12:40 24th February
Dive 1
So that was it. I now have no fear. What an experience. For 45 minutes I was surrounded by the most incredible display of colour and life. The conditions were perfect, we opted to follow the dive master and I was nervous that I would ruin for everyone else. Two other chaps who we haven't bothered introducing ourselves to joined us. I was convinced that the 210bar that I had at the start would run out quickly and we would all have to turn back because o me. My nerves were high when I kited up and I was dreading jumping off the back of the boat. But off I went and splashed into the warm sea.
It was a little bit choppier than I thought it would be and found my mouth filling with water -I didn’t want to put the regulator and waste the precious air and my snorkel kept filling with water. It was hilarious that Ray lost his cylinder when he jumped in, he had to climb back out - so glad it wasn't me, I would have given up and gone home if that had happened. With 4 x 2kilos on my weight belt I wasn't sinking so I put another couple of klos in my pockets And within minutes I was sinking down to the depths.
Our plan was to head out for two smaller coral reefs, then onto the main large reef. All around us in the water were fish. Now my knowledge is severely limited so I cannot begin to write what I saw. Just believe me when I say there were hundreds of varieties. Everywhere you looked there were beautiful colours swimming around. Mostly smaller to medium sized fish. I was still a little apprehensive and wasn't sure I managed to get neutral buoyancy. Found myself constantly adjusting, filling up with air and releasing quite a lot. When I did relax I could look all around me at the wonders. What an experience.
We finned slowly and just took our time going around the reefs. It's cliché but it is like another world. Quite incredible. I was relieved when I looked at my gauge to still see more than enough air. We were told when it got down to 100 to turn around back the boat. It was half an hour before I hit this stage - the same as everyone else. What a relief. Occasionally we only really went down o 8-9 meters and stayed at this depth. The floor was immediately below us and you would look around for something more unusual than just the normal shoals of fish. It was amazing how quickly most of the fish were the norm. How spoilt we get so quickly in this world. Of course the minute I got out I'm dying to go back in again. So we didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but that didn’t make it any worse. I cannot explain how amazing it was. It must be experienced to be believed.
So back on the boat we all came, I was surprise there was not much chat but I guess you've got to concentrate and get your kit off and sorted out. But I still expected more smiles from everyone.
Speaking of everyone people on the boat seem a bit of a boring bunch. No mad youngsters, a bit of a shame but at least we won't have to waste time with idle chatter. I feel like sleeping now, just had lunch - a good selection buffet. But I was feel a little sick (too much seawater) so didn't eat as much chicken as I normally would. There are about 16 people on the boat, mostly older blokes, and a few older woman - all seem a bit snobby for my liking, but you can never tell. The two chaps who came along with us may get chatty, but I’m just happy to relax. Most of the people belong to one group - Bobby's bits - as they called themselves, so this meant they tended to all chat together. So were on the move again, to the next dive site! And every day is going to be like this it’s quite incredible.
The sun is beating down surrounded by sea; my only frustration is that I can’t communicate with home. Missing the wife and kids, I would like to be able to chats with them now, haven’t seen a phonebox yet,not convince I can get one.
Dive 2
The adventure really began now, more confidence and now Ray and I can buddy together with nobody else looking after us. What a difference -feel so free. We swam round and round a reef - swam off to another one and returned safely. Superb
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Hungry in Hurghada - Part 2.
Deserted in the desert. That's how it felt as we landed in Hurghada. A pleasant 21º and glorious blue sky greeted us. With Ray’s experience to guide us through customs we soon found ourselves sitting on a bus, a little too early. Egypt was two hours ahead and it was now 6pm, we were on our way to our apartments - aida verdi.
Saturday 09:08 Onboard ISA our boat for the week. Can’t quite believe I'm actually here. Sitting on top of the boat sailing away from shore. It's a gorgeous day, and I'm a little apprehensive, the kit is down stairs all ready to go. Most other people on the boat seem pretty advanced, but it looks like people will leave us alone. All the others have their own kit and have done around 100 dives, and here's me 9 dives in the freezing North Sea. The view from here is stunning, hills in the distance hardly another boat in sight and the sea is much calmer than my nerves. The dive couldn't come soon enough we've got about three-quarters of an hour to wait! Home seems a very long way off, and there's no turning back now.
