EQUALIZER

THE
B E C A U S E N O T A L L D I V E R S W E R E C R E A T E D

E Q U A L

**FREE**

Jul-Aug 2011

ISSUE SIX

A New Arrival in Sharm The Very Deep South Ramadan Explained The Magic of Cairo Species Focus

Red Sea news & calendar Reef & wreck briefings Photo contest results Narcosis corner and more...

ISSUE SIX - JUL/AUG 2011

THE EQUALIZER

08

CONTENTS
REGULARS
07 Dive Profile 08 Wreck Briefing 10 Reef Briefing 12 Species Focus 14 Endemic Species 40 Photography Focus 44 Photo Contest 46 Narcosis Corner

12

26

NEWS
16 Red Sea News 17 Red Sea Calendar 18 Business News 20 Environmental News

32

SELECTED FEATURES
22 Sharms New Arrival 26 The Deep Deep South 30 Egyptian Life 32 Surface Interval 38 Lighthouse Focus

46

THE EQUALIZER

Jul-Aug 2011

MEET THE TEAM

I have worked as a dive guide/instructor for many years and I still love every second of it. I have about 2.500 dives in the Red Sea under my belt and Im still excited every time Im about to jump in the water. Im very interested in marine life and try to learn as much as possible about the species I see. If I cant tell you what it was we saw during our dive, most likely Ill have the book to find out.

Anders Jlmsj

I had always wanted to dive and first got my opportunity on a holiday in Kenya back in 1999. Since those first few breaths underwater, I knew it wouldnt be a one-off. Since living in Egypt, I have worked as a guide and instructor in most areas and have been fortunate enough to see some amazing sights and experience many wonderful dives. Theres always something new to look for and somewhere different to dive.

James Dawson

Clare is an instructor and guide for the Ocean College Dive Centre as well as the creator of the DiveBunnie website, home for women scuba divers.

CONTRIBUTOR - Clare Wilders

BACK ISSUES
If youve missed any issues of The EQUALIZER, you can download them for free at www.aziabmedia.com

THE EQUALIZER - equalizer@aziabmedia.com Distributed by Aziab Media Ltd Issue Six - Jul/Aug 2011
The EQUALIZER. The views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively. Editorial contributions are welcome and should be sent to The EQUALIZER. All due care will be taken with material submitted, but the magazine and publishers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. The EQUALIZER assumes no responsibility to return unsolicited editorial, graphic or other material. All rights in letters, e-mails and unsolicited and graphic material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes, and material will be subject to The EQUALIZERs unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. The EQUALIZER is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. The EQUALIZER retains the right to publish your material in all media, including and without limitation, the Internet. Some of the activities covered in this magazine carry a significant risk of injury or death. Undertake them only with proper instruction, training or equipment. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice and information given to readers, the writers, editor, publisher and proprietor cannot accept responsibility for any damages or inconvenience that may arise therefrom.

Cover Photo: Napoleon Wrasse by James Dawson THE EQUALIZER

Jul-Aug 2011

EDITORIAL
Welcome to the sixth issue of THE EQUALIZER. In the latest instalment of the magazine we take a look at one of the lesser known destinations that the Red Sea has to offer. Few divers have visited the Abu Fandira and Ohrob areas close to the Sudanese border but Anders Jlmsj has been spending time in the very deep south to bring you all the news from the pristine dive sites down there. We also have a report from Sharm El Sheikh of a new arrival for Dr Adel. A state of the art hyperbaric chamber that opened recently and shall provide vital support to divers for many years to come. As well as these stories, we have our regular features where you can take a tour of some of the Red Seas best dive sites and learn a little about some of its residents. Mike Onkers (who was recently published in the UKs Diver magazine) is back with another tall tale about a tyrannical captain and the story of his revenge. We look forward to seeing you in Egypt this summer and hope you enjoy the magazine. As always, if there is anything you would like to see included in The EQUALIZER, please get in touch with us at; equalizer@aziabmedia.com Anders & James
THE EQUALIZER

RED SEA LEGENDS

DIVE PROFILE
Age: 51 Lives in Sharm El Sheikh Working as a freelance instructor, photographer and videographer
When did you start diving? TG: 1990

Dr. Tina Gauer

Reef Sharks hunting in a huge school of blue fusiliers WOW!!! If you could be a marine species, what would you be? TG: No question a dolphin! If you ever looked a dolphin in the eye when it swims next to you, youll understand why What do you think is the biggest threat to the Red Sea? TG: The increasing pollution of both land and sea and human impact in general

Why did you start diving? TG: Because I have always loved the sea and had a strong interest in the animals Who is your dream Buddy, and why? living there. I guess thats why I became TG: My better half Oli Burle, but I would a biologist love to dive with the shark lady Cristina Zenato in the Bahamas. She is one of the How long have you been in the Red biggest fighters for the conservation of Sea? our sharks and an amazing woman! TG: With interruptions to the Maldives and a few other countries, almost 14 years Whats on your bedside table? TG: My alarm clock and a plush dolphin Which is your favourite dive site in the called Junior Red Sea, and why? TG: Actually, I have 2 favourites: Ras What are you doing in 10 years? Mohameds Shark & Yolanda Reefs in the TG: Hopefully the same as today, taking summer with huge schools of snappers, 360-panoramas on land and filming and batfish, surgeons, and sharks and for sure guiding under water. If it will still be in Little Brother - a magnificent reef and lots Egypt, I dont know, but I will be near and of different sharks in the blue in the sea for sure! What was your most memorable dive? TG: There are many, but in the Red Sea it was a dive on Shaab Farag in St. Johns. It started with a dolphin mother and her baby. The mother had just caught a jackfish, and was teaching the little one how to do that. This is basically impressive enough, but these 2 dolphins were followed closely by 2 Silvertip Sharks, which had obviously smelled the fish. After they left us, we saw an enormous Manta Ray cruising the reef and to finish this dive of a lifetime, a feeding frenzy of 20 Silvertips and Grey

