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May 25, 2004

That Ole Devil Ray

Report from Fefe Morisod, Emperor dive instructor/guide

We recently ventured on a south safari (4 May - 11 May) where we did an early morning dive at Shaab Maksou south - one of the best dive sites in the Fury Shoal area. On our final dive, a huge ray passed by in the middle of the divers and start playing with them.

From the picture, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is a Manta Ray, but it isn't! This is a Devil Ray - even rarer than Mantas!

We were busy looking at this graceful animal, when to our delighted surprise, four more joined in. They performed an incredible underwater ballet and every single guest and us dive guides were just mesmerised. This is truly a dive we are not going to forget.

Pics: Britta Faesel

May 19, 2004

Fraser visits 'shark city'

Report from Fraser's dive instructors, Paul Vinten and Lisa Gates.

Well, we’ve just finished an amazing trip to Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone and it was just shark city! At the Brothers we had up to ten grey reef sharks at a time on some dives, two thresher sharks on several occasions and a number of hammerheads VERY close!

At Elphinstone we had the usual grey reef and hammerhead off the north plateau. But the definite highlight of the trip was the early morning dive at Daedalus where, like a few weeks ago, we had a shoal of about 20 hammerheads circling above us, followed by numerous individual sightings throughout the dive!

Needless to say the guests had very big smiles!

Want to be there? safaris@emperordivers.com

May 12, 2004

NEW! NoTanx Freediving courses

Ideal for snorkelers who want to go that bit deeper - and divers who want to get more from their tank - FREEDIVING courses are already proving popular at Emperor’s Soma Bay diving centre and is now also on offer at Emperor’s Hurghada dive centre.

NoTanx Freediving School is run in conjunction with Emperor Divers and is far removed from the sort of freediving associated with Tanya Streeter! It’s the next step to snorkeling, which is easy and fun for everyone.

Emperor’s instructors can teach the snorkeling techniques required in just a few simple stages. If snorkelers or divers want to go that bit deeper then Emperor’s new freediving package is ideal for meeting the fish face to face on a single breath!

Freediving is a safe and thoroughly stimulating experience and can be enjoyed by anyone under the instruction and supervision of a professional instructor.

Soma Bay is ideal for both snorkeling and freediving, with a jetty running from the dive centre to the house reef with a large turquoise-blue lagoon directly in front. Conditions are ideal for beginners - natural, safe and calm within sheltered waters. Emperor’s dive centre in Hurghada also offers similar courses.

Once the basics have been mastered, there are a number of freediving or snorkeling trips available taking in night dives, wreck adventures, fish identity, photography and many more.
Breathing relaxation courses are also available for general in-water relaxation and especially for heavy-breathing scuba divers who want to extend dive times. After just one session, divers will notice a significant difference in the amount of gas they normally guzzle!

Prices start from just 70 Euros for a one-day Discovery course.

For further information, please contact reservations@emperordivers.com

May 05, 2004

Giftun Island saved from development

A recent proposal by a group of Italian investors to develop Giftun Island, off Hurghada, has been rejected by the Egyptian Government.

The proposal planned to build several thousand hotel rooms, luxury villas and a bridge to link to the mainland.

Recognising the enormous devastating environmental impact this would have on the island's nature, reefs and corals, HEPCA (Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association, of which Emperor Divers is a founding member) fought hard against the plans with a 'Save Giftun' campaign.

Yesterday (4 May, 2004) Emperor's dive team in Hurghada, who joined hundreds of people in an Earth Day protest, heard the plans have been over-turned and the development will not be going ahead. Everyone involved in protesting against the plans is delighted and relieved with the outcome.

And to understand the importance of the Government's decision, here are a few Giftun Island facts:

• Giftun is the second largest island in the Red Sea after Shedwan Island
  
• Below its waters exists two of the important eco systems; corals and sea grass
  
• Near to Giftun, there are 196 types of hard coral, representing 80 per cent of the biological biodiversity of the Red Sea
  
• Two endangered bird species live on Giftun; the Osprey and White-eyed seagull
  
• The Hawksbill turtle, one of five species around the island, nests here
  
• The endangered Whale shark has been seen more regularly around the island of late
  
• Giftun is part of a large archipelago, dating over 33 million years old
  
• 14 dive sites around the island represent 31 per cent of Hurghada's total dive sites
  
• Giftun attracts 187512 visitors each year
  
• Between 2001-2003, the island generated 5 million pounds, which was directed to the EEAA environmental fund.