Divers’ Lodge, one of the leading diving operators in the Red Sea, is delighted to announce that its Hurghada dive centre is now a BSAC Premier Centre.

BSAC Premier Centre’s are authorised to train and certify all levels of Diver up to Advanced Diver grade and offer additional Skill Development courses.

In addition Divers' Lodge Sharm El Sheikh is now a BSAC Resort Centre and welcomes BSAC divers of all levels for daily diving.

BSAC recently launched a new initiative at the NEC Dive Show to extend the range of BSAC training centres and facilities offered. This initiative means that BSAC divers can now find a much greater choice of diving and training options, not just in the UK but around the world.

Divers’ Lodge has become the first new BSAC dive centre in Hurghada, and one of the first worldwide, to join up to this exciting new initiative. BSAC divers have been coming to dive with Divers' Lodge since it was first established in 1993. Joining in with this new initiative ensures that the training needs of BSAC divers are now even better catered for in the Red Sea. Divers' Lodge also welcomes BSAC divers of all grades who simply wish to dive.

In addition to BSAC status, Divers' Lodge is one of the most established TDI facilities in the Red Sea and well-known for being the original Technical Diving pioneers in the region. As a way of extending this heritage, Divers' Lodge Hurghada intends to become a BSAC Technical Centre in the near future.

Both Divers' Lodge diving centres in Hurghada and Sharm-El-Sheikh are also PADI 5 Star Gold Palm IDC centres offering a complete programme of recreational and technical diving including courses, daily diving and safaris.

Divers’ Lodge is based at the Intercontinental Resort & Casino in Hurghada and at the Intercontinental Garden Reef Resort in Sharm-El-Sheikh.

Cayman Resort Fighting to preserve endangered groupers

Little Cayman Beach Resort is doing everything in its power to help the government and conservation scientists save the seriously endangered Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) and like species.

From volunteering divemasters and donating enriched air (Nitrox) to the research divers, to removing grouper from their menu, the Gold Palm PADI resort wants the public to be aware of the grouper’s plight. Even their guests will get into the act during the Grouper spawning season this winter by recording species seen on the reef during their dives.

“Sadly, this intelligent, inquisitive fish is being wiped out,” said Sam Baker, Resort Manager. “Grouper have always been a very popular eating fish, but they are long-lived, and slow to reach peak reproductive capability, so it’s easy for humans to make a hugely negative impact upon their population.”

It is estimated that the Nassau grouper population alone has declined by 60 per cent over the last 30 years*.

“From December to February, we’ll be encouraging our guests to aid in fish-count surveys, which will be a huge help to conservational groups like REEF (the Reef Environmental Education Foundation) who conduct their “Grouper Moon’ project on Little Cayman each year. After an introduction to local species, divers armed with slates record all the different species of fish that they see, especially groupers gathering on the reef prior to spawning. It’s really simple to do and great fun for the guests to partake in.”

Grouper aggregations and spawning events are a magical experience. Each winter, for a few days each month the fish gather an hour before sunset and take advantage of the full moon’s affects. Crystalline eggs glitter as they rain down from the surface through clouds of sperm, and the cycle is begun once again. It is display of beauty and uniqueness that leaves a permanent mark on those who are lucky enough to witness it.

Groupers will migrate over huge distances to join these aggregations: one Nassau grouper traveled 240 km to spawn. Sadly, the clock-like timing of spawning activities makes groupers susceptible to over fishing and the largest, most mature fish are often caught. This further limits potential population growth through the removal of mature females, leaving behind the young females that release fewer eggs for fertilization.

Divers and other concerned citizens have lobbied for increased protection of groupers.

As a result, in December 2003, legislation was passed to help protect grouper spawning aggregations throughout the Cayman Islands . This summer the American fisheries officials placed a ban on all commercial fishing of a number of grouper species, including the Nassau Grouper.

To assist Little Cayman Beach Resort in grouper preservation, weeklong dive excursions—including fish counting surveys—can be booked by visiting: www.littlecayman.com.

It’s a bit like children really. Once they’ve been born, you can’t imagine life without them, and the same is true for diver Forums. Over the past seven years, forums and their popularity have grown spectacularly, so that today they are definitely an integral part of diver communications.

“We knew that the old system was out of date and not meeting the needs of our members”, stated Keith Lawrence, Head of Information Technology. “I’m proud to say that this is all changing, thanks to the combined efforts of the IT and Forum Teams. For the last umpteen months there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes, consequently this is the first visible sign of what has been going on, and there’s more to come. I’m really excited that the contemporary Forums are now on line. What we’ve done is install a brand new web server system, using the latest and probably the most popular forum software. The result is a solution designed to provide divers with a quick, easy and fun way to communicate and find information.

Keith Lawrence

We wanted something flexible, and that can grow and evolve as Member’s needs change. Our aim was to build and develop a range of dedicated forums for Branch Officers, Coaches, Instructors, BSAC Clubs, Members and others, with the key word being ‘involvement’. As all of the Forum Team dive, we were of one accord, that we wanted to empower our members. With this is mind we would really like each group to take ownership of their own forum. So we’ve ramped up our commitment to online forums accordingly, and now provide divers with a solution tailored specifically to the needs of members and BSAC, but also has something for everyone interested in diving.