Of course I would never have drunk too much last night! What a great time we had, regretting it a little bit when we had to get up at 0630 this morning. Started off innocent enough. Our deserted bar in the hotel and a Stella. The Stella certainly remained constant, fortunately we changed location. Had quick walk into town and found a very reasonable Italian. Chicken and mushroom was consumed and enjoyed along with more Stella. As usual I forgot to take a towel with me, and my first attempt to barter for one didn't go too well. I ended up paying the going price e32 Egyptian pounds.
The Hilton was our next location and in 'the pub' there was some live music. I don't know if its cause I'm in the holiday mood but the guy play Santana, and it was excellent. Just him on a guitar and the usual attractive singer - who for a change could actually sing.
This was far too sophisticated for us, so we soon legged it upstairs, where the nightclub was. What a bizarre start. I think the entertainment was supposed to be funny. But I guess it was Egyptian humour. A woman was lying down and ubi dooby was the catchphrase to start with a the woman (who was lying on some sheets - it wasn't porno) was asking for ubi doobie from her husband. I want ubi doobie she screamed. Ended up them playing hand games, believe me that was the only part of the entertainment I understand. It got even more bizarre, a man standing as a statue trying to swim and various women coming out a painting him??? Fortunately it only last about half-hour and soon the music was blaring out the speakers. It took a good hour or so before we were pissed enough to start dancing. When we did there was no stopping us. The local talent was rather whorish and the images of two women in Florissant pink and green should stay with me for the remainder of the week. But Ray and I bounced around the dancefloor until 1am. Stotting back home at 1am and into the land of nod in minutes.
We’ve just our boat brief, and well be diving in around 30 minutes its 945 and the bottled water is going down perfectly. Bloody hell I'm still scared.
Margaret is our dive master and Kirsten is another one I will definitely dive with one of them to start with. I really cannot wait. The next time I write I will have experience the Red Sea! This is the trip of a lifetime, about to become a reality.
Saturday 09:08 Onboard ISA our boat for the week. Can’t quite believe I'm actually here. Sitting on top of the boat sailing away from shore. It's a gorgeous day, and I'm a little apprehensive, the kit is down stairs all ready to go. Most other people on the boat seem pretty advanced, but it looks like people will leave us alone. All the others have their own kit and have done around 100 dives, and here's me 9 dives in the freezing North Sea. The view from here is stunning, hills in the distance hardly another boat in sight and the sea is much calmer than my nerves. The dive couldn't come soon enough we've got about three-quarters of an hour to wait! Home seems a very long way off, and there's no turning back now.
Of course I would never have drunk too much last night! What a great time we had, regretting it a little bit when we had to get up at 0630 this morning. Started off innocent enough. Our deserted bar in the hotel and a Stella. The Stella certainly remained constant, fortunately we changed location. Had quick walk into town and found a very reasonable Italian. Chicken and mushroom was consumed and enjoyed along with more Stella. As usual I forgot to take a towel with me, and my first attempt to barter for one didn't go too well. I ended up paying the going price e32 Egyptian pounds.
The Hilton was our next location and in 'the pub' there was some live music. I don't know if its cause I'm in the holiday mood but the guy play Santana, and it was excellent. Just him on a guitar and the usual attractive singer - who for a change could actually sing.
