Letter from the Editor
Certain things in life will almost always come back to haunt you –
it’s the law of the universe. Call it karma if you like, but there is no
denying its existence when it comes to particular things. Take extreme
smugness for instance. If you, like some of us lucky souls, live in
permanent sunshine with the tropical coral reefs of the Red Sea and
breathtaking desert on your doorstep, I challenge you not to succumb
to its seductive force.
I confess I have had my moments. My Facebook status updates
since moving to the Red Sea have been littered with manta ray,
hammerhead, sailfi sh, whale shark, turtle and just loving-outdoor-life
smugness. Although…ah hem…I like to call it more of a celebration of
life…cough, cough. I’m sure my Facebook friends, including those who
have deleted me, agree.
But when I and others (yes, you know who you all are), started talking
about warmth and sunshine when Europe was digging its way out of
ogerson
the snow, did anyone else notice that the heavens suddenly opened
on the desert and we experienced the worst rainfall in 14 years?! Okay,
okay, maybe it was just a coincidence…
contents:
But let’s put this editor’s mad theories to one side for now. When this
o: Simon R
rare fl ood hit, another characteristic of this community really shone
P
hot through. The event showed just how much concern people living in
the Red Sea have for each other and the environment around. No one
4. Letter from the Chairman
had to deal with the weather destruction alone. There was always a
ready and willing hand to help.
6. News
The Red Sea’s watersports community has a passion for its
20. Competition: Win a liveaboard with Sea Queen Fleet
environment, there is no doubt. Clean-ups, conservation volunteer
schemes, surveys, petitions, just scan all of BLUE’s news pages and
22. Green Team: Working together for a greener Red Sea
Green Team features over the last fi ve issues and you will see the
24.
evidence.
Insiders Wreck Guide: The Umbria
Let’s face it. Without the protection of our environment, we would
28. Red Sea Careers: Just the job
never even have the chance to be half as smug. Take a look at all the
unusual big underwater animal encounters this year already (see news
35. Freediver Focus: Ice Breaker
page 17). All the signals are pointing to this being another top year for
36. Talking Tech: Have you got a GUE?
spectacular marine life.
So, maybe the sightings are evidence of good karma? Mother nature’s
38. Community Chat
rewards? Well, who knows…I’ve probably inhaled too much nitrogen
39. My Scene: Wade el Gamal
or drank too much Spanish wine at the dive show with my tapas-
obsessed colleague (BLUE’s designer).
40. Class Shot: The BIG picture
What we do know for certain is that spring has sprung - the time of
42. Red Sea Life: One and only
the year when nature likes to party. So why not come and join us here
in the Red Sea? And I challenge you to resist being (even just a little)
46. Snorkel Site: Dahab
smug after your diving or watersports holiday.
47. Destination Report: Hurghada
Happy diving
48. Surf’s Up: Won with the wind
50. Health Matters: Are you fi t to dive? Charlotte
53. CDWS members:
Charlotte Boan
Front cover image: Simon Rogerson
Editor, BLUE
Issue 5 March - April ‘10 www.cdws.travel 3
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