News
Day trip to the Thistlegorm
The wreck of the Thistlegorm has to be one of the top attractions in the Red Sea, and also ranks as one of the most iconic wrecks in the world. This morning, we were up as the sun was just beginning to rise to make the 3 hour boat ride from Sharm to this fantastic dive site. The excitement was palpable; even at that early hour, everyone was buzzing as we boarded the Camel Tribe. Those that had dived it in the past, like us, were keen to return, and for those that had never seen it, their anticipation grew as we told stories about its history and our own previous experiences.
The Thistlegorm was bombed in 1941 and sank very quickly, along with her cargo of trucks, trains, motorbikes, and even aircraft. A huge hole was blasted almost completely through the middle of her as the bomb that hit her found the armoury section of the boat. You can still see shells & rifles in this section, and two intact guns are mounted on her stern. She now lies in 30m of water and is one of the most popular dive sites anywhere in the world.
We arrived nice and early, and jumped in as soon as the boat was moored up in order to beat the other boats that would surely arrive. There was absolutely no current and we had the whole wreck to ourselves. Just us and our Camel Dive Club private guide, Beth. We had planned the dive thoroughly, as we wanted some specific shots, and Beth led us right to the trucks that we wanted to shoot. The holds are a fantastic place to explore and take photographs. We decided to try out some remote strobe lighting, with Caroline dropping her camera rig inside one of the trucks to assist with Nick’s shots.
For the whole first dive, we did not see another diver – even the other Camel guests – and had the wreck to ourselves to explore in perfect conditions; amazing. After 45 mins, it was time to head back to the surface and review our images and plan for the second dive. This time we wanted to check out the bow section, with its rope room and bowsers, as well as trying to get external shots of the wreck. We had a great second dive, and just as we signalled to head back to the line, the current started to pick up and a large group of divers descended. Perfect timing, once again! We were keen to hear from the rest of our small group, as we had some very enthusiastic divers who had never been on the Thistlegorm before – they loved it, and the chatter was relentless.
Diving the Thistlegorm from Sharm is a great way to dive this iconic site. You do not have to spend a week on a liveaboard, you can come back and sleep in a comfy bed… oh, and it is the Camel Dive Club party this evening….
www.egypt.travel/diving-in-egypt
For more from Nick and Caroline visit www.frogfishphotography.com.
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
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