This was far too sophisticated for us, so we soon legged it upstairs, where the nightclub was. What a bizarre start. I think the entertainment was supposed to be funny. But I guess it was Egyptian humour. A woman was lying down and ubi dooby was the catchphrase to start with a the woman (who was lying on some sheets - it wasn't porno) was asking for ubi doobie from her husband. I want ubi doobie she screamed. Ended up them playing hand games, believe me that was the only part of the entertainment I understand. It got even more bizarre, a man standing as a statue trying to swim and various women coming out a painting him??? Fortunately it only last about half-hour and soon the music was blaring out the speakers. It took a good hour or so before we were pissed enough to start dancing. When we did there was no stopping us. The local talent was rather whorish and the images of two women in Florissant pink and green should stay with me for the remainder of the week. But Ray and I bounced around the dancefloor until 1am. Stotting back home at 1am and into the land of nod in minutes.
We’ve just our boat brief, and well be diving in around 30 minutes its 945 and the bottled water is going down perfectly. Bloody hell I'm still scared.
Margaret is our dive master and Kirsten is another one I will definitely dive with one of them to start with. I really cannot wait. The next time I write I will have experience the Red Sea! This is the trip of a lifetime, about to become a reality.
Friday, June 04, 2004
The Rings of Saturn
270,000 kilometres in diameter yet no thicker than 100 meters, Saturn's ring system must rank amongst the most spectacular phenomena in the solar system. Many things are still unknown about them, and an understanding of their dynamics and evolution has implications for the origin of the solar system itself.
First observed by Galilio in 1610 when he pointed the telescope to the heavens. He understood them to be handles or large moons on either side of the planet. Viewed from Earth they move in such a way that every 15 years they will be side on to earth and therefore disappear, known as the ring plane crossing. Galilio observed this in 1612 and wrote "I do not know what to say in a case so surprising, so unlooked for and so novel"
It wasn't until 1856 that our very own James Clerk Maxwell realised they were not solid rings, but made up of “an indefinite number of unconnected particles”.
The rings have been given letter names in the order of their discovery, only A, B and C rings and the Enke gap can be viewed from Earth. It wasn’t until Voyager flew past in 1980 that the others were identified.
Still not fully understood it is thought that the majority of them are plain old water ice, countless unconnected particles, ranging in size from nearly invisible dust to icebergs the size of a house.
Particles can be cleared from a region to form the divisions by the gravitational effects of a moon about 10 kilometres in size, such a moon was found within the Encke gap.
Large dark shadows, now termed spokes, have been viewed moving across the B ring, these are thought to be clouds of smaller grains acquiring electrical charges and interacting with the magnetic field.
In 2004 the Cassini probe will approach Saturn, it is expected to reveal many more of Saturn's secrets.
First observed by Galilio in 1610 when he pointed the telescope to the heavens. He understood them to be handles or large moons on either side of the planet. Viewed from Earth they move in such a way that every 15 years they will be side on to earth and therefore disappear, known as the ring plane crossing. Galilio observed this in 1612 and wrote "I do not know what to say in a case so surprising, so unlooked for and so novel"
It wasn't until 1856 that our very own James Clerk Maxwell realised they were not solid rings, but made up of “an indefinite number of unconnected particles”.
The rings have been given letter names in the order of their discovery, only A, B and C rings and the Enke gap can be viewed from Earth. It wasn’t until Voyager flew past in 1980 that the others were identified.
Still not fully understood it is thought that the majority of them are plain old water ice, countless unconnected particles, ranging in size from nearly invisible dust to icebergs the size of a house.
Particles can be cleared from a region to form the divisions by the gravitational effects of a moon about 10 kilometres in size, such a moon was found within the Encke gap.
Large dark shadows, now termed spokes, have been viewed moving across the B ring, these are thought to be clouds of smaller grains acquiring electrical charges and interacting with the magnetic field.
In 2004 the Cassini probe will approach Saturn, it is expected to reveal many more of Saturn's secrets.
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Hello Holland
Hi to all those people who've moved over to Holland.
HELLO STEPHEN KELLY!!!!!!!!
Hi Suzie
Hi Kevin
Hi Chris.
HELLO STEPHEN KELLY!!!!!!!!
Hi Suzie
Hi Kevin
Hi Chris.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Camels in the Ocean.