Tina relaxing on a safety stop Jul-Aug 2011

WRECK BRIEFING - KINGSTON, Gota Danoba

Kingston, Gota Danoba a.k.a. Shag Rock

WRECK BRIEFING

words and illustration by Anders Jlmsj Kingston was discovered by Shlomo Cohen in early 1990s and was called Sarah H before the true identity of Kingston was established. Cohen was writing on his book, the now classic Red Sea Divers Guide, and needed to give the wreck a name - not an uncommon practice by any means. The captain of his dive boat at the time was David Hillel and as his wife Sarah was DM on the boat. They decided to name the wreck after her. It would take years before the wreck was correctly identified as the Kingston. She was built in Sunderland by the Oswald Shipbuilding Company, and launched early in the year 1871 and was one of the slender steam/sailing cargo ships that at the time started to be more and more common. She had a single, 2

cylinder compound steam-engine that delivered enough power for Kinston to cruise with the speed of 11 knots. With the measurements 78 meters long and 10 meters wide so she was smaller than both Carnatic and Ulysses. Her last voyage started January 20th 1881 when Captain Cousins let the moorings slide in London with the destination of Aden. The route went through the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal. Captain Cousins stayed at the wheel for almost 48 hours till the end of the Straits of Suez. Just as so many captains have done before he relaxed as the landmasses fell into the horizon. Now he felt he could leave the ship in the hands of the first mate so he could finally get some well deserved rest in his cabin. Early in the morning February 22nd the Kingston sailed straight into Gota Danoba, a.k.a. Shag Rock. As they knew that help would not be long, Captain Cousins and his crew remained onboard even when most of the ship was submerged and

were saved only two days later as they were right next to the heavily trafficked shipping lane. Diving at the east end of Gota Danoba of course the wreck of Kingston is a major attraction but its a small wreck and only the stern half is still intact. This means you will have plenty of time to enjoy the reef as well. This is a good thing since this is likely to be one of the best hard coral dive sites youve ever seen. The current sweeping along the reef bringing nutrients makes the table corals grow so fast they actually spiral around rather than create a flat surface. You can also find some more wreckage in the form of masts and a propeller which probably belongs to an earlier wreck. Enormous schools of fusiliers, sweetlips and goatfish patrol along the shallow wall while scorpionfish, on the coral formations stonefish and octopus lure on prey in stealth. Stay shallow for more light and marine life and more dive time.

LOCATION: On the western side of Gota Danoba, near the exit of the Gulf of Suez DIVE SITE DEPTHS: Maximum of 24 metres at the seabed coming as shallow as 2 metres MARINE LIFE: The Kingston is probably best known for its resident surgeonfish that vigorously defend their territory. They are often seen trying to scare divers away from their home patch. The surrounding reef has spectacular hard corals and the table corals are in particularly good condition at this site CONDITIONS & HAZARDS: The currents can be strong which can make it difficult to stay on the wreck. It is important to follow the side of the reef that was planned in the briefing to ensure you can be picked up safely at the end of the dive

Opposite: The location of the Kingston at Gota Danoba Below: The wreck as she looks today

THE EQUALIZER

Jul-Aug 2011

REEF BRIEFING - ERG SOMAYA, Hurghada

text & illustration by Anders Jlmsj photographs by James Dawson Some say that Somaya was the first female martyr in the Islamic religion. This reef might be named after her or after Somaya who was an early days dive guide, either way this reef is so beautiful that it is definitely worthy the name of a saint.

Erg Somaya, Hurghada

REEF BRIEFING

A drift dive is highly recommended because if there is a fairly strong current you may miss the best part of the dive with a stationary dive plan. When you jump in the water, make sure that you are close to the reef because the drop off goes straight down to about 65 meters. On the way south back to the mooring line you will first pass two big pinnacles, almost pyramid shaped, and a few minutes later another smaller coral formation. These are covered with deep purple, red and blue soft corals and gorgonias. If you ever thought about bringing a under water camera you should do it on this dive! Between the first and the second pyramid you may just as well swim straight through the blue water. You will still see the wall and the next pyramid. On the slope between them you see a big table coral. After this you swim closer to the reef and the third formation. If you go

between this one and the wall you may get a fun ride on the current that often is quite strong in this bottle neck. After you pass the third formation you look to the left and you will see the first mooring line going from the bottom to the boat. If you have air and NDL time enough you might go through the chimney and then finnish the dive around the actual Erg Somaya. Here youre swimming around the reef making your safety stop around the top where you whish you could stay for ever and that you could change the memory card in your camera under water. Left: The variety of marine life will always offer something to see Right: The currents bring essential nutrients for the reefs health

THE EQUALIZER

Jul-Aug 2011

MARINE LIFE OF THE RED SEA

back and many have bright colour patterns that evolve with growth or sex. As well as changing colours, almost all species of Wrasses (Labridae) words & photographs by James Dawson wrasse also possess the ability for sex reversal and females will change sex to Wrasses are one of the most diverse a male when the need arises. Some may families of reef fish with large variations in see this as a promotion but Im sure there both size and form. It is perhaps because will be others who see it as a punishment. of this diversity that whenever a diver cannot identify a particular fish species, Mating most commonly takes place in the they simply name it a wrasse and call it open water with spawning to fertilise the eggs. These then drift on the currents and a day. there is no contact between the juveniles There are still some similarities across and parents after that point. Some species the family though, with most having an have complex haremic mating systems elongated body ending with a mouth that while others mate in pairs. has thick lips and protruding canine teeth. Many species are able to extend their The size of wrasse varies greatly by species mouth forward by means of a protruding with the largest being the Napoleon (or lower jaw. This allows them to achieve a humphead) wrasse. It can reach sizes fast and powerful bite to aid in the capture of up to 2.5m in length although they are of prey or to remove shells or urchins from usually smaller than that. the reef. Among the smaller species is the cleaner Wrasses also tend to have a continuous wrasse which lives among the reefs and dorsal fin that runs the length of the fishs removes parasites from the mouths and

SPECIES FOCUS

gills of larger fish. They feed mainly on the parasites or dead tissue and scales of their customers and form a mutualistic relationship where both parties benefit from the service. Despite the opportunity for an easy meal, the larger fish doesnt eat the cleaner wrasse since the long-term benefit seems to outweigh the chance for a quick snack. So the next time you cant identify a fish that youve seen during a dive, dont just assume that it was a wrasse. Theres a good chance that it was, but wouldnt it be nice to know which one?!

