This offer is valid for Red SeaCollegein Sharm between 7th January until 30th March 2012 and from May 10^th until June 30^th 2012. This does not include “dry” or professional level courses.

Sustainable fishing is basically a fishing method that can continue indefinitely without reducing the species ability to maintain its population, without affecting any other species, its food source or damaging the environment.

Whilst it may seem a simple solution to only eat farmed fish, this in itself is riddled with issues as in certain areas the building of farms on coastal lands is destroying the already threatened mangrove areas and in addition the feeding and treating of the fish in the farms is far from environmentally friendly.

So when buying your fish what can you do? Well the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has a web site to help advise consumers of which fish to eat www.fishonline.org , there is also the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) logo to fish which are caught sustainably. Last years survey into supermarkets showed that that the most responsible of these was Co-op, with Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Sainsburys coming in a close second. When buying fish ask the fishmonger about how the fish was caught and if they don’t know, then go somewhere else.

Take care with the most common fish bought in the UKsuch as cod, haddock, salmon, canned tuna and prawns. Due to their popularity, there are problems with all these fish and you need to choose carefully.

Many celebrity chefs and restaurants are trying to make sure they lead by example including Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey, which helps further the cause.

By all means enjoy your fish and chips but remember as divers we also need the seas to remain full of life so choose wisely.

Stay tuned for more news soon regarding our special rebreather schedules and routes. Contact us now via email;  info@vipone.com for more information regarding the organization of your rebreather liveaboard trip.

“Our Blue was released to the world on the 14th December and to date has enjoyed over 100,000 viewings on Youtube alone. Our group/page and twitter numbers have swelled accordingly and we have reached out and made many new friends within the marine conservation world. Looking ahead we still have much to do with Our Blue on the promotional front and have been busy translating the lyrics into dozens of languages.

“We are also in the process of designing a range of unique “Bangers Gear” that will hopefully be available very soon and we have a couple of awesome projects on the drawing board. One is a new song and video – though nothing like Our Blue. The other is a film the likes of which has never been done before!

“On top of this we will soon be launching TBTV – Tank Bangers Television – a ground breaking initiative that puts you, the Bangers, in the driving seat – reporting on issues both locally and internationally TBTV aims to give a voice to ordinary people with a genuine concern for our ocean planet.

“Our greatest achievement of 2011 however, has been the unifying of divers and dive centres across the world, especially here, the Tank Bangers ancestral home of Sharm El Sheikh for a common good. Our Blue Wonder. Happy New Year all – lets set forth unto this blank canvas that is 2012 for we have much to do! “

For more information visit www.tankbangers.org and purchase the song!

The IDC comes with two different options, the IDC unlimited and the standard IDC. The standard IDC is exactly what it says, it is the course which allows you to start working as a PADI Open Water Instructor and is priced at only €895.

The unlimited version allows you to take an unlimited number of specialty courses which will make you more employable and versatile as an instructor, it will also help propel you up the career ladder in becoming a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. With the IDC-Unlimited package at €995 * for the extra €100 you can give your new livelihood a boost from the outset!

We can do the IDC in English, French, Russian and Dutch!!!

I’m interested send me more info

This condition is more commonly known as otitis externa, and is also sometimes known as swimmers ear. The skin is not designed to be immersed for long periods of time, if you think of how your skin looks after a long bath you can imagine what happens to the skin of the ear canal after a dive. The sea is full of particles, plankton and bacteria which thrive in the lovely warm and dark confines of the ear canal. Coupled with the skins natural bacteria and the softening of the skin the skin cells swell and pull apart allowing the bacteria to migrate under the skin and multiply. The itching is the first symptom and if left may spread to the lymph nodes causing pain around the jaw area and sometimes an obvious infection.

Treatment is simple and depending on how early this is caught can range from simple drops to anti-biotics and pain killers. It is important that you are examined by a doctor as they need to ensure that there is no damage to the ear drum (drops with a perforated ear drum can cause serious and permanent damage). A different diagnosis should also be considered, as itching can also indicate a fungal infection.

More important let’s look at ways to prevent this, there are commercially available solutions to disinfect and dry the ear canal, however these can not be used on a long term basis so aside from a week long diving holiday these can not be used regularly. The best method is a complete rinse with fresh water after every dive and drying with a hairdryer on low, or with a piece of clean cotton. Resist the temptation to clean the wax out of the ears with cotton buds, this wax is the ears natural defense as it helps the skin repel water. Removing of wax and vigorous cleaning will actually worsen the situation.

