You may or may not know, 'elite diving' were nominated for the Best Dive Centre/ Resort by DIVE magazine for 2018 and made the top 25 Dive Center Resorts, despite the last quiet few years due to a British direct flight ban. You may have voted for the nomination, if you did thank you so much. If you didn't and you'd like to vote for us, we have made it to the final where the top 25 Dive Centres Resorts go head to head on a vote. So even if you did vote for the nomination, we need you to vote again for the final vote. We'd like to get as far up the list as possible so every vote counts with the very big dive centers that are on the list.

They ask for you to vote for your three favorite on the list, but if you don't know the other Dive centre/resorts or you know them and you don't think they are your 2nd or 3rd  favourite, you need not vote for them. So please just vote for us if you think we are worthy of your vote.

We, here at 'elite diving' in Sharm, will be very disappointed with ourselves if you don't vote for us, however, if you don't we'd like you to tell us why not so we can look into making an even better service for you.

We only have a short time left to make your vote count. Please get on it now and get your favorite 'Dive Destination', favorite 'Dive center/Resort' and favorite 'Safari boat' on the top of the list. Don't forget. You don't have to vote for anyone you haven't dived with or been to.

Click on the following link to vote. 
​http://divemagazine.co.uk/hidden/8164-dive-travel-awards-2018-the-vote

​Your vote will mean a lot to us.

Arrival Day
This is the fourth Shark Safari that 'elite diving' has undertaken. This time it was on The Diamond Explorer. The last three had produced the results. There can't be a Shark Safari without Sharks! It was the first Shark Safari for most of the divers, with a few in the group that had done one previously. All the divers eagerly awaited with anticipation the prospect of seeing some big creatures on the dives ahead.

Most of the divers arrived in Egypt on Saturday and got ferried to the boat in Port Ghalib. After a short briefing on boat procedures, everyone turned in for the night to rest up for the
weeks diving ahead.

Day 1.
The first day diving was on Abu Dabab Two. This was for all the divers to re-familiarise themselves with their equipment and weighting.

The Second dive was on Abu Daba Three, where a few of the old favourites were seen.

Day 2 
The long awaited dive on Daedalus was upon us. A 6.00 am wake up call with just about time to come around for the briefing. It was Shark Spotting Time. Once again Daedalus didn't disappoint. 

Over a period of three dives, there were Hammerhead Sharks, a Thresher shark and a silky shark. Some of our divers ticked a few boxes for the first time.

On the third dive, one of our groups were treated to a show by three manta's. The water was like a soup of microscopic life, the three mantas kept barrel rolling, feeding on the plankton in the water as they glided so gracefully in the warm thermals that contained their food.

Day 3
The boat Arrived at Elphinstone approximately 4.30 am after sailing through the night from Daedalus. 

Again an early morning call at 6.00 am to muster the divers for the treat in store for them today, and wow, what a treat. It's not often you get close up and personal to a "Longymanus" or as we call it Oceanic White Tip. This was the first of many encounters with many Oceanic's on this trip. 

​After a couple of dives on Elphinstone with these magnificent creatures, the boat sailed North, heading for The Brother Islands, stopping off at Ras Torombi for a 3rd dive before the final push for The Brothers.

The Sunset over The desert mountains as the boat sailed away was absolutely breathtaking.

Day 4
First dive on Big Brother after another early morning call. Another Thresher Shark was seen and a few more encounters with Oceanics at the end of the dive.

The second dive from the Zodiac which dropped the divers on the Wreck of Aida before drifting back to the moored boat. Soft corals cover it in abundance, creating habitat for small marine life while the Grey Reef Sharks swim in the blue occasionally coming in closer to the cleaning stations.

The third dive started from the Zodiac again and this time started on the wreck of Numidia which is fairly close to the Aida, and again the divers drifted back to the moored boat but this time they came in across a big Whale Shark. This was turning out to be yet another epic day.

Day 5
A few more encounters with more sharks on Little Brother which kept all the divers happy. They had come to see sharks and sharks they saw. Another Whale Shark although smaller hung around the divers for ten minutes before heading off into the blue. Although not many of the divers had Underwater Camera's the ones who had cameras, exchanged details and shared what they had. There were some new friends forged again.

Day 6
It was time to start heading back nearer shore. The divers complained that it was the last day of diving and that the week had gone far too quickly. There were two more dives left
​to do. One on Shab Sheer and another on Tobia Arba which was a very pretty dive and some of our divers said it reminded them of Temple Dive site in Sharm.

As all good safari's, a last get together was had after returning to dock. As the boat docked in Safaga, which is not a tourist destination, even so, G managed to seek our a bar for most of the group to join in for a beer or two.

On the next day, everyone was transported back to Hurghada for their onward journey among shouts of "We'll see you next year" and "Lets meet up with Elite Diving in Sharm before then" Well everyone is welcome. If you are interested in joining next year's Shark Safari, get your name down early as it's first come first served.

A big thanks to everyone who made this week yet another epic, and to Tony Madelin for the use of most of the photos in this post.

Contact : info@elite-diving.com 

Shark Safari Red Sea June 2018
After our Shark Safari exploits of the last two summers, we have been asked to put on another Shark Safari by a group of our divers, where we will dive Brothers, Elphinstone and Daedalus with the objective of again diving with sharks.

The three trips we ran in Summer 2016 and 2017, produced so many sharks and some very close encounters.

There are still places available if anyone else wanted to join the trip.

We hope to emulate the shark sightings again in June 2018 on board 'Diamond Explorer'

We have a few places still available.

This safari will be commencing from Hurghada and finishing in Marsa Alam on the Egyptian Red Sea.