Range: Size: Depth:

Hazards:

Throughout Red Sea Varies greatly from 6cm (minute wrasse up to 2.3m (Napoleon wrasse) Potentially as deep as 250m but many species are most commonly seen shallower than 30m Wrasse species are typically shy and cautious around divers although the Napoleon wrasse can be inquisitive. Some have been known to nip divers after becoming accustomed to being fed by hand

Above: The wonderfully named Abudjubbe Wrasse Right: A Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse works on an anthia THE EQUALIZER

This page clockwise from top left: An Axilspot Hogfish showing its juvenile colour pattern. Adults have a red front half of the body with white at the rear. A Napoleon wrasse cruises along the reef at Brother Islands. The Red Sea Falsher wrasse is found only in the Red Sea. An adult slingjaw wrasse that is able to extend its jaw to aid feeding Jul-Aug 2011

ENDEMIC LIFE OF THE RED SEA Masked Pufferfish

words & photographs by James Dawson Pufferfish are named after their defensive mechanism that allows them to inflate their bodies to deter predators. They draw water into a specialised chamber near their stomachs and can greatly increase defence technique of puffing its size to fight off predators. their size. The masked puffer is a common sight in the Red Sea and tends to be found in coral rich areas shallower than 25m. It has a grey/brown colouration with a dark mask from the eyes running back to base of the pectoral fin. They are most often seen resting on the seabed or on a coral head. It is a solitary fish but gathers in groups to court and spawn. The masked puffer has a tough skin which is highly flexible to allow for the potential increase of body size and is without scales. The beak like mouth has two dental plates which it uses to scrape algae from the corals and bite through sponges. They lack fin spines, pelvic fins and ribs, and this restricts their mobility. If you see a pufferfish swimming quickly you can see that it uses its entire body for momentum and is still a slow swimmer capable of only short bursts. This is why it has developed the specific
THE EQUALIZER Jul-Aug 2011

The ideal reference companion for any diver. A fully illustrated fish identification manual
The result of five years of underwater photography and information collected by award winning Dutch photographer Dray van Beeck. This app for both iPad and iPhone is one of the most comprehensive underwater references available. Ideal for marine biologists, divers or simply if you wish to learn more about what goes on beneath the waves.

Aqua Life Images

(Arothron diadematus)

It goes without saying that you should never provoke a pufferfish to see it inflate since this is places a great deal of stress on the animal and can cause it to be vulnerable to attack after the event.
Range: Red Sea only Size: up to 30cm Depth: 3-25m (10-85ft) Similar Species: replaced by Blackspotted puffer (A. nigropunctatus) from Gulf of Aden to Samoa with less black around pectoral fin

An illustrated guide to the common species

Sharks of the Red Sea is a pocket reference for divers and underwater photographers, or just those who are curious about these amazing creatures. This app for both iPad and iPhone is fully illustrated with photographs from award winning photographers. With this guide youll learn more about the species of shark often seen in the Red Sea.

Sharks of the Red Sea

Developed by

Available from

** NEWS **
RED SEA NEWS
Eloise and Clare from Ocean College have some interesting sightings to report. In early June Eloise met two hammerheads on the back of Jackson Reef in Sharm El Sheikh and on the same dive she also saw an Eagle Ray and two Sailfish! These may be the first hammerheads of the year in Tiran. Last year, Jackson was worryingly bereft of hammers for the whole summer but this year seems to start good. Clare saw a Whitetipp Reef Shark and a Manta Ray within five minutes of each other on the local Sharm dive site of Fiddle Garden on the 24th June. Mantas have been spotted repeatedly at the site both during dives and snorkelling, one of which was particularly large, with no less than eight remoras attached to its belly and wings. Fiddle Garden rocks at the moment says Clare and continues Ras Mohammed has been pretty cool too. We had a leopard shark 1st July on the Alternatives, the biggest tuna I have ever seen is currently residing on Jack Fish Alley. We are talking the size of a pretty meaty shark here. And, the shoal of barracuda are back on Shark and Yolanda Reefs... they were barely seen at all last year. It seems to be a good time to visit Sharm El Sheikh right now. Its mating season for Blue Spotted rays again and in the Red Sea you are now likely to find them chasing each other along the bottom and when one catches up with another there is action guaranteed. The Damselfish are having their little ones on the way and are protecting their eggs from other fish trying to eat them while they are attached to rocks and hard surfaces. Its great to see how brave they are chasing larger fish away. Sandra Caramelle from the SWDF team and her guests on the boat Dolphin Dancer met a group of False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens) 6th of June around 16:00 west of Big Giftun in front of Sunny Days el Palacio. Often mistaken with Shortfinned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) this species is more often encounter around Fury Schoal and further south but it happens they swing by Hurghada area as well.
Image Credit: Jeremy Casdagli

** CALENDAR **
RED SEA CALENDAR: What to look for in the coming months
Juveniles
Spring has sprung and now that we move into the summer months, you will have a good chance of seeing plenty of juvenile fish that were born recently. Sheltered shallow reefs are the best place to look for juveniles, since they offer protection as they grow and a chance to develop before heading into deeper waters.
Photo: James Dawson

Mating Turtles
It is quite rare to see turtles mating but this is the time of year to look for it. Courting takes place several weeks before the nesting season and individuals will gather just offshore. Mating is done in the water and males use claws on their front flippers to grasp the females shell. Females will generally visit the breeding grounds every two years, while males will mate every year.

