News
Steve Millard discovers Makadi Bay house reef
Makadi bay is a tranquil, horse shoe shaped bay nestled between the sand dunes of the desert and the exquisite, clear, life-filled Red Sea between Safaga and Hurghada in Egypt. It is within travelling distance of many wonderful experiences such as dolphin safaris, wreck dives and cave diving. It also boasts its own tropical house reef ideal for Freediving, snorkeling and SCUBA.
The atmosphere in the area is one of relaxation, calm, peace and serenity, away from the hustle and bustle of Western life. Gentle ocean breezes and the sound of waves, the Egyptian mountains standing proud in the background, some amazing sunsets meaning it all equates to a sense of wellbeing when in the area.
In future blogs, we can look at the opportunities in this area and surrounding areas, but this post will concentrate on the house reef and diving opportunities there.
The reef is easily accessible from the shore, you can quite literally don equipment and walk to the water from the centre. The depth is a gentle shelf, ideal for snorkelers near the edges, and it drops down very gradually giving suitable depths for all recreational SCUBA and freediving levels. Under the area roped off for the power craft you can easily get 30-40 metres of depth, and only a short swim further you are at whatever depth you want, certainly more than 100 metres as anyone remembering the Freediving world championships held there just over a decade ago will know.
The water visibility is fantastic as shown in the pictures, but a small torch could be useful as there are many parts of the reef with great hiding places for the resident octopus, moray and lion fish amongst others. The octopus are a particular favourite of mine as they have an amazing ability to change colour and shape and blend in with their backgrounds.
The health of this reef means that there are many big shoals of fish too, trevally, glass fish, angel fish and more; the shoals are spectacular, you can completely immerse yourself in them as if you are part of the shoal.
To help the reef further a few areas have had artificial reefs added, and these have already blossomed with a wide variety of reef life; a great idea to add them to a couple of the flatter areas.
There is at least one resident turtle on the reef too, who gently glides past every now and again on his travels. We have spotted eagle rays, and whip tail rays, crocodile fish and many nudibranchs for the keenest of eyes. All of the usual ‘suspects’ can be found there too, and because the bay is so sheltered and calm it is a photographer’s dream to be able to get themselves set up for great shots.
Once the dive has finished, a one minute walk, wash the kit in the well maintained cleaning tanks, and you can be at the café or bar before you have dried off completely. Great location indeed.
Our recommendation in the bay for the perfect dive school is IDive which a 5 star PADI IDC Centre, and is owned by Carlo Cogliati and Erika Marchino who are two great, approachable and loveable personalities, making the back bone of a very experienced and professional team. They have a host of other instructors and staff, all of whom are dedicated and passionate about giving the best experience possible for customers coming to the centre. They know the area incredibly well and will be able to look after your needs.
You can find out more about diving with IDive below:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/idivedivingcenters/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqXWgJysl0rJNHClo3AX6iA
https://twitter.com/idivescubalife
Facebook: IDive Makadi Bay
Email: idive@idivedivingcenter.com
Thanks to Carlo Cogliati for the photos.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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