We board the boat on 23rd June 2018 and have our first dive on Sunday 24th June. The trip includes, full board, soft drinks mineral water tea coffee and snacks, 12lt tanks, weights with free nitrox for those qualified. The price for this trip is £900. Also there will be a free Shark Awareness Course for those who want to take part. There is a PADI certificate for this course available if you purchase the manual and PADI certification inclusive for £50

How to get there
Participant's will either need to be at Hurghada Airport late on Saturday Afternoon/Evening on 23rd June 2018 or picked up from a hotel in Hurghada of arrived in Hurghada previous to the 23rd June, to get on the transfer to the safari boat.

For people flying from UK, Easy Jet are flying from Gatwick direct to Hurghada on 23rd June and returns 30th June 2018, also Thomas Cooke are flying from Manchester on the same dates.

There maybe alternative days that there are flights in and out of Hurghada and Marsa Alam, It will depend on which country you are flying from. 

Please contact info@elite-diving.com with any queries.

​Over the last seven years or so, we've regularly seen a small female Green Turtle at Ras Mohamed. Some dive guides call her Millie. We are seeing it now increase in size (if it's the same one).

We'd like to find a bit more about her, and getting photos of turtles around Sharm over the years will help.

​Firstly, we'd like to identify if there is more than one Green Turtle of this size here in the Sharm area. We've seen bigger ones, which we think could be Millies parents, and we have some photo's of Millie when she was younger. More photo's will help tremendously. 

When born, green sea turtles are only 5 cm (2 in) long. But they grow up to 1.5 meters (5 ft) in length and can weigh over 300 kg (700 lbs), making them the largest of the hard shell sea turtles. The dorsal shell of the green turtle, or carapace, is wide, smooth, and brownish-olive in color.

The underside of the shell, or plastron, is yellow. Green sea turtles are so named for the greenish hue of their skin. They have heads that cannot retract into their bodies, a trait commonly associated with turtles so our research tells us but we thought that was tortoise's. Reaching speeds of up to 56 km/h (35 mph), their streamlined shell and paddle-like flippers aid in their ability to swim quickly and with grace.

THURSDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2017
Help us Identify The Green Turtles
Over the last seven years or so, we've regularly seen a small female Green Turtle at Ras Mohamed. Some dive guides call her Millie. We are seeing it now increase in size (if it's the same one).

Boaty McBoatface started to build up momentum in the early stages, but thank God there were a lot of you out there that saved the day and started sending in other sensible suggestions.

There were many of you who sent in more than one suggestion, which is fine by us.

Some funny ones but still quite apt were "Dive now in a Minute" that was sent in a few times, once by our very own H. "Free Abuse" was another apt one, but as I say, we never put anything with FREE written down in writing. It could get misconstrued!!!! Another popular one was "STUNNING" which many of you know is Mr Alun's catch phrase. "NEWTRIANTS" which is a reference to Alec's awesome briefings was also brandished about. The one that was always going to be a non starter was sent in by Danny Calvert. I can only assume he was having a laugh as "St George" isn't welcome in these parts since the Crusades although there already a boat named that in Travco Marina.

Callum-Valentino Rossi suggested we call the boat "The Big G". The only other person to back him up was G himself. Sorry lads!

There were also some very nice suggestions that were in the Welsh Launguage, Swn Y Mor (Sound of the sea), Seren Sinai (Sinai Star) Cariad (my love) Y DDraig Goch (The Red Dragon), Calon Lan (Pure of Heart) and many more.

Also you romantics out there pushed this one almost to the top. "Moyra Lee" but it's bad luck to re-name a boat with a ladies name. 
Mr Alun said. "It would be OK in this case, as she's no lady, she's my wife" which got him a thump from the Boss!

One that we had a few suggestions for would be a task to write on the boat, even though Mr Richard Jones suggested writing the name from the Starboard side around to the Port side. LLanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch!!!!!! Thanks Nikki and a few others!

In the end, there were two most popular names/words. We are very pleased with the both. There are two words which kept cropping up. One being Dragon accompanied before or after by another word like Red, Welsh, Diver, Sharm (Mr Alun's favorite Mary Jones) even Sakara!!! The other being Elite accompanied by others such as Dragon, Red Sea, Sharm, Explorer, Shearwater, and many more.

In the end we chose the word that appeared all on it's own the most. So the name of our new boat is
plain and simple, one word just like Lido was, and I'm sure it won't come as much of a surprise. 

​The name of our boat is....

​Plenty of upper deck space.

The Lounge has been named "The Lyn and Linda lounge" in honour of Alun's mother and father who donated the funds to be able to buy the boat.

The third member of the crew needs no introduction for our elite diving regulars. He again was hand picked, but is also the most popular with the majority of elite divers after working with us for 5 years while a member of the LIDO crew. Yes Zenger is now on our team.

All of us at elite diving in Sharm, look forward to welcoming you onto our new acquisition.

​As you may have seen this month? We have had a lot of fun out on the Boat, along with some superb diving.  We had many turtles coming along, with two even flirting with each other right in front of us!!

The big schools are making their way back to the sites at Ras Mohammed, the Snappers, Barracuda, Bat Fish, Emperors and the Unicorn fish have all been spotted gathering together. Tim has had his 1st experience with a Manta, Tanya got to see a Grey Reef Shark swimming by.  Sean being the guide expertly finding them on both occassions!!

Check out Skyscanner.com and fly Heathrow to Sharm, via Cairo.... It's sooo easy, and at the moment the prices are approx £350 return on 13th June. Incredible!!!! So take advantage before they start to go up?
 
All photos supplied by Nigel Wade Technical Editor of Diver magazine when he dived with us this time last year. It's even better this year.
 
E-mail Angie in the office for details on the dive packs;
info@elite-diving.com