Photo: James Dawson

Image Credit: Csilla Pall

THE EQUALIZER

Jul-Aug 2011

** NEWS **
NEWS (Continued)
On Monday night, the 27th of June, HEPCA received a call that a large whale shark was trapped in a lagoon near Shalateen. The 10 metre long fish had entered the lagoon and could not find its way out through the intensive coral formations at the mouth of the bay. Despite the large size of the lagoon, this rare and magnificent creature would have only survived a short time in the confined space. After making countless calls the same night, a team including the HEPCA Mooring Team and the Elba National Park was formed quickly to help the whale shark find its way out of the bay and back into the open sea. The team spent 3 days with the massive shark using different techniques to get him out of the lagoon by trying to minimize the stress factors the colossal fish was exposed to.

Image Credit: Dray van Beeck

Late Thursday afternoon the team managed to free the whale shark and release him into the open sea again. The HEPCA Mooring Team sent back the news expressing their joy that the animal was in good health. We would like to give very special thanks to the Elba National Park for their help in saving the whale shark. We are glad to see them operating again and hope for successful cooperation in the future. Thanks also go to the local fishermen, who dropped all their work in order to save the worlds largest fish. Everyone did an amazing job and can be very proud of their accomplishments. (Source: HEPCA.com) On a sadder note, the planned world record attempt scheduled to take place in Hurghada this summer has been cancelled. An official statement from the organisers said The Team of Egypt Scuba Challenge is apologize to announce the cancellation of the challenge previously plan for July 26th, 2011 due to lack of participants. We want to thank everyone who supported us and participated in the organization. [sic]

For even more news and updates about all things Red Sea - visit
THE EQUALIZER

www.aziab.com

Jul-Aug 2011

SAVING WATER STARTS AT HOME

Ten Simple Ways to Save Water at Home
by GREENandSAVE 5. Insulate all of your hot water pipes. You waste a lot of water by running it to heat it up. This is a lot less likely to be a problem if your water pipes are properly insulated.

If you havent taken the following steps 6. Water your plants with your extra towards water conservation in your home water. Collect rainwater as well as safe then today is the day to start. greywater around the house and use this water in landscape watering around your home. 7. Begin composting around the home. Just because you have a kitchen sink disposal in your home doesnt mean that you need to use it. In fact, if youre concerned about wasting water around the home then youll reduce your use of the disposal immediately. Thats because the disposal needs a lot of water to work properly. Instead, save those scraps and use them to start a compost pile. 8. Turn off the water when you are at the sink. When brushing teeth and shaving at the sink, stop letting the water run. Learn 1. Fix all leaks. This is the most obvious to wash your face with cool water instead thing that you can do to stop wasting water of letting it run to heat up. These little at home. Why isnt it done yet?! things do make a difference day after day. 2. Replace your showerhead with a low9. Do full loads of everything that requires flow alternative. You shower every day water. Dishwashers and washing so its important to reduce the amount of machines should never be run when they water that youre using when you do. are only half-full. Its a waste of water. 3. Install aerators in your other faucets. Your showerhead isnt the only faucet where too much water is coming out at once. Add aerators to your other faucets to reduce the amount of water flow. 10.Find ways to replace water use with other options. For example, if you usually use running water to thaw your frozen meats then consider stopping that practice and thawing them in the refrigerator instead.

4. Convert your toilet to a low-flush toilet. Waste less water every time that you For more information on how to life a flush. One simple way to do this is to fill greener life, visit; a plastic milk jug halfway with pebbles or www.greenandsave.com gravel and put it inside of your toilet tank.
THE EQUALIZER

Jul-Aug 2011

SHARM EL SHEIKHS NEW CHAMBER

A New Arrival in Sharm El Sheikh
by Clare Wilders There has been a new arrival at Sharm el Sheikhs Hyperbaric Medical Centre. Some weeks ago, I had brought a student for a diving medical and Dr Adel was very keen to introduce us to his new baby. Somewhat excited, and fully expecting to meet a newborn child, we walked through to another room, where we were teleported into another century. We found ourselves stood in what looked like NASAs Ground Control. So, to give you a little history of the chamber here. Prior to Egypt ruling the Sinai, there was in fact a tiny chamber in Sharm, which rather resembled a torpedo. Once put out of action, this sat underwater as an artificial reef for some time in Naama Bay. However now it has since been recovered, restored and repainted a glorious, sunshine yellow and sits outside the Hyperbaric Medical Centre at Travco. They used the containers themselves to form the building, within which they set up the generators, compressors, oxygen tanks, air-conditioning units and all that is required to host a hyperbaric chamber and medical centre. It was apparently the fastest government project to come into existence, possibly the fastest in Egypt even. On the morning of the tenth of March 1993, the generators were powered up, and the Sharm el Sheikh Hyperbaric Medical Centre was born, with fully functioning hyperbaric chamber. To this day, however, it has still yet to have its official opening ceremony. people lying down at any one time, more if seated and until recently, has more than sufficed. It was only when there was an incident involving five people, resulting in them having to buddy breathe the oxygen, that it was decided that they were going to need a bigger boat, or chamber in this instance. And with Sharm being such a busy divers location, it made sense to have the facility to treat more patients. So, after much banging on doors of various ministers, the government were finally persuaded to help fund the new baby. And so was born the amazing, space age, third generation chamber. It is phenomenal. I was treated to a guided tour by both the proud father Dr Adel and Dr Ahmed his second in command. It sports a bank of padded seats, and two beds allowing no less than twelve people to be treated at once (eight if two need to be lying down on the beds).

