Marsa Shagra Egypt Feb 2010 - by Helen

Maldives have started as they mean to go on for 2010, 5 of us flew off to a sunny Red Sea. We stayed at Marsa Shagra, booked though Oonas Divers, which is a dive resort run by Red Sea Diving Safari’s. Marsa Shagra is located approx 250 kms south of Hurgarda and consequently is not plagued yet by the masses attracted to Sharm and Hurgarda. The reefs locally and particularly the house reef are in excellent condition, with abundant marine life and corals. Marsa Shagra is geared for the diver and probably has little to offer a general tourist. Further details on Red Sea Diving Safari’s can be found at this link Diving Safari

3 Maldives’ members flew out on Monday 5th Feb with 2 more following on Thursday. Having left a cold and snowy UK we arrived to a welcome 25 degrees. This continued all week allowing for some sun tanning as well as diving. Diving here is mainly shore diving although the house reef, Elphinstone reef and other locations can be dived by rib.

Tuesday 9th, the first full day meant check dives, buoyancy and getting acquainted with the house reef, this proved to be teaming with life and colourful corals. Wednesday 10th we did a shore dive on the house reef in the morning, joined by a Swedish man called Jorma who had no concept of buddy checks. Following what was going to prove to be a string of very hearty meal i.e. lunch we had another dive on the house reef, via the rib. Helen’s first rib entry proved interesting…woohoo!

Thursday 11th, another shore dive and then a truck dive to Marsa Egla. Although we say truck dive this is now a coach. Stephen and I snorkelled whilst Stuart did the dive and saw more than the divers including our first turtle of the trip.

Friday 12th, for some mad and crazy reason a dawn dive was undertaken by Stuart and Stephen, watched dutifully by Helen from a comfy and warm chair. Pat and Paula joined in the fun by having their check dive in the morning. Don’t worry I did manage to raise myself from the depths of my chair to do a morning dive. The afternoon then saw us at Marsa Abu Dabbaab. Following the sea bed for along way we finally arrived at turtle city where 5 large turtles were grazing on the sea grass. Oh forgot to mention the shark on the way out….yes it was a shark as far as I’m concerned it had shark in the title!! On the return we managed to spot a stonefish looking very grumpy.

Saturday 13th saw us back at Abu Dabaab on the north reef where amongst the plethora of marine life we spotted a banded sea eel. The afternoon saw us diving the south reef by a rib and seeing the daddy of all groupers, Stuart reckons it belonged on the BBQ wrapped in foil with butter, garlic and lemon. The heathen!

Sunday 14th, last day of diving for 3 of us. We had a day of wreck diving at Abu Ghuson; honestly, there is a wreck somewhere around here! We were joined by two divers from Holland. The wreck was a small coastal freighter who had broke her back on the fringing reef about 16 years ago, sadly the cargo of polystyrene prills are still evident on the beaches. We also attempted a group under water photograph which sadly looks like Cromhall Quarry not the clear pristine waters of the Red Sea. Lunch was at Egypt’s answer to a truck stop (pictures explain all).

Sadly, all good things come to an end, and Monday saw Steve, Stuart and I departing these shores for our long trip home.