Blog – September 2010

After the successful 70s party held in aid of Project AWARE last April, on 23 September Sharmers found another excuse to dress up for a gathering on the beach at Ultima Spiagga. The 80s theme provided plenty of inspiration for both costumes and music, with partygoers enjoying a fun and nostalgic evening. The event enjoyed record attendance and raised over 8200 LE (approximately 1050 Euro), which will be donated to Project AWARE. A third party is planned for November, although its theme is yet to be confirmed.

Our latest underwater cleanup on 25 September was part of a community event organised by Egypt’s Chamber for Diving and Watersports (CDWS) as part of Project AWARE’s International Cleanup Day, supported by the Ras Mohammed National Park. Sixteen guests and staff from Camel joined forces with volunteers from other local diving centres to clean up the area around Naama Bay jetty. During the three hours that the jetty was closed to boats, the Camel team managed to collect and lift nearly one tone of marine debris. From just one quadrant of the seabed around the jetty, the debris included 28 old tyres and 21 full bags of other rubbish, mainly glass and plastic bottles. Many thanks to Camel guests Jon Gunther, Debbie Connolly, Neil Cable and Catherine Cable, and to Camel staff Anna, Aga, Erich, Mohamed, Nick, Bianca, Cath, Khaled, Salim, Abdallah, Ramadan, Mohamed and Salama, for their contribution to preserving our diving environment. See more pictures on our Flickr page.

Congratulations to Rachel, Hana, Andrea, Daniel and Ronny on becoming our newest PADI instructors. Our five candidates passed their Instructor Exams (IE) on 15 September, having sailed through their PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) under the expert guidance of Course Directors, Bianca and Teo, and Staff Instructor, Terry. Drawing on their different backgrounds and nationalities, the team built up an excellent rapport. Between them, they are now able to teach diving in nine languages. Since the IE, they have completed PADI Specialty Instructor courses including Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Nitrox, Dry Suit, Digital Underwater Photography, Deep and Naturalist. Our next IDC starts on 25 November. Contact us if you would like to chat with Teo or Bianca about the IDC.

Congratulations to our instructor Cath Bates, who on 29 August became the only female TDI Advanced Trimix Instructor active in the Middle East-Russian regions. Advanced Trimix Instructor is the highest level within the TDI system, apart from Instructor Trainer. Cath conducted her 100 metre, 78 minute qualifying dive at Anemone City. She was accompanied by tec diving guru and TDI Instructor Trainer Leigh Cunningham, and TDI Advanced Trimix student John Mason. Cath’s achievement combines her twin passions of tec diving and teaching: “I originally planned to keep trimix diving as a hobby. But I soon realized I wanted to be able to share my passion for trimix diving with student divers.” Having learnt to dive with Camel in 2001, Cath became a PADI instructor with us in 2004. She has made nearly 5000 dives while working her way through recreational, professional and technical diver ratings. We wish Cath every success with her future tec diving plans, which include trimix dives in exotic locations.