Egypt, home to the pharaohs for thousands of years, only to be replaced 1000 years later with thousands of tourists. Many seeking the temples, the Valley of the Kings and the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Pyramids. Camels would feature heavily in their holidays; they’re a rude, smelly uncomfortable ride to the pyramids combined with the consistent incomprehensible babble of the Arabs. Their helpfulness and kindness soon replaced by the end of their trip with outstretched palm. Money please, Money please, More money please. If you don't your going to end up on the back of a camel for a while longer and have an aggravated Arab waiting for you down below.
But today, Friday the 23rd of February, a few thousands miles from Egypt, getting closer by around 300 miles an hour, we don't expect to see any camels on arrival. I may be wrong, but considering each day will start around 8am boarding a boat and being taken out to the middle of the ocean, I hope not to encounter any camels 20m under the sea. I'm not sure what would be safer, camels or sharks, and big colour spiky fish, that I still don't know the name of, but will not be touching in a hurry.
So what brings me all the way from Snowy Aberdeen (honest) to Sunny (22º so the captain cheerfully announced) Egypt?
I've got my long time mate Ray to thank, his exploits round the world only fed my desire to learn to dive. Ray has been diving for the past five years, starting off in Cairns and for the past 2 years has been coming here (somewhere off in the distance yet!), to Hurghada Egypt. So 2 years ago, I began to learn to dive.
Thanks to Shell I joined their local diving club with the full intention of only qualifying then allowing me to dive in warmer climates, the thought of diving in the North Sea was not really appealing. But after 9 open water dives I'm totally hooked.
Of course, if I didn't get the backing from my wife, whom I've unfortunately had to leave behind with two kids, to come away on my own, this chance of a lifetime would never happen.
So I packed all the diving items I currently own: Snorkel mask, fins, gloves, torch &depth gauge. With a small wave from Samantha, a glance from Sean and a loving kiss from the wife, I headed to the airport myself, yesterday, to meet Ray.
I blame Ray for what happened next, it's never my fault. Of course one drink in the airport bar leads to another, then you can't refuse a free drink on a BA flight, 1hr 20m later we've landed. You would expect a delay in drinking at this stage, but we had a night in a hotel, before flying the next morning, so 20 minutes later were propping up a bar. Again, not my fault, but our meal table was not ready for 1hr, so we had no option but to sample some local Gatwick Bud. Realising this would be the last decent meal for a week, we decided to go the whole hog. ‘Spare Ribs and corn on the cob for starter, sir?’ ‘Would you like a beer with your meal?’ ‘Why of course!’, waitresses can be so friendly in these hotels they just keep bringing you more beer, there was nothing we could do, drink, drink, drink. By now of course, with the excitement of the holiday looming, our heads were beginning to spin a little (due to excitement) and the main course hadn't even arrived! Bring on the Duck! It was delicious! I told the waitresses this, but they just kept bring me more beer. We knew we had to get up early the next morning, and it was only a small bar, so we thought we should call it a night.
Regrets? Not at all. 7.30 am, a small buzzer goes off somewhere, 3 seconds later Ray mobile beeps, 1 second after that my Psion screams out of it, 5 seconds after that the TV wants in on the action and switches on. The increasing frequency of all these noises, the tv getting louder and louder - it was some blonde on the Big Breakfast so it wasn't so bad - eventually stirs myself and Ray from a rather comatose state. Our flight was at 10:15 so with a 2hr checking we were expected to be there by 8:15 - loads of time!
Shower, shave, tea - provided by Ray and very nice it was too - and 08:05 and were ready to go. Half way out the hotel Ray informs me that we have to check in at the south entrance and realise it's a train ride away - oh well 8:15 would be too early anyway! Ray was reminded of his previous year’s trip, where he adventured into London and partied until 3am. Found himself waking up at 9:30 for this same flight. He ran frantically to the airport, loosing the wheels of his suitcase and still managed to check in at 10. So we knew if he managed it last time, we would be fine.
