Posted under Courses
Yesterday I started my training on my Poseidon Discovery MKVI rebreather.
It was like Christmas to unpack the equipment and assembling it. It was like getting Lego as a kid for Christmas.
Below here you can see some images from me (I am the one with the light gray t-shirt) and my friend Arne assembling and the final unit.
Posted under Courses & Denmark & Diving
Back in 2006 I took a TDI Trimix course with Tekstreme in Sharm. My instructor was diving a Megalodan rebreather, and my interest did start.
I have been thinking about buying a Poseidon Discovery MK-VI Rebreather for a few years now. Last Wednesday I did it. I ordered the unit from Scansub DK Diver in Roskilde, Denmark.
So when the unit arrives from Sweden, I am going on an IANTD course, to learn to dive the unit.
I’ll be back with more information when I have had some experience on the unit.
The main reason I wan’t to dive a rebreather is to get longer bottom time without going into deco, and also to make less noise underwater when doing underwater photography. And of course a new toy is always fun 
Posted under Holidays
Hello fellow Divers.
I wish you all and your families a Merry Christmas, hopefully with a lot of Diving presents
Posted under Red Sea
CDWS member update: 15 December 2010
22:00
On 14 December 2010 CDWS received Governor Decree # 357 for year 2010 relating to the opening of some beaches and the restart of some marine excursions in Sharm el Sheikh.
This decree caused a lot of confusion and as a result, chairman of CDWS Mr Hesham Gabr, requested a meeting this evening with the Governor of South Sinai and the Egyptian coast guard in a bid to gain some clarification for CDWS members on what activities are allowed and which are not.
As a result of this meeting, CDWS can now confirm the governor ruled upon the following:
A: for certified divers with 50 dives or more:
B: for certified divers with less than 50 dives:
C: for beginners courses & intro dive activities,
Diving is allowed only in the following areas (this applies until 21.12.2010)
D: other divers
E: Snorkelling
F: Glass bottom boats and semi-subs
G: Banana, tube and water ski
A copy of the decree will be sent by email as soon as our office receives it tomorrow, Thursday 16 December.
CDWS will keep members informed as soon as we receive further updates from the Governor‘s office
Posted under Red Sea
Here is the newest press release from CDWS
CDWS statement: 9 December 14:00
1. Preliminary findings of shark scientific team
2. Sharm el Sheikh diving restrictions remain in place until further notice
The three international shark experts are continuing to work with authorities in Egypt to determine the causal factors involved in the spate of shark attacks in Sharm el Sheikh. The team is progressing with its scientific research and is verifying available data, as well as evidence gathered through eye witness reports from people both in the water and at the shore at the time of each of the five attacks on snorkellers.
Scientists have indicated that their findings, up to now, suggest two species were involved in the attacks: one oceanic whitetip shark and one mako shark. Initial investigations by shark experts and marine scientists suggest factors that may have contributed – but are not limited to – the causes of behavioural change in sharks involved in attacks include the following:
*One or more incidents of illegal dumping of animal carcasses in nearby waters
*Depletion of natural prey in the area caused by overfishing
*Localised feeding of reef fish and/or sharks by swimmers, snorkellers and some divers
*Unusually high water temperatures in Sharm el Sheikh
CDWS would like to make it clear these are NOT the final conclusions, and that the investigation is still ongoing. The CDWS would also like to underline that it has NOT been, or will be, involved in any shark hunts.
The restrictions placed on diving and watersports activities along the Sharm el Sheikh coast will continue until further notice. The majority of areas in Sharm el Sheikh remain open to diving activities for CDWS members and their clients, however, there are restrictions on where these can take place and on client experience.
Qualified diving clients, who must have a minimum of 50 logged dives, are permitted to participate in scuba activities run by boat by CDWS members in the following areas:
- area of Tiran
- all dive sites south of Naama Bay to Ras Mohammed National Park
- the entire area of Ras Mohammed National Park
Diving remains completely banned at this time in the area between Ras Nasrani to the north of Naama Bay. No shore diving is permitted anywhere in the Sharm el Sheikh area.
Under NO circumstances are introductory or training dives permitted to take place in the sea anywhere in Sharm el Sheikh until CDWS members are notified otherwise. However, training and introductory diving activities are able to take place in other resorts, such as Dahab.
CDWS chairman Hesham Gabr said: “It is widely known sharks behave very differently towards divers in the water. However, as an extra precaution, only experienced divers are permitted to take part in guided activities in Sharm el Sheikh at this time. The 50 logged dive limit is a benchmark judged in recognised scuba standards to ensure divers have good buoyancy and control underwater and behave in a calm and controlled manner.”
Egyptian authorities confirmed restrictions currently in place along the Sharm el Sheikh coast, will remain until further notice. Snorkelling activities and other watersports remain heavily restricted – with the exception of glass bottom boat operations – along the whole of the Sharm el Sheikh coastal area.Swimming/snorkelling in the sea is only in designated safe, natural sheltered bay areas within the Ras Mohammed National and the Nabq National Park.
Holidaymakers can continue to enjoy their holidays in resort and are able to swim in the many swimming pools of hotels and also have access to sunbathe on the beaches.
Any decision to reassess restrictions will be made only when the scientific work by the team of experts is completed. Safety of visitors is of the upmost concern to all the authorities involved.
The scientific work is currently in phase one: the diagnostic phase. Once this is complete, phase two will involve the exploration of options to deal with the factors of the diagnostic phase. The third phase will be the implementation of chosen options. Phase four will cover the long-term measures that will be taken.
-ends-
Editor’s notes:
CDWS:
The Chamber of Diving and Watersports is the regulatory body for diving and water sports in Egypt. Operating under the umbrella of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, CDWS have implemented a set of European standards to which all members must comply. According to Egyptian Law, it is required that all diving operations be a member of CDWS in order to obtain or renew their operating license issued by the Ministry of Tourism. For more information regarding CDWS visit www.cdws.travel
Shark experts working with the marine scientific team:
Dr George H Burgess, the director of the Florida Program and curator of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History for Shark Research.
Dr Marie Levine, head of the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, USA.
Dr Ralph Collier, of the Shark Research Committee and author of Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century.
For further information please contact Laura Coppa by email laura.coppa@cdws.travel or Mary Gleeson mary.gleeson@cdws.travel
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