Scuba Diving. The Carnatic, Abu Nuhas, Egypt
The Carnatic is a great 19th Century shipwreck that lies on Sha’ab Abu Nuhas Reef in the Red Sea. It is accessable from both Sharm and hurgada (bit of a trek and weather permitting). It is quite shallow which means that it is accessible to all levels of diver. The Carnatic sank in 1869 but is still remarkably intact. Inside the wreck you can see the remains of broken bottles and there are shoals of glass fish inhabiting them. Penetration into the holds is easy for any level of diver and there are plenty of open areas to get out of. The story is that the Carnatic was carrying Gold when it struck the reef. Rumor has it that it was never recovered…Though, I didnt find any:)… A great dive.
- Photo (c) by Marc Van Espen
My first dives. For the PADI ADVANCED course I was taken to Dosthill Quarry. October 1994. Yep, Cold.
Reading the dive log, I didnt sound that impressed with the underwater life. Remember these were FUN DIVES straight after the open water course ! Anyway, It would be good to hear from anyone still diving in Dosthill.
Dive Dosthill
It was a cold October day that I will never forget. After the much needed cup of hot chocolate I plucked up the courage to don my wet suit…..YES wet suit…the water just 4 degrees above freezing. Great. Once the briefing was over we walked to the edge of that platform and stared at the bleak looking pond below……What fun…..and with a perfect giant stride, I was in. After the initial shock the suit did warm up…..but to be fair, the face and hands, which were in thin gloves never do. Visibility….Mmmm about 2 meters, which is not bad, depending on where you have to compare it with. Some say that peeing in your suit helps with the cold…..It does for approx 0.4 seconds, but trust me the hassle with your partner later when you remove the suit is not worth it LOL.
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- before the water was in
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- Waiting for the plunge
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- Blue waters ;)
The first module skills were carried out and I am so glad that there was only one other person to wait for. My dive buddy and good friend Steve……. I look back now and wonder how we actually managed to get back in the water for the second dive…AND go back the next day to finish the course. However, after all is said and done, learning to dive altered my life, my lifestyle, my outlook and even my personality…all for the better I must add. Here is a link to stoney cove. It is one of the best inland dive sites and does have a great safety record and all of the needed facilities, including a cafe. SCUBA MAN says Dive safe.
www.stoneycove.com
Dive sites around Hurgarda
SCUBA MAN SAYS… EGYPT TRY IT FIRST
Diving in the RED SEA, without a doubt gave me the passion for travelling and the sea. I had not long done my advanced course when our local dive shop organised a trip to Hurgarda, Egypt. The first dive in warm water, in fact the first dive in anything warmer than 6 degrees…Wow. First thing I noticed….was I could see !!! Ok, I am being cruel..there are some awesome dives in the UK and i hope to cover them soon too on this BLOG. I remember seeing this huge moray eel. Peter was his name …no really !! the dive leader made you pat his big head on the way passed…otherwise he would follow you around the dive !!! YIP I patted his head. Of cousre I would honestly advise and hope that any divers nowerdays DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING and leave only bubbles.
I weighed in at about 14 stone those days and my tank of air only lasted about 20 mins. So if you are an “air pig” please do not worry. Enjoy the time you have…you will get better and better the more that you dive. Nowerdays at 16 stone…but i am on a diet I can make an average dive last over 2 hours on the same tank!!….. yes, breathing all the time.
Anyway, first trip was 7 days of life changing bliss….I knew then that I wanted to do that for a job…..but it was just a dream….wasn’t it?
NOTE: The diving in egypt has changed since that first splash, but I do think in general. Hurgarda is calm, warm has close sites and is a great place to get your first few dives in after certification. Those first few dives without being taught will no doubt be the deciders of whether you do continue to dive or you quit. So pick a good dive shop and stay safe.
SCUBA MAN.
Where to start?
It is very important to find a good reputable diving school/instructor.
Also of course decide if you do actually want to get wet in the UK !
I am a big fan of learning in the UK as I think that once you have dived in the UK you can dive anywhere. Definitly TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. Equipment I mean… Do a try dive. In a pool then the sea. If you enjoy it, then start thinking about buying your own kit. So many people buy kit, then find out that for some reason they dont like it. !! Yep some strange folk out there LOL.
GET CERTIFIED. There is nothing like having that open water certification. Its like freedom..or it was for me !
Let go diving………………………….
In future posts I will be relating to my first dives and posting some real life experiences. I hope that you join in.
Happy bubbles Paul. SCUBA MAN
Eagle Ray