The current chamber was born back on 8th March 1993. Then the Hyperbaric Medical centre was nothing more than a group of four containers that had recently arrived from the United States of America, together with their own engineer. These giant cartons held all the required components needed in order to make a Dr Adels new baby was in fact a HAUX hyperbaric chamber. Starmed 2200 hyperbaric chamber. The very latest in treatment for decompression In less than four days, working a solid illness. With gleaming white walls flanked forty hours, four men (Dr Adel, Raulf by no less than four video screens, and a Shmidt, Claude Antoine and the American whole computerised operating system, it engineer) transformed the four containers was truly spectacular to behold. and built the chamber and surrounding Medical centre that we know today.

Since then, over 1,500 cases of DCI (covering DCS, AGE and CAGE) have been treated here, peaking at maximum usage a few years ago with a total of 123 in one year. And right up to the present day, this faithful chamber continues to treat patients, having passed all its recent safety checks due to the TLC and top quality maintenance that it has received throughout its career. It can treat two The fire fighting system is apparently the best in the world (well when you are dealing with such high levels of oxygen, you need to take precautions). I was shown racks of gleaming oxygen tanks, two impressive Bauer compressors with a circuit board to make your eyes water not to mention enough buttons, switches and keyboards on the control panel to send a pilot into melt down. Now I have been in the previous chamber having fractured my foot, I was allowed to tend a diver I knew, who had been in need of a treatment. So even though I am really quite tiny, for two of us, I was still very aware of feeling pretty cosy with my fellow dry diver. Banished will be that sensation in the new chamber, with so much space

THE EQUALIZER

Jul-Aug 2011

you could play a game of tennis. Ok, so are suitable to use inside the chamber for maybe that is a slight exaggeration. communication purposes. Today, I took it to the real extreme and decided to try out the little yellow chamber that sits outside the centre, and to me has always looked far too coffin sized for me to want to ever enter. Well (thankfully knowing the lid is still well and truly buried somewhere in Naama Bay), I decided to see just how small it really was. And again, bearing in mind that I am far from big, this is a tiny, tiny space in which to be spending any amount of time. With all this extra space, they will not only be able to treat accidents such as the aforementioned, it will also allow treatments for less serious ailments such as fractures, and diabetic foot. These can now be treated with compression and high partial pressures of Oxygen without the guilt issue of worrying that by doing so, could delay the treatment of a serious dive accident.

Already Dr Adels new baby has been Most treatments last well over one hour paying her way, having treated four people usually a few. Something I would not so far. Already making herself a hugely have enjoyed one bit at least even in valuable addition to the family. Dr Adels current chamber, there was room to move, and we could sit and chat How fantastic that we are able to benefit amongst ourselves. Well there wasnt from such improvements to the system. As much else to do for three hours. Thankfully it is, there is a wealth of research into dive this archaic chamber has long been out of medicine that is constantly undertaken action. here, and for people to get the best possible treatment in such a busy divers The latest, super chamber also boasts destination, it really does make sense. the most incredibly sophisticated control systems, which can be programmed via computer or manually, and which can monitor all the patients vital signs. Well, it was built in Germany and they are known for their engineering. There is even a collection of mobile phones that
THE EQUALIZER Jul-Aug 2011

BORDERLANDS - DEEPER SOUTH THAN DEEP SOUTH

by Anders Jlmsj
Image Credit: Mark Glynn

Abu Fandira & Ohrob The New Frontier

The St. Johns area combined with Zabargad and Rocky islands has long been considered The Deep South of the Egyptian Red Sea, but in recent years a few liveaboard operators have been venturing even further south, edging toward the border with Sudan. Due to the distances, sailing time mean its almost only possible to do this itinerary during the longer summer days. Coincidentally, this is also the best time to dive the area and the rewards for divers choosing this journey are extraordinary. I went on the liveaboard vessel Blue Fin with Ahmed Fadel, one of the most experienced dive guides for this area, this summer. Ahmed Fadel has been working as a dive guide and instructor in the Red Sea since 1993 and for the last few years he has explored the new dive sites to the south of St. Johns. Most people coming this far south are trying to dive the sites as they would dive the sites up in the north he says and explains that this is not always

the right way. You have to use your imagination and look for signs where the best part of the reef is. This is why many operators have discarded the area, thinking that the diving is not so good. This of course is good for us we saw only one other dive boat the whole time we spent down there and that was only travelling to its new owners in Djibouti. We departed from Marsa Ghaleb and sailed through the night to arrive at Abu Fandira at 7am the following morning. This is about 16 nautical miles off the Egyptian coast and not far from the Sudanese Border. Abu Fandira got its name from the big rock on top of the reef, which fisherman called Fandira and is used for navigation along this long reef. This is a short description of three of the many dive sites in the Abu Fandira and Ohrob area the Red Sea at its best in the summer. Fasma Abu Fandira This is a dive that might challenge your navigation skills. Basically there is a gap in the main reef that forms a small channel from the open sea to the inside of the reef. In the middle of this channel there is a fairly large Habili which is connected to the main reef in the southeast with a very pretty hard coral garden. The site can be dived either from the boat stationary on the moorings or by rolling in from the Zodiac on the outside and swimming back through the channel. If you go for the Zodiac option you drop in on the north side of the Habili and simply put the reef on your right shoulder. Keep one eye out into the blue where Tuna, Rainbow Runners and Trevallies

towers and blocks scattered over a flat sandy bottom, each and every single one beautiful enough to spend an entire dive at. In my own humble opinion this is - if not the most then at least one of the prettiest dive sites in the Egyptian Red Sea. The oval shaped main reef is around one hundred meters long and forty meters wide stretching out in an east-west angle. The shallow part, down to 10 to 12 meters, is more or less vertical but then it turns in to a slope giving the reef a hat-like shape. The foot of the reef meets the flat sandy sea bed at 18 to 20 meters on the south side and 27 to 30 meters on the north side. Special for this dive was the big schools of fish hanging
Image Credit: Anders Jlmsj Far Left: Ahmed briefs the divers at Habili Abu Fandira Top: A sample of the pristine corals that can be found in the area Above: A pair of divers with big smiles after their dive Jul-Aug 2011

