News
Diving with a disability in Sharm el Sheikh
Being office bound now, I am always after any excuse to go for a dive and spend the day on the boat. Usually I try to convince my boss that I can go and take a few pictures. One sunny day in March was no different.
I headed off on the Camel Tribe boat with some very smiley divers from the UK, Germany, New Zealand, Greece and Malaysia to the beautiful nearby Coral Gardens, just 20 minutes from the harbor in Na’ama Bay (where both Camel Dive Club and my office are located).
In my usually chatty way, I set about meeting my fellow companions for the day. At this point, I met a lovely couple Russell (British) and Kelly (New Zealander), who travelled from the UK to get some quality diving in Sharm el Sheikh.
Russell is a diver and a wheelchair user who chose to celebrate his recent 40th birthday with a trip to Egypt. After a brief intermission in Cairo, where Kelly and Russell went to explore the Pyramids and the Museum of Antiquities, they arrived in Sharm el Sheikh to complete their SCUBA Refresher course with us here at Camel Dive Club.
The first day, they met their instructor Amr Shawkat, who is a PADI Master Instructor with many years of adaptive teaching behind him. There was going to be some serious refreshing and adjusting for both Kelly and Russell. Kelly had not dived since 2004. Russell had stopped diving after he sustained a spinal injury leaving him paralysed from the chest down in 2006 after falling from a branch during his employment as a Tree Surgeon.
Their refresher course spread over two days so that there was no rush to reacquaint themselves with the underwater world. The first day, enjoying some theory and pool time, right outside their room at Camel Hotel. The second day was spent diving from the boat.
After the first dive at the delightful Fiddle Garden where we enjoyed seeing the hunting lionfish on the many glassfish pinnacles, I got the opportunity to ask Kelly and Russell some questions, as we get less travelers than usual from the UK due to the lack of direct flights.
They told me that they had chosen Sharm el Sheikh after a friend, who is also a wheelchair user, recommended the location to them. After some further research on the internet they discovered that Camel Dive Club “ticked the boxes of their requirements” for an enjoyable, easy holiday.
Both found the trip to Sharm el Sheikh easy and uneventful, despite the connecting flights. “The ground crew of the airlines were amazing,” Kelly told me.
Our conversation then turned to the more exciting topic of the dive that we had just completed together under the watchful eye of Amr.
How was it to be back underwater after so long and also having to alter the style of diving that was learnt initially? Russell answered my question honestly, telling me it was a bit nerve wracking at the beginning, but once below the surface, he said it was amazing to be back underwater. They both hope to make it a regular thing and promised to not leave it so long until the next time.
We then enjoyed a well-deserved lunch on board Camel Tribe, which features a number of wheelchair friendly facilities that are unique in Sharm el Sheikh. These include an accessible bathroom and saloon area, spacious dive deck for gear preparation and a low dive platform. This, combined with the boat crew, which have many years of experience assisting divers with disabilities, makes water entries and exits a breeze.
Feeling fueled up after our tasty lunch, we geared up and headed off for a superb second dive at Near Garden. We were treated to a huge moray eel, humphead napoleon wrasse and a vivid red anemone, complete with anemone fish.
To end the day, we headed back with a short wander to Camel Dive Club & Hotel where the dive centre is based and where Kelly and Russell were staying. The hotel is situated in the heart of Na’ama Bay and features wheelchair accessible rooms, restaurants, the dive centre and most importantly for some, bars.
We celebrated the day with discussions of the fish we saw whilst drinking our beers well into the sunset.
Cheers to you all. There are no excuses as to why you cannot all come and enjoy Sharm el Sheikh today. As Kelly told me, “Just do it!”
Inspired? Take a look at www.cameldive.com and book your trip!
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
Cozy and warm in cold water.
It’s drysuit season all year round. With the new RS series premium drysuits from DYNAMICNORD, divers are perfectly equipped for all cold waters.
The sophisticated cut of the RS drysuits allows complete freedom of movement, providing maximum comfort. The high-quality 350 g/m² ripstop material with double ripstop zones on the elbows, knees, and crotch protect ensures extreme robustness as well as long life.
The suit’s features leave nothing to be desired: A high-quality TiZip zipper, easily adjustable inlet and outlet valves, upgradeable with electrically heated underwear, HP bottleneck cuffs made of high-strength latex on the wrists, a 3mm neoprene neck cuff for maximum comfort, a 7mm hood with air outlet and 3mm boots made of double-sided, cross-layered neoprene with ankle straps and fin strap stoppers and a protective but very flexible sole.
Noteworthy is the Molle fastening system, which can be used in a variable and compatible manner. This way, the two detachable leg pockets can be attached easily, safely and comfortably.
Alterations of boots to a different shoe size or adjustments to neck or wrist cuffs are done free of charge at the own DYNAMICNORD service centre in Germany in only a couple of days.
The matching Dynaskins made with high-quality Polartec® technology are available in various designs. As an undersuit under the drysuit, as a single suit in warm waters or as a two-piece suit. Polartec® technology’s main features are neutral buoyancy, breathablilty and quick-drying.
Dynaskins are made largely from recycled plastic bottles.
The drysuit RS-351 for men and RS-352 for women are now available at your DYNAMICNORD dealer and in the online store.
Colors men and women: Black-Blue and Black-Burgundy
Sizes men: XS-4XL incl. intermediate sizes MS, MT, MLS, MLT, LS, LT, XLS, XLT, 2XLS, 3XLS, 4XLS
Sizes Women: XS-XL incl. intermediate sizes MS, MT, LS, XLS
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
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