predatory shark - under water, do not expose yourself and others in your company to such an encounter!

Properly brief any divers entering the water on what to expect, and try to evaluate, if they are experienced enough for a possible shark encounter.

It is generally people, that are creating dangerous situations with sharks... Feel free to report unusual sightings or behaviors from any of your dives."

Your complete destination guide for Hurghada

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:03:14 +0000

Hurghada Factbase - Your complete destination guide for Hurghada; how to get here and what to do when you are here!

Click here for the full lowdown.

Extra winter flights to Sharm with Libra

Tue, 12 May 2009 09:52:20 +0000

Libra Holidays is increasing its winter regional flights to Sharm el Sheikh.

Additional flights will run from Leeds/Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle airports and start from the autumn until April 2010.

The operator's head of aviation Peter Kyriacou said: "As a destination outside the eurozone and one which offers excellent standards of all-inclusive accommodation, given the current economic climate, demand from Sharm el Sheikh has increased for winter 2009-10.

"This has resulted in us introducing additional regional departures in order to increase capacity and meet market demand."

How to avoid dehydration whilst diving in hot climates

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:34:55 +0000

by Emperor Dive Guide, Daniele Zanoni

Since I started working in the diving industry, I have been asked many questions like, "Why do I have to urinate a lot after a dive?" or "Why do I need to drink more water whilst diving?"
So here is my explanation without using too many medical terms.

Changes in CDWS rules for non-divers on diving boats

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:37:41 +0000

It's now a CDWS (Egyptian Chamber of Diving and Watersports) requirement that anyone who enters the water must wear proper gear and be observed by a dive master from the boat.

Mary Gleeson, Marketing and PR Co-ordinator for CDWS explains:

When clients join organised excursions; the operator has responsibilities and a few points must be considered:

Clients must complete liability forms
Clients must receive a proper briefing (to include planning, directions, precautions, emergencies etc) from a professional (certified snorkel guide or higher) - holding a CDWS ID Professional card who will have supervision over the activities.
A snorkelling vest should be used when snorkelling
Supervision maybe be from the surface or in water depending on the site, sea condition, competence, certification, abilities and needs of others

When swimmers go on their own (ie join a boat of divers):

Clients must complete liability forms
Clients should receive a briefing
Guests may just swim with a mask and snorkel
If swimming in the open sea, a personal floatation device is recommended

Red Sea to be plastic bag free

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:11:36 +0000

The Governor of the Red Sea in Egypt has ordered that the Red Sea will be the first plastic bag free Governorate with effect from 1 January 2009. This decree represents a considerable step forward in tackling the issues caused by excess rubbish and in particular plastic bags in the Red Sea. These pose a massive hazard to birds, turtles, dolphins and other marine creatures after swallowing or becoming entangled in plastic bags blown out to sea. Turtles easily mistake plastic bags for yummy jellyfish.

New Emperor trips & excursions for all

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:36:06 +0000

In Emperor's Red Sea, there is a host of things to see and do. With these excursions on water and land there's every opportunity to make your diving holiday even more memorable.

How has the nature of diving changed in Sharm?

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:57:12 +0000

Dive instructor, Terry Axam, shares his past.

I remember a time when you could jump into the back of a pick up truck and go anywhere for 3LE (30p) regardless of how many people it was carrying. I remember living in an area called Hey El Nour thinking I was doing really well because I had just come from a guest house (if you could call it that!) called the Pigeon House. At the time I had opted for the slightly more expensive 50LE per night room because it was a proper room with fan, not a bamboo hut! I still had to use the communal bathroom, but even this I considered better than another area of Sharm called Hadaba. It had no roads, no lights and you really took your life into your own hands if you were taking a trip there. If you fell down one of the numerous holes, you'd never be found! I remember shouting up to the roof to my flatmate to give our satellite dish a kick just to get a fuzzy BBC world picture that we would watch because we were too broke to go out. I remember getting my guests on a Monday and diving with them for 6 days solid. A night dive and trips to Dunraven and Thistlegorm were regarded the normal itinerary for the week. Divers checked out on Saturdays and we blew the tip money in "Camel" that evening and recovered on the Sunday.

Sharm El Sheikh - There's life in the old dog yet!

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:21:24 +0000

Sharm was a Mecca for divers in the Red Sea throughout the 80's and 90's, but as it has expanded over the years many divers have moved on to pastures new like Marsa Alam and Port Ghalib believing that they "have done Sharm". The dive product in Sharm offered by all the dive centres was pretty much the same, daily diving from boats at Ras Mohammed, Tiran or local dive sites...nothing new.

New air services to Hurghada

Sat, 03 May 2008 00:04:33 +0000

A weekly service between Glasgow and the popular resort of Hurghada is being launched on November 5 by FlyGlobespan. The airline already offers a weekly flight from Edinburgh to Sharm El Sheikh.

Click here for more information.

And now you can also fly from Birmingham to Hurghada. Thomas Cook Airlines has added the destination to its Birmingham International airport summer programme, with flights now leaving on Thursdays.

Frank Pullman, managing director of Thomas Cook Airlines, said: "We have analysed demand for flights in the region and because we have a fleet of 42 aircraft, we have been able to adapt our schedule so that we can offer more choice with exciting new destinations."

Emperor's 'good guide' to night-time Hurghada

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:29:18 +0000

Hurghada was founded in the early 20th century and, until a few years ago, was a small fishing village. Now it's gone on to become one of the foremost tourist resorts of the Red Sea coast.

Today, Hurghada is known as a party town, particularly among Europeans. Life begins at night in Hurghada with its many restaurants and clubs. But which restaurant do you choose that offers high standards of service, quality of food and atmosphere compared to other restaurants? Emperor Divers has been in Hurghada for 15 years and has seen first hand the growth, development and changes within the resort. We also have knowledge and experience in fine dining and the best places to go so we can share this with you to help to make sure that you have the best holiday that you can.

Emperor Divers has teamed up with what we consider to be a selection of the best restaurants in Hurghada, which offer a variety of cuisine. Make your reservation directly through Emperor Divers at the dive centre and we will ensure that your table is ready then let the restaurant do the rest. All you need to do enjoy your meal.

When you make your reservation, you will receive a reservation voucher and also a map of the particular restaurant with instructions written in Arabic and English to make your taxi journey all the easier.

Recommended restaurants:

Hed Kandi - stylish European beach bar offering mixed menu during the day and evening.
Bulls - very popular Steak House but also offering a variety of food from around the world.
Papas 2 - part of the largest chain of bars in Hurghada, it offers an extensive mixed menu including pork products.
Tuscany - the finest most exquisite Italian restaurant in Hurghada.
Drifters - the only restaurant in Hurghada that changes its menu every two days to bring you the freshest food of the highest quality.

Hurghada - trips and activities that you can 'do in a day'

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:41:37 +0000

Emperor Hurghada has a whole selection of trips and activities that you can 'do in a day' - how about...

The Graveyard - wreck trip to Abu Nuhas
The great wreck - SS Thistlegorm
An early morning dive followed by a relaxing afternoon at your pool or beach
Make it a 'hat trick' and do 3 dives
Dive in silence try a dive on any of the 3 rebreathers we have here
Have a longer bottom time - complete a Nitrox course
Capture your memories - complete a PADI digital underwater specialty course or if you're nifty with a camera then rent one and take away your pictures on a CD
Or do it at night and join us for a different array of fish life