often patrol along the reef. Make sure that you are not too deep and ready to find the passage over the reef, which could easily be missed if youre too deep or too far out. Take your time in this area since the huge hard coral formations are stunning and big schools of Black and White Snapper, Unicornfish and Surgeonfish almost always hang in mid water. As you exit the passage on the inside of the reef a flat sandy sea bed speckled by coral towers of various size and shape invite for some pretty amazing exploration. Here you find the usual bottom dwellers like Blue Spotted Rays and Goatfish plus the famous Red Sea beauty of soft coral and Anthias. The white sandy bottom at 14 to 17 metres, in contrast to the colourful pinnacles makes for a mind-blowing atmosphere and its easy to lose track of time and directions. Make sure you have a reference point or you might find you have to finish your dive under your SMB. Your safety stop ideally conducted while following the reef back to the boat. Habili Abu Fandira This little dive site consists of one small main reef in the north and two pinnacles in the south plus numerous small coral

Image Credit: Anders Jlmsj THE EQUALIZER

The two pinnacles to the south are extraordinarily beautiful covered by soft corals and with a veil of anthias swaying with the water movement. On the west side of the eastern pinnacle, near the bottom you find a big anemone with anemonefish and an equally big one on the west side of the western pinnacle at a depth of 15 meters. This pinnacle also has a bump at 8 meters on the south side with a small cave/overhang where you can get great camera angles featuring Glassfish.
Image Credit: Mark Glynn

Ohrob South This almost circular reef is about two hundred meters in diameter and with the right conditions it is theoretically possible to circumnavigate the entire reef. However, its better to concentrate on one area and the east side is far better than the west, which makes a morning dive the natural choice. The boat is normally moored up on the south side and depending on the direction of the wind it might be on either the east or the west corner. The top of the reef is an almost inverted wall and half way to the bottom it starts sloping steeply out from the reef giving it a slight hourglass contour. At the foot of the reef - around 19 to 22 meters on the east side and 24 to 28 meters on the west side - large ridges reach out over the flat sandy sea bed. All around the reef large outcrops of coral create a beautiful garden-like landscape with an astonishing number of Yellow Margin Triggerfish. On the east side, half way from the mooring to the north end you will find a satellite pinnacle connected to the main reef by a coral ridge. Here you often encounter a group of Bumphead Parrotfish with up to 20 individuals. A few fin kicks later you pass an area inhabited by Garden Eels right at the base of the reef.

Here we also encounter one special feature for this time of year. Its mating season for Octopus, Bluespotted Ray and Tangs. We see enormous schools of Sailfin Tang pulsating from the bottom towards the surface where they release eggs and sperm in a big cloud. Along the sandy bottom Bluespotted Rays chase As you reach the point where this south each other in a race to find a mate and reef is connected to the north with a
THE EQUALIZER

Image Credit: James Dawson

in the split point of the current. In addition to the usual suspects like Snappers, Goatfish, Sweetlips, Surgeonfish, Tangs and Trevallies you will also see Sleek Unicornfish plus the Blue Spine Unicornfish probably the most fishshaped fish in the sea.

on the main reef Octopus are wondering around in the same business. Its an awesome experience to see the sea rejuvenate.

You get to see pristine dive sites in an unspoiled area where you will be one of the first. The marine life is outstanding with extremely rare species not yet scared off by herds of divers. The corals are in absolute mint condition and the amount of fish astonishing. The best time to go here is in the summer months May through July when the days are longer. This is also plankton season so the chances to encounter larger plankton feeders are series of pinnacles you might experience good. The visibility might be slightly less some stronger currents so this is a good than in the winter but the action on the time for turning around. On your way reef overrules a few extra meters visibility. back you should shallow out to 10 to 12 meters where the light and the colours are Small fish are pulsating out from the amazing. The safety stop is conducted reefs to catch the food brought by the while swimming from the bow mooring to current and predators are not late to take the stern. advantage of the situation shooting in and out trying to catch a bite. If you have a Yet another feature of the area south of chance to make a dusk dive here do not St. Johns Reef is the Rissos Dolphin that hesitate. This is your chance to come are often seen standing on their heads face to face with the giants of the south. with the tailfin and up to half of its body Half an hour before sunset the Bumphead sticking out of the water. They are quite Parrotfish are returning to their sleeping shy and not often encountered under quarters in the reef and you can find water but still an awesome sight during yourself in the middle of a school of a sailing. They also dont seem to like riding hundred individuals. the bow wave as much as their bottlenose cousin. All in all the Abu Fandira and Ohrob area is likely to be one of the best locations in the There are advantages and disadvantages Egyptian Red Sea. Pros and cons taken with this itinerary. If you dont like sleeping in calculations it all equals up to WICKED! while the boat is moving, then this is not for you. Due to the long travel distances Opposite: A red anemone that is home to a there might be up to four hours between family of anemonefish dives and the night is often used to move Above: The distinctive bumphead parrotfish from one area to another. The advantages that is often seen at these dive sites during the summer months are winning though, by far!
Jul-Aug 2011

A Photographic Tour of Cairo

Cairo is one of the most influential cities in the Middle East region and has a rich history dating back millennia. Here are just a few samples of some of the delights that you could see on your next trip to this vibrant capital; Clockwise from top right: The mosque of Bin Saladin, the maze like alleyways of Kahn El Khalily where bargains wait to be found, a view of the river Nile - the life blood of Cairo, a small sample of the history and heritage that Cairo has to offer, one of the iconc pyramids at Giza - a must see attraction on any visit to Cairo, the entrance to the world famous Cairo Museum, the step pyramid at Saqarra - one of the early prototypes of pyramid design, the Cairo Tower where you can get birds eye views of the city.