Sure enough, no queues straight to checkin, just after 8:25. With a 9:30 boarding time we thought we had plenty of time for a little breakfast and a little shopping. Those all important diarrhoea tablets I had been warned to purchase were a top priority. A quick call to check the wife hadn't left the kids and me. Unfortunately things weren't going so well for Aenea. Sam misbehaving? Never! The little monkey understood I was away and was obviously pushing Mummy to the limit. And to top it all up there was snow! Leaving my wife at work - how cruel! - We had to continue with our holiday chore and get some Money. Since Ray had organised the whole holiday, he had also ordered some Egyptian money for me - £100. I took another £190 in Travellers cheques - having emptied my bank account and slipping into the red within minutes. Thank God pay-day was on Monday.
Being a Friday, we didn't want to miss that all-important Bacon and Egg Roll, so off we strolled and got robbed in the process. £6.50 for 2 rolls!! What a con, never mind they went down really well.
It was only at this stage, that we began to think about the time. I still wanted to purchase a hat, and we hadn't really looking in any shops yet - apart from a red Herring from Ray, who pretended he could read and almost bought a book. But his memory of his last novel - BattleField Earth - a book he has been reading for around 5 years - reminded him of his illiteracy and swayed him at the last minute. Time, yes, lets look at the board and see what it says about our Flight MON6840 HURGHADA GATE 22 CLOSING! We looked at our watches (we'll I looked at my mobile) 09:35. We were told boarding at 9:30 and could quite believe the board. Again, like this morning, Ray had a surprise for me, we've got miles to go to the departure gates, and we've still got to get through security. Cue Mission Impossible tune and picture Ray and I scarping through Gatwick to evade that look that everyone would give you on a plane. If you were last to board, and had delayed the flight!
Our worries were shortcoming. Even though, every monitor highlighted that the gates were closing we did make it in time.
A lengthy bus ride to the plane and a short delay while waiting for stragglers - giving them that evil look when they board the plane, and we were off.
And here I am. 2pm on Friday afternoon. I've attacked, and enjoying my novel - Michael moorcock Von Bek - stolen batteries from Ray to get this thing working again, beaten him four times at othello and now looking forward to sleeping for an hour or so.
By 4:20pm we expect to be landing in Egypt. Waiting for us are the mysteries of the ocean, I wonder if I will discover any Camels?
But today, Friday the 23rd of February, a few thousands miles from Egypt, getting closer by around 300 miles an hour, we don't expect to see any camels on arrival. I may be wrong, but considering each day will start around 8am boarding a boat and being taken out to the middle of the ocean, I hope not to encounter any camels 20m under the sea. I'm not sure what would be safer, camels or sharks, and big colour spiky fish, that I still don't know the name of, but will not be touching in a hurry.
So what brings me all the way from Snowy Aberdeen (honest) to Sunny (22º so the captain cheerfully announced) Egypt?
I've got my long time mate Ray to thank, his exploits round the world only fed my desire to learn to dive. Ray has been diving for the past five years, starting off in Cairns and for the past 2 years has been coming here (somewhere off in the distance yet!), to Hurghada Egypt. So 2 years ago, I began to learn to dive.
Thanks to Shell I joined their local diving club with the full intention of only qualifying then allowing me to dive in warmer climates, the thought of diving in the North Sea was not really appealing. But after 9 open water dives I'm totally hooked.
Of course, if I didn't get the backing from my wife, whom I've unfortunately had to leave behind with two kids, to come away on my own, this chance of a lifetime would never happen.
So I packed all the diving items I currently own: Snorkel mask, fins, gloves, torch &depth gauge. With a small wave from Samantha, a glance from Sean and a loving kiss from the wife, I headed to the airport myself, yesterday, to meet Ray.
