Paradise

I took this pic @ Paradise - Sharm El Sheikh with a Sea&Sea MX5-II ... great dive ... great place !!!

:ph34r:

Jesus, that got me thinking... I have not dived paradise for over 10 years!

My first dive in Na'ama bay area was in 1974... 2 beduin tents, and 16 palm trees.

Whats the coral situation like around Sharm now?

In 1996 I swore I wouldn't go back there because of the diving damage, and over development.

Incidentally, Markh & Debbie were with me on that trip - We just loved the French dive guide (loose interpretation) especially when they left Mark & Deb floating off Jollanda reef one morning after instructing the captain that everyone was accounted for!

Indeed even (or close to it)

The damage around Sharm is growing every year , my first dives there where in 90-91 it was a lot better then (but not close to the stories I herd about the 70's)

The sites around Sharm are almost destroying: Naama bay, Shark Bay, Ra's Nazrani, Temple.....

Also you can see a lot of damage in Tiran.

The farest the site is from Sharm the condition of it is better although there is damage also.

Last time we where there in August (too far away) in live aboard, out instructor took us to few places that aren't in the regular’s tours and the corals there where in much better condition.

I'm just a newbie at diving but when I went to Sharm El Sheikh in November I did some local dives and some in Tiran and Ras Mohammed.

I went to Ras Kelly, Temple, Paradise, ... but I had the chance to go to a site called Ras Gohlani in the area of Ras Mohammed. That place was only opened 4 years ago and ... yes it was simply superb... I can only guess how it looked like in the 70's...

I'm leaving next sunday for Safaga which is nothing like Sharm in term of number of boat/people around the sites ...

The picture attached was taken at Tiran - Jackon reef .. no comment !!!

Yep, Egyptian Tourism is it's own worst enemy.

Incidentally, Markh & Debbie were with me on that trip - We just loved the French dive guide (loose interpretation) especially when they left Mark & Deb floating off Jollanda reef one morning after instructing the captain that everyone was accounted for!

Crikey, I had forgotten about that. Yes that guy was a prize tosseur. That was one dive. I should stick that story in the dive tales thread. I sure wish I'd had one of those motherbuoys on that dive! I remember that Deb & I were pooing pants when the dive boat suddenly departed out of sight. In fact at first we were actually laughing that such an error could be made. We had not accounted for the major factor in the equation....he was FRENCH. (Don't start me on that one!). One thing we knew for sure is that Bob was on board and we just knew he would give the tosseur a friendly elbow in the ribs reminder that he was 2 divers short (after dusting his camera gear down anyway). I certainly gave him a load of franglais when we got back on board. In fact I have'nt looked a frog in the eye since!

Its one heck of a shame about the diving here nowadays. Diving tourism has killed it unfortunately. I remember diving here for my first time in 1987 & it seemed a nice place to dive then (Beduin tents & all). Boy it has changed. The picture posted of the boats sums this up. Not suprising when you can get a fortnights trip for under 200 quid nowadays (from UK).

Having said that there is something infectious about the Red Sea. I cannot wait to my next Brothers visit.

Mark