EGYPTIAN LIFE

THE MAGIC OF CAIRO

All Images: James Dawson THE EQUALIZER

Jul-Aug 2011

UNDERSTANDING LOCAL CUSTOMS

VISITOR ADVICE Cultural Considerations
by Anders Jlmsj opposite sex greet them verbally and wait before reaching out your hand until you see if he or she presents their hand first. be tipped. But at the end of the day it is up to you. You are under no pressure to do so, but it does leave a good impression. Be aware of the fact that many Egyptian people are depending on tips. services are in progress at noon. Western Christian churches are considered houses of God, whereas Mosques are more a gathering place. There are a few simple rules for entering a Mosque. You must take your shoes off before going into the prayer hall. The clothes youre wearing must be respectable. Do not come in shorts, or mini skirts, or tight clothes. Knees and elbows should be covered. Women should cover arms and legs. Easiest is just to wear long trousers and a long sleeved shirt. Even if there is no rule that women cover their hair it is recommended. Do not bring pets.

Egypt is a country with huge mix of cultural heritage and you will find traditions dating back to the times of the Pharaohs as well as customs brought in by other cultures through history. This mix has given Egypt a colourful culture and seems very different compared to other Middle Showing the soles of your shoes to Eastern countries. someone is considered extremely offensive so think of how youre positioning All those cultural differences make a visit your feet in relation to others. Also avoid to Egypt an amazing and memorable sitting with your legs wide apart. Also experience. But just like any other culture remember to dress appropriately when in the world, it can be confusing and out in public. In the resort towns such as misunderstandings may occur. There Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada, there is are issues that need to be considered more tolerance towards casual dress, but to avoid unnecessary offence and by it is still a good idea to cover shoulders understanding local traditions and and knees to avoid offence. respecting your host you will get more from your visit. Egyptian hospitality is one true piece of culture that everyone will experience no If you would get invited to an Egyptians matter how long or short your stay is. You home its considered polite to bring some cant go anywhere without being handed sweets, cookies or pastries. You can hot tea, food or both, and you cant leave also buy flowers, especially when visiting without an invitation for next time or a bag someone who is ill or newly wed. A bottle of of food. wine is not a good idea since Muslims are not allowed to drink alcohol and it would Another rule of etiquette is that greetings probably not be allowed in the house. must precede all forms of social interaction. A person joining any kind Egyptians love it when you greet them of group, even a group of strangers, is in Arabic and Salaamo Alaykom is the expected to greet those already present. most common salutation. It means Peace In less anonymous situations handshakes be upon you and is often combined with are due. Embracing is also common as a a kiss on each cheek. Normally you would form of greeting, usually among members also shake hands but remember, many of the same sex. are not comfortable with shaking hands or kissing with the opposite sex. To play Tipping is a part of daily life in Egypt and if it safe when meeting someone from the someone puts in extra effort, they should
THE EQUALIZER

In the western world co-workers often socialise after hours which might include after work drinks in a pub. Muslims do not drink alcohol and places like a pub, a bar or a disco are not considered suitable scene for recreation. If your Muslim friend politely declines an invitation, do not take that as bad manners or unfriendliness. Its just a difference in cultures that should be respected. Its a better idea to meet up in a restaurant or a coffee shop. Egyptian society has a very hierarchical nature, which means that status is always an issue and everything is a competition. Using someones titles like Doctor or Sheikh will be highly appreciated. If you dont know the title you can use the word Ustaz, which means Mr. For women you Egypt is a warm and welcoming country just add an a at the end of the word like but as when visiting anywhere, it is always Doctora, Sheikha and Ustaza. respectful to be aware of local cultures, customs and traditions. By following a few All famous and major mosques are open simple guidelines you can be sure that you to tourists except for when the Friday are making a good impression yourself.
Jul-Aug 2011

words by Anders Jlmsj

Ramadan Kareem is the number one greeting during The Holy Month, like when we say Happy New Year or Merry Christmas. Kareem is Arabic for generous and generosity is one of several virtues a Muslim wishes to achieve during Ramadan. During this time its considered very polite and appreciated to greet Muslim people with the words Ramadan Kareem. Ramadan is the month during which Prophet Mohammed received the inspiration of Quran. This is celebrated each year by Muslims around the world. Since the Islamic year is based on the lunar year the start of Ramadan moves eleven days earlier each year. or nuts. Even if its the time of fasting Egypt consumes three times its normal Ramadan is a period of purification for food during the month of Ramadan. Muslims, in which they abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn till sunset. It is a Ramadan tradition that families who People who do not fast are expected to can afford it feed people with less means. provide food for those who are fasting, or Companies also arrange workplace-iftar donate money to the community for public where all levels of employees together meals. break their fast. During Ramadan rich and This manifests in long tables along the streets for iftar at sunset - the time to break the fast. Anyone passing by can just walk in, have a seat and eat. Egyptians like their sweets and Ramadan is well known for special desserts like Kunafa, Kataief and Khushaf - a mixture of dates, apricot, black plums and raisins as well as a particular apricot juice called Kamar El Din. poor is equal in suffering by going all day without food, drinks and cigarettes.

Image Credit: Ali Imran

The feast after Ramadan called Eid el Fitr meaning the small feast. The first day of the feast everybody dresses in new clothes and go to the Mosque to pray. After prayer everyone goes home to enjoy a cup of tea and some kahk in daylight. This year Ramadan will start 1st August and finish the 29th in sizzling temperatures. Egypt is the largest of Arab countries where the population of 80 million is mainly Muslims. One of the things expats normally find rather pleasant is the fact that during Ramadan the streets are completely still for the hour after iftar and the call to prayer. The only other time you see this is during the World Cup.

Although visiting non-Muslims are surely not expected to fast during daylight hours, it is considered somewhat impolite to eat, drink or smoke in public. Some of the Egyptian Christian population take part in Ramadan as well, and many dont eat during the daytime and share fasting with their Muslim neighbours.

