Emperor Divers News

Tekstreme at LIDS Dive Show

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:45:40 +0000

It's Dive Show time again! Make a date in your diary for March 27/28 and visit Tekstreme at Emperor Divers - Stand 400.

Meet the Tekstreme team and pick up valuable advice on technical diving and courses in all of our Red Sea Tekstreme locations - Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm.

You can book some 'Show Special' Technical diving deals, only available during the show, directly at Emperor's stand.

We look forward to seeing you there or email us today at tekstreme@emperordivers.com

BSAC Technical divers and Tekstreme instructors pass with flying colours

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:14:38 +0000

After a week of intensive training, Tekstreme is pleased to announce that all BSAC students and instructors passed their courses with flying colors.

From the Open Circuit side of technical diving, under the close supervision and direction of BSAC Technical instructors Ray McKee and Brian Smith, the week of training ran very smoothly. The students enjoyed dives on reefs such as Tower Reef and Woodhouse Canyon with the weather proving to be fantastic for most part of the week with crystal clear warm waters that remained calm and flat.

From the Closed Circuit side of technical diving, BSAC's Mike Rowley provided his expertise, tuition and knowledge to help the divers achieve their CCR advanced mixed gas instructor certificates.

Congratulations to BSAC divers on completion of:
Peter Moody - OC Advanced Mixed Gas Diver
Peter Huntley - OC Advanced Mixed Gas Diver
Steve Capes - OC Advanced Mixed Gas Diver
Tony Smyth - OC Advanced Mixed Gas Diver
Charlie Leeson - CCR Advanced Mixed Gas Instructor

Congratulations also to Tekstreme technical instructors on completion of:
Cat Parfitt - OC Advanced Mixed Gas Instructor
Sarah Woodford - OC Advanced Mixed Gas Instructor & CCR Advanced Mixed Gas Instructor
Chris Armstrong - OC Advanced Mixed Gas Instructor & CCR Advanced Mixed Gas Instructor
Shaun Lambert - OC Explorer Mixed Gas Instructor
Steve Hinton - OC Sports Mixed Gas Instructor

Said Tekstreme Manager, Cat Parfitt, "Personally I would like that to pay special thanks to Mike Rowley for giving us his time, experience and guidance in all aspects of the week. His in depth explanations, historical insights and general diving knowledge reflects his position and respect within the technical diving community.

Tekstreme is working very hard alongside BSAC to promote and provide technical training to offer UK divers a warm-water experience. Our BSAC Technical training centre can provide a base for instructors to teach their students. We can provide the support and local knowledge to make instruction easier.

Find out more at www.tekstremediving.com or email info@tekstremediving.com

Be adventurous! Explore the Deep South with Tekstreme

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:36:17 +0000

Emperor Divers and Tekstreme are giving adventurous divers the chance to join the platinum liveaboard, Elite, on its exploratory trip to the Red Sea's Deep South on 16 - 23 April.

Sailing from Hamata port to destination unknown, we will be exploring some of the reef systems and Habilis further south of St John's where normal safari boats don't venture.

Technical divers are welcome on the trip to help explore, map and discover new dive sites in the most southern area of the Red Sea.

Cost is 1300 Euros per person, which includes cabin, 7 nights on board (last night either on board or in a hotel), 6 days diving (min 3 dives/day, last day 2 dives), local transfers, guide, weights, full board & soft drinks, wine with dinner, environmental tax, Marine Park fees and port departure fees. Not included: Flight/visa, diving equipment, alcohol.

Email tekstreme@emperordivers.com for more information.

Save 30% off Advanced Nitrox & Decompression Procedures combined course

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:42:27 +0000

Save 30% - equal to 240 Euros

Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures combined course

5-day course
Hurghada only

Special price: just 448 Euros -

save 240 Euros

Course must be taken by December 31, 2009
Includes: all tanks, equipment & gas
Extras: certification & manuals

More course information here

TEKSTREME - the next generation

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:35:49 +0000

2009 has proved to be a year of changes for Emperor Divers and their technical arm, Tekstreme Diving. Long has Emperor been able to boast one of the most well-established professional Technical diving operations, with much credit going to the expertise and experience from the Manager at the time, Aaron Bruce. Aaron was with the operation for nine years, training the team to extremely high standards resulting in Tekstreme Diving having such a first-class reputation.

Aaron, along with fellow Instructor Chris Berry, has now branched out to create their own Technical centre, which has a large emphasis on the world of Rebreathers. So what does that mean for Tekstreme Diving? It means the "Next Generation".
What Aaron leaves is a team of Technical Instructors that will lead the way and maintain and grow the excellent character and service of Emperor's Technical department.

The team now falls under the watchful eye of Cat Parfitt (pictured left and below). Cat has been with Emperor Divers for eight years working as a safari guide and Instructor. She began her diving career many years ago by doing a try dive with Emperor Divers. Since that point she has completed all courses under the Emperor umbrella with her Technical Instructor courses under Aaron. Cat's main drive and focus over the last five years has been to establish herself within the Tekstreme Team and with a mentor such as Aaron she could not have wished for any better guidance.
Tekstreme Diving will continue to offer technical courses, technical guiding and safaris in all Emperor's centres. "We welcome new and existing friends and guests to dive with our team, which is bursting with enthusiastic, professional instructors who have a strong commitment and passion for what they do," explains Cat.

You can keep up to date with recent events and special offers by checking out the web site www.tekstremediving.com. Or join the Tekstreme Diving Facebook group with postings on the most recent diving courses with a variety of on-land and underwater photos. Your input is welcomed so that the Team can provide an extensive information source for the diving community.