This is part of the long term strategy, a realisation, that my teams and I have had to change the way BSAC is using IT. We want to improve the club and the facilities to its members, and give divers the IT solutions they deserve, want, need and desire. The new forums are not the only thing that the BSAC IT Team is doing. This is the first in a series of new and revitalised services that will integrate with our HQ systems, firmly establishing the BSAC as a 21st Century club with on-line solutions. So why not got and check them out for yourself at www.bsacforum.co.uk.

BSAC Forums

Regaldive has added a new resort to its Red Sea programme - Hamata.

180km south of Marsa Alam, Hamata is the southernmost diving resort in the Egyptian Red Sea and offers divers immaculate, uncrowded dive sites and ultimate relaxation away from the crowds. It is not unusual to arrive at a dive site to find that you are the only divers around! Recommended for experienced divers, the pristine sites of the region are characterised by warm waters, excellent visibility and exquisite coral varieties.

The legendary Fury Shoal is right on the doorstep of Hamata, offering guests over 35 recognised dive sites within two hours' boat ride of the dive centres. Gota Soraya is rated as one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with large caves full of Glass Fish, Sweepers and an abundance of hard and soft corals.

Once the sole preserve of liveaboards, the pristine sites of the region are still relatively undived. However, with direct flights now available into Marsa Alam throughout the year, the Hamata area is becoming more accessible to divers.

For more information, visit www.regaldive.co.uk.

Regaldive has expanded its popular new programme in Oman to include the Golden Tulip Resort in the mountainous peninsula of Musandam, which offers some superb diving.

MUSANDAM
The Musandam peninsula is separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates. Geographically, the area is characterised by large mountains, which fall dramatically into the sea. The stunning scenery above the surface is mirrored underwater by impressive drop offs and an incredible diversity of healthy corals.
The dive sites of Musandam deliver world class adventurous diving to experienced divers. Although the area is remote, access is via a non-stop seven hour flight into Dubai from a variety of British airports, which include London Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester.

ACCOMMODATION
The Golden Tulip is a sophisticated hotel, occupying a superb location with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the sea. An ideal choice for divers, the Golden Tulip Hotel offers superb access to the pristine dive sites around Musandam.
Extra Divers run a full service PADI dive centre at the Golden Tulip Hotel. There are 25 dive sites located within an hour’s boat ride of the dive centre.

For more information on Diving in Musandam, and the Golden Tulip Resort, visit www.regaldive.co.uk.

Musandam top side

Port Ghalib, Marsa Alam, is a new South Red Sea destination, setting itself apart from other Red Sea resorts thanks to its custom-built design. Already recognised as a model for environmental conservation, cultural preservation and design beauty, the resort offers a mix of sun, sea and diving.

Emperor Divers has recently moved to the Coral Beach Diving Hotel, the first hotel to be opened in Port Ghalib and managed by Millennium, a major British hotel chain. The facilities are ideal for both divers and non-divers and include:

• 206 rooms with air-conditioning, en-suite, private balcony or terrace, most with sea view.
• Traditional, upmarket Egyptian décor.
• A well equipped gymnasium, two large split-level swimming pools and a diving pool.
• Emperor Divers' full service PADI Five Star Gold Palm resort centre is only a few metres away from its boats moored on the hotel jetty.
• Professional and considerate instructors teach beginners to advanced levels, as well as recreational diving.
• Some of the Red Sea’s most famous dive sites are accessible from here, such as Daedalus Reef, Brothers Island, Zabargad Island and Rocky Island.
  Port Ghalib offers a new stylish choice for divers with an ideal mix of sun, sea and Egypt’s famous antiquities. Port Ghalib spans 3.5km of beachfront and is just 5km away from Marsa Alam International Airport. The resort is also ideal for visiting Luxor and Aswan.

For more details, please visit www.emperordivers.com.

From beginner to professional - improve your skills with Emperor Divers’ new Red Sea Underwater Photo Workshops

Emperor Divers is organising a series of photo workshops in the Red Sea for 2006, the first of their kind in catering for complete beginners in underwater photography with consumer cameras, as well as experienced photographers with either film or digital SLR kit.

Join photo professionals, Maria Munn and Mark Walker, for an unforgettable week that will improve your picture taking in a fun, friendly and relaxed environment on an Emperor Fleet Gold Liveaboard!

The boat will be fully kitted with an onboard digital lab, allowing photographers to download, review and enhance their images with the benefit of immediate feedback.
Maria Munn, who will advise on the ‘entry-level’ digital workshop, is experienced in photography and video and has worked on conservation projects concerning blue, humpback and killer whales as well as manta rays. In the last 12 months, she has clocked up over 200 photographic dives and is currently initiating a Manta Ray Photo ID study in Mexico's Pacific Ocean.

Mark Walker will be advising the experienced underwater photographers and has over 1000 photographic dives under his belt and has won numerous national and international awards for his eye-catching images. Mark has been teaching underwater photography for several years and has a firm grasp of the magical art of digital manipulation. More uniquely, as a trained life coach, he has all the necessary skills needed to encourage both beginner and professional photographers to achieve fine results.

Both Maria and Mark will conduct short evening seminars covering a variety of subjects.

Divers will have the chance to photograph some of the Red Sea’s famous sites, learn how to develop photography skills and shoot beautiful underwater images.
The first Workshop takes place on 24 February - 3 March 2006 with further dates in June 2006. The cost of the Photo Workshop is just 175 Euros per person (approx £119 depending on exchange rates)

For more details, please visit www.emperordivers.com.

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