Sharm-el-Sheikh, 16 – 23 November 2006


It was a small but select party of four who made their way to Gatwick in the early hours of Sunday, 16 November 2006: Simon Smith, Ray Peck, Kevin Bitmead and me. After Ray’s usual panic that unless we arrive six hours before flight time, we are going to miss the plane and a hearty breakfast, we took off at the allotted time and, after a smooth flight, arrived at Sharm-el-Sheikh Airport. It was hot but we bore it with fortitude. We were transported to our hotel, the Calemera Royal Albatross, where our accommodation varied. Whilst Simon and Ray had a vast room without a decent view, Kevin and I had a slightly smaller (but not small) room with a view over one of the pools. Both rooms seemed miles from the main reception and communal areas as it was a very large complex.


W

We four - Ray, Kevin, Simon and me

e had a five day diving package from Shark’s Bay Diving Centre who provided transport to the jetty at Sharks Bay. The staff there were very friendly and helpful. We had ten good dives (except the one where I lost a weight pouch) although Ray and Simon both (s)mothered me through them. Our dives were all from a hard boat and included the Tower, Ras Um Sid, Jackson (twice), Woodhouse and Thomas, Ras Bob, Nasrani and, of course, no trip to Sharm would be complete without a trip to Ras Mohamed where we visited Yolanda and Ras Ghozlani. Some of the shallower dives were drifts and it is very pleasant just gently passing sealife with enough time to study the more unusual before having to pass on. We saw several very large moray eels and a ‘field’ of sand eels gently swaying in the current. It was reported by some that they had seen a shark in the distance but I didn’t see it so I am sceptical about the claim! There didn’t seem to be as many nudibranchs or lionfish as on previous trips but this was made up for by the glorious colours of the corals which seem brighter here than further south by Marsa Alam.


I was disappointed that we didn’t do a night dive this time as I love the eerie atmosphere surrounding silhouetted divers and coral shapes and things that move in the dark but there will be other opportunities in the future.

Sue Short