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From 15-21 December we conducted research to identify new dive sites suitable for diver training, in collaboration with the Chamber for Diving and Watersports (CDWS) and Ras Mohammed National Park authorities. During a series of dives over several days, Camel instructors Francesco Germi, Deniz Aymer and Sven Kreische mapped the reef between Travco marina in Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Ghozlani. The team collected data on wind and sea conditions, terrain, depths and quality and quantity of marine life. They identified 13 sites in which new moorings could be placed, making them suitable for diver training. The need for new training sites arises from the planned closure to dive boats of moorings at Ras Katy, to create zones for other users such as glass bottom boats. The team’s report has been submitted to CDWS and National Park authorities. It is expected that moorings will be installed at the new sites early in 2010.

An interview with Camel Chairman Hesham Gabr and instructor Cath Bates, plus underwater footage from our house reef at Royal Grand Sharm Resort, were screened during the recent climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The footage was shown on 18 December as part of a live television show which called for action by policy makers to prevent the death of coral reefs from global warming. The link-up between Copenhagen and the Red Sea was coordinated by Frank Schweikert, a marine biologist and filmmaker with Aldebaran, a German environmental research and media organization. Watch the Camel team on TV via You Tube (in English).

We celebrated another successful PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) during December. In total eight candidates participated in the ten-day course, which was held in Italian and English with Course Directors Teo and Bianca, assisted by PADI Staff Instructor, Sven. All the candidates worked extremely hard, both in classroom and in-water sessions. Francesco Pipino, one of the newly-qualified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors, highlighted the ‘incredible team spirit’ as one of the best aspects of the course. Candidates celebrated their success in the PADI Instructor Exams afterwards at Camel Bar, in the traditional way!

We are delighted to have been Highly Commended in the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2009. The Awards celebrate individuals, companies and organisations in the travel industry that are making a commitment to local communities and contributing positively to biodiversity conservation. Our entry in the ‘Best in a Marine Environment’ category focused on our Eco Tribe activities, which aim to reduce the environmental impact of our hotel and diving operations. We were selected from over 150 entries by a panel of 13 judges chaired by Dr Harold Goodwin, Professor of Responsible Tourism Management at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. Whale Watch Kaikoura, based in New Zealand, was the overall winner of the 2009 Awards, which were announced on 11 November, at World Travel Market in London.

Camel Bar’s fancy-dress Halloween party has become a tradition for locals and guests alike, and this year was no exception! Angels, demons, witches, goblins, mummies, vampires, aliens, and a special SWAT team packed into the Bar along with other spookily dressed party-goers. As blood flowed (in the form of secret-recipe cocktails) the crowd rocked until late, to live music from regular band Screwdriver. See our Flickr page for some of the night’s best pictures.

It was great to meet so many of you at DIVE 2009 in Birmingham last month. We hope you enjoyed the Show as much as we did. If you weren’t able to be there, you can catch up with exclusive coverage of the weekend on the Underwater Channel. Part of the channel’s monthly Splash! Programme, the three-minute film covers DIVE 2009 highlights. Check out our very own instructor, Cath, talking about our nomination for a Responsible Tourism award and her work as Camel Eco Tribe coordinator. Watch the video (Cath appears after 1 minute 36 seconds).