I blame Ray for what happened next, it's never my fault. Of course one drink in the airport bar leads to another, then you can't refuse a free drink on a BA flight, 1hr 20m later we've landed. You would expect a delay in drinking at this stage, but we had a night in a hotel, before flying the next morning, so 20 minutes later were propping up a bar. Again, not my fault, but our meal table was not ready for 1hr, so we had no option but to sample some local Gatwick Bud. Realising this would be the last decent meal for a week, we decided to go the whole hog. ‘Spare Ribs and corn on the cob for starter, sir?’ ‘Would you like a beer with your meal?’ ‘Why of course!’, waitresses can be so friendly in these hotels they just keep bringing you more beer, there was nothing we could do, drink, drink, drink. By now of course, with the excitement of the holiday looming, our heads were beginning to spin a little (due to excitement) and the main course hadn't even arrived! Bring on the Duck! It was delicious! I told the waitresses this, but they just kept bring me more beer. We knew we had to get up early the next morning, and it was only a small bar, so we thought we should call it a night.
Regrets? Not at all. 7.30 am, a small buzzer goes off somewhere, 3 seconds later Ray mobile beeps, 1 second after that my Psion screams out of it, 5 seconds after that the TV wants in on the action and switches on. The increasing frequency of all these noises, the tv getting louder and louder - it was some blonde on the Big Breakfast so it wasn't so bad - eventually stirs myself and Ray from a rather comatose state. Our flight was at 10:15 so with a 2hr checking we were expected to be there by 8:15 - loads of time!
Shower, shave, tea - provided by Ray and very nice it was too - and 08:05 and were ready to go. Half way out the hotel Ray informs me that we have to check in at the south entrance and realise it's a train ride away - oh well 8:15 would be too early anyway! Ray was reminded of his previous year’s trip, where he adventured into London and partied until 3am. Found himself waking up at 9:30 for this same flight. He ran frantically to the airport, loosing the wheels of his suitcase and still managed to check in at 10. So we knew if he managed it last time, we would be fine.
Sure enough, no queues straight to checkin, just after 8:25. With a 9:30 boarding time we thought we had plenty of time for a little breakfast and a little shopping. Those all important diarrhoea tablets I had been warned to purchase were a top priority. A quick call to check the wife hadn't left the kids and me. Unfortunately things weren't going so well for Aenea. Sam misbehaving? Never! The little monkey understood I was away and was obviously pushing Mummy to the limit. And to top it all up there was snow! Leaving my wife at work - how cruel! - We had to continue with our holiday chore and get some Money. Since Ray had organised the whole holiday, he had also ordered some Egyptian money for me - £100. I took another £190 in Travellers cheques - having emptied my bank account and slipping into the red within minutes. Thank God pay-day was on Monday.
Being a Friday, we didn't want to miss that all-important Bacon and Egg Roll, so off we strolled and got robbed in the process. £6.50 for 2 rolls!! What a con, never mind they went down really well.
It was only at this stage, that we began to think about the time. I still wanted to purchase a hat, and we hadn't really looking in any shops yet - apart from a red Herring from Ray, who pretended he could read and almost bought a book. But his memory of his last novel - BattleField Earth - a book he has been reading for around 5 years - reminded him of his illiteracy and swayed him at the last minute. Time, yes, lets look at the board and see what it says about our Flight MON6840 HURGHADA GATE 22 CLOSING! We looked at our watches (we'll I looked at my mobile) 09:35. We were told boarding at 9:30 and could quite believe the board. Again, like this morning, Ray had a surprise for me, we've got miles to go to the departure gates, and we've still got to get through security. Cue Mission Impossible tune and picture Ray and I scarping through Gatwick to evade that look that everyone would give you on a plane. If you were last to board, and had delayed the flight!
Our worries were shortcoming. Even though, every monitor highlighted that the gates were closing we did make it in time.
A lengthy bus ride to the plane and a short delay while waiting for stragglers - giving them that evil look when they board the plane, and we were off.
And here I am. 2pm on Friday afternoon. I've attacked, and enjoying my novel - Michael moorcock Von Bek - stolen batteries from Ray to get this thing working again, beaten him four times at othello and now looking forward to sleeping for an hour or so.
By 4:20pm we expect to be landing in Egypt. Waiting for us are the mysteries of the ocean, I wonder if I will discover any Camels?
Friday, May 21, 2004
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