Remember any ear pain needs to be checked by a qualified doctor as there are many other possible reasons for your discomfort.

SAFE  DIVING!

Dr. Adel Taher & Dr. Ahmed Sakr: your diving docs

If you have any medical queries please let us know at jochen@redseacollege.com. The most interesting one will be discussed in our next issue.

24 hr Emergency Hotline +20 (12) 212 42 92 – Email: sharmchamber@gmail.com 

Firstly navigation at night can present issues as you lose the ability to see vast areas for reference; limited instead to the parts lit by your torch. It is a good idea to dive in areas where you have dived a few times in the day in order to feel familiar with the site and its main features.

Secondly signs are much harder to use at night as unless your hands are lit, your dive companions have little hope of seeing the gestures you are making. Two main ways of signaling are to either shine the torch on your hand when you make a sign, or to use the torch as a means of signal by itself. Whichever you decide, it is important for divers to agree and practice how they will communicate on a dive.

Thirdly stay shallow, often a night dive is done at the end of the days diving and a shallow dive means you stay well within decompression limits. However shallow diving also means that air will last longer. Even the most air guzzling diver should be able to complete a 45 minute dive at 12 metres. This takes away a great deal of stress and allows for the extra consumption first time night dive anxiety can cause.

Fourth, it is a good idea to start the night dive as the sun starts to set in the sky, this way you start in some natural light and can slowly adjust as night begins to fall. The other great thing about this is that you see the reef as it transforms from day into night night and watch the fish pack up for the day and see the nocturnal critters coming out to play. Species such as the Spanish Dancer, Feathered Sea Star and many Urchins will only come out at night and are stunning under the light of a torch.

Fifth you will need to have the right gear, a primary torch and a back up light (at least one per buddy team) to cover the event of light failure. Make sure you know how to use both and secure both via a line to ensure you don’t run the risk of losing one. It is also a good idea to have some kind of marker device to indicate the exit point; for example a strobe or a glow stick.

Remember until 30^th March 2012 we have a 25% discount on all courses so this could be a perfect time to take your night specialty. Also we are including the cost of torch rental for all night diving. If you wish to purchase your own torches there are some great deals to be had from our partner simplyscuba.com and as aRed SeaCollege or Red Sea Waterworld guest you benefit from a 10% discount on all underwater lights when you quote reference RSDC10.

Special Offers for Qualified Divers with Red Sea Diving College

Prices from £519 per person staying 7 nights at the 5* Maritim Jollie Ville Golf and Resort, on Bed & Breakfast including a 5 Day Dive Package.

Based on two sharing a standard room, including flights, transfers and taxes.

www.diveholidaydesigners.com

Learn to Dive with Red Sea Diving College
Prices from £569 per person staying 7 nights at the 5* Maritim Jollie Ville Golf and Resort, on Bed & Breakfast including a PADI Open Water Course.

Based on two sharing a standard room, including flights, transfers and taxes.

www.diveholidaydesigners.com

Prices are subject to availability and may change without notice.

This ensures that their eggs and themselves are a rather distasteful meal for any potential predators.
Their breeding is done throughout most of the year and they only stop during the coldest months of the year…when obviously the cold does not create the mood for romance. The eggs are stored in characteristic bright red ribbons which can often be found on rock outcroppings around the reefs of Sharm. Many of you have probably seen them, without ever realising exactly what they are.

They look like a red tissue rose wafting in the current and are beautiful to look at…although you now know they taste nasty!
They move along the reef in a crawling motion but when threatened they unfurl their edges (the parapodia) and whirl through the water like a Spanish lady dancing.

This offer is valid for Red Sea College in Sharm between 20th November and 23rd December 2011 and from 7th January until 30th March 2012. This does not include “dry”, technical or professional level courses.

Help your friends make the right choice by recommending Red Sea Diving College and we will reward you with a free night dive.

When one of your friends books their diving or a course with us, simply ask them to mention your full name, date of birth and email and we will credit your account with 300 platinum card points; enough for a free night dive!

Don’t let people you know take a 50:50 chance when they dive!

Being greeted in the saloon with a cold glass of juice or freshly filtered coffee and then shown to an en-suite cabin starts the trip well as the boat heads to Dunraven. With 3 further dives on the Thistlegorm and then another on the Kingston the guys had a perfect chance to delve into the maritime history of the area.

Great diving, relaxing on the sundeck an evening BBQ and the ultimate in VIP style diving the soldiers all wanted to stay longer! Luckily VIPOne is used most of the year for dive safari’s lasting an entire week!

Join our facebook group or take a 360 tour around the vessel