"Take care to all, happy diving and we hope to see you soon with us here at Tekstreme Diving."

Cat Parfitt and the Tekstreme Team

Nuweiba's tentacles take a turn for the mimic

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:33:50 +0000

And so the long arm of the octopus reaches ever further...

Remember we told you about Nuweiba's alternative tentacles on June 10? Well, dive centre manager, Jim Pickup, did. The photo we had turned out NOT to be a mimic octopus but thanks to Jane Morgan, editor of Dive Online, we know that mimic are indeed to be found in Nuweiba as Jane wrote and told us...

"Just read your post re the mimic at Nuweiba.. it certainly does exist.. I have several pictures of it and the marble shrimp.. infact they are also in the June issue of DIVE in an article I wrote on Nuweiba."

You can read Jane's article here and to prove the point, here are Jane's photos:

Marsa Alam goes underground...well Sea Caverns anyway!

Tue, 05 May 2009 17:58:09 +0000

After many months of research, mapping and some very long dives by the Marsa Alam Emperor technical dive team, stage one mapping of the caverns means you can now do the PADI Cavern Specialty. For many years guides have known there were some caverns in the area and had guided a few highly experienced divers into them on occasion. Eventually, dive guide, Mo, finally found them again and started to draw a map of the entrance area duly named Mo's Cavern (The Simpsons' Mo's Tavern...get it?) in honor of its founder!

Emperor's technical dive team finished putting the final pieces to this puzzle and have so far mapped and permanently lined over 130 metres of cavern with some still to do!

Aaron Bruce of Emperor's technical wing, Tekstreme, said, "These caverns are beautiful and are a unique feature for the Ghalib area but divers need to be very well trained in the techniques to enter them and enjoy a part of the Red Sea only seen by a hand full of divers."

As luck would have it Emperor Divers has its own PADI Cavern Instructor and Cavern trained guides so now you can learn new diving skills and go on to enjoy the caverns with your guide the next time you are at Marsa Alam.

Email reservations@emperordivers.com and book your adventure today!

Course sizes are limited to just 2 students and take either 2 or 3 days so early booking is essential as this is already proving to be very popular. Contact reservations@emperordivers.com for more information and come and join us under the Red Sea and inside of Egypt!

Neil tries a Rebreather at Marsa Alam and does a 'chipmunk'

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:32:32 +0000

At last returning Marsa Alam guest, Neil Ball, finally went over to the dark side! After many visits to MA he finally had a Rebreather Try Dive to dispel all those questions and preconceptions. After a few 'chipmunk cheek' moments (try one and you will understand) he got the hang of it and loved the experience and gained a new respect for divers that use them. So the next time you're planning a trip to one of our centres and fancy trying something completely different just let us know before you arrive and we will explain all.

A little refresher on how to analyse your Nitrox tank properly

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:51:41 +0000

by Daniele Zanoni

Nowadays there are quite a few divers using "Nitrox", and the numbers are increasing all the time. Some of them dive on a regular basis and have therefore mastered the technique used to analyse the blend correctly. Others do not dive very often and tend to forget some critical steps that will give the correct reading without damaging the oxygen analyser. So, let's revisit what you should do before you dive with Enriched Air Nitrox.

New Tek safaris 2009

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:12:03 +0000

They're becoming increasingly popular!

More and more requests are being made for Tek safaris from individuals as well as groups. Of course, we have listened and are offering dedicated Tek safaris this year.

For more details contact Stephie at info.safaris@emperordivers.com or aaron@emperordivers.com

Marsa hits a century!

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:31:57 +0000

Gary Ball, Dive Centre Manger, reports...

"Since Emperor Marsa Alam became a fully operational Tekstreme facility the 100m dive has always been in the planning. Last month a staff team consisting of Chris Berry, Aaron (Pina Colada) Bruce, Nick Hough and Gary Ball (me) finally made the dive! With the help and hard work of Captain Ashraf and his crew of Isa the dive was made one very calm morning just after sunrise. A big thank you goes out to all the ground team for humping the tanks for the four training days before and to everyone who helped with a historical dive at the centre. Great team, great dive!"

From Recreational to Technical Diver in five days

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:20:07 +0000

By Scott Foster

Last month my girlfriend Susi and I finally took the step from recreational diving to technical diving. As Emperor Diver Instructors we obviously did this through Tekstreme (the technical wing of Emperor). The courses we were to be doing were TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures.

These courses increase your Nitrox knowledge and teach you how to use Decompression Procedures - for these purposes you learn to dive in a wing, back plate and twinsets. Then just as you think you're almost getting to grips with that lot, they throw a sling at you just to help you with your 'Dolphiness' dive style. You spend the first couple of days finding your way around the equipment, which involves trying to make the correct hand do the correct thing at the correct time! Trust me, it sounds easy, it even makes sense, but could I get it to work under the water?

Marsa Alam fully operational Tekstreme Diving centre

Tue, 06 May 2008 09:53:20 +0000

Marsa Alam just keeps adding things to do for all levels of diver! The Centre is now a fully operational Tekstreme centre offering all courses and guiding for the Tek diver. With the help of Chris Berry, MA's Tek instructor, the team has been finding that most of their wonderful sites just keep going and going and... They recently made an early morning dive with a boat journey of only 10 minutes where they could drop into deep 75m+ waters for a fantastic wall dive at 55m along with a HUGE grouper and two turtles getting...friendly, shall we say! With the addition of some speed boats - coming soon - it will give you the chance to get a nice 55m dive in before breakfast!