At the end of Ramadan, women bake Equality is one part of the principles of kahk which are cookies filled with dates Ramadan while another is contemplation
THE EQUALIZER

Muslims celebrate this month with delight and cheerfulness. They pray and read the Quran - they have to read the entire Quran at least once during that month. They prepare for the celebrations by hanging up coloured decorations in the streets and banners announcing that Ramadan is coming soon. They also hang up lanterns Opposite: An example of the iftar when the fast is broken for the day Above: Pilgrims praying at the holy called Fanus.
city of Mecca during the month of Ramadan Jul-Aug 2011

Background Photo: Bernadette Simpson

The Holy Month in Egypt

RAMADAN KAREEM
or serenity. You should avoid arguments, and show kindness. The very nature of Ramadan is a month of mercy and good deeds. It has very spiritual aspects, since a real fasting is not limited to resist eating and drinking only, but also to refrain from committing sins. It is a matter of behaviour as well as a matter of food and drinks. The activity of the day seems to shift during Ramadan. Some workplaces change the working hours so the employees can sleep longer and miss some of the daylight hours. Most fasting Muslims get on with their everyday routine as normal, maybe just shaving an hour or two from work. Sleeping late into the day is not technically a fast breaker but considered As the sun is setting, everyone wants to as cheating by some. get home for food and drinks and maybe even more importantly, a cigarette and Some get up before sunrise and eat a cup of coffee. Staying away from your sohour - snack - and then go back to addictions seems to be the hardest. The bed. Shops are open later, and streets family has to be ready at the dinning table swarm with happy crowds until late at before the cannon shot - announcing the night. Some of the tourist sites will close break of fasting. After iftar most people earlier, around 3.00pm so some operators visit the Mosques for prayer. will most likely starting some tours a little earlier in the morning.
Image Credit: Anders Jlmsj

The following day they all meet again on a local community beach not used by tourists and conduct their own clean up by Steve Rattle under the volunteers direction. The smiles and enjoyment on the childrens faces are Pharaoh Dive Club in El Quseir have there for all to see, as is the fruits of their been operating their Project Aware efforts. Volunteer Programme for 2 years with some amazing achievements. If we all continue to make a small The primary objective is education with community involvement, rather than continuously clearing debris from the beaches and sea. With a meagre budget but enthusiastic support from the community, our staff and the volunteers, PDC have endeavoured to join the communal effort to cure the problem at the source. Where better to start then with the children, PDC in conjunction with local schools, now run regular adventure days for the local children. They have a day on the boat at a local dive site where they are shown how to snorkel under the supervision of professional guides and shown the beauty of the reefs.
Right: The children cleaning up their beach Below: The fruits of everyones hard work

Beach Clean Ups in El Queseir

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

contribution whether with time or donations, great things will be achieved. For more information on how you can help or for full details on the Volunteer Programme please contact; info@pharaohdiveclub.com

THE EQUALIZER

Jul-Aug 2011

LIGHTHOUSES OF THE RED SEA

a library with 1562 books, 1438 of which are in manuscript form. Located in the foothills of Gabal Gallalah Al-Qibliyyah it was founded in the 4th century and by Anders Jlmsj dedicated to the godfather of priesthood Zaafarana is located on the west coast of St Anthony. the Gulf of Suez, around 240 kilometres north of Hurghada and 219 kilometres Today you can reach it by car but in ancient times, pilgrims and supplies were south of Cairo. lifted up to the monastery by a simple lift This area is sometimes called the hand operated by pulley of wheels and Egyptian Riviera and the sandy beach - the ropes. the main beach nearly 2 kilometres long - and the crystal clear, azure blue waters are indeed brilliant. Tourism has not yet exploded in Zaafarana like in other Egyptian destinations but the area is under steady development and will most likely be a sensation in the future. The light house of Zaafarana, managed by Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety, was built in 1862, and is still an active aid to navigation. It has a focal plane of 25 metres from where a white light flashes every 10 second. The round stone tower located on the plateau of the small peninsula rises 25 metres over the ground with lantern and Above: The lighthouse at Zaafarana with its gallery. It is painted white and surrounded iconic stone tower Below: The Monastery of by the one-story lighthouse keepers Deir Quaddis Antunyus quarters. Zaafarana is one of many sites of a large wind power farms that are becoming more and more popular in Egypt. Zaafarana also hosts an interesting historical sight, however often overlooked due to its location. Its the monastery of Deir Quaddis Antunyus in the valley of Arabah. The Monastery houses five churches, the spring and the cave of St. Anthony plus
THE EQUALIZER Jul-Aug 2011

ZAAFARANA LIGHTHOUSE

PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS
A white slate works well but it is also possible to achieve good results with a grey slate or even the palm of your hand. Your hand has words and photos by James Dawson the added benefit of not floating out of easy White balance is a setting that is becoming reach when underwater! standard on more new cameras. It allows you to set the colour temperature for the Whilst diving, the first colour lost is red due environment and the light source that is to the water absorbing the shorter wave lengths of light. By setting the manual white present. balance you are effectively telling the camera Manual white balance - MWB (or custom to compensate for the loss of red by digitally white balance) takes these preset levels one replacing it. step further by allowing you to manually set As your depth changes so will the level of red the camera for what is white. that is lost. You, therefore, need to reset the To see how to do this, check your cameras manual white balance whenever your depth instruction manual for the specific method for changes. The deeper you go the more red your particular make and model. Follow the colour the manual white balance replaces. details in the manual and simply hold a white object in front of the lens when setting the Another important thing to remember is to point the camera in the same direction as manual white balance.
Above: Two examples of the same photograph - one with auto white balance (left) and one where the manual white balance was set for the depth (right). The MWB has compensated for the lost colur in the water and produced a photo with more natural colours compared to the blues of the auto settings Far Left: Another example of the same image using the two white balance settings on the camera Left: Some of the most commonly found white balance settings on modern digital cameras

Manual White Balance Explained

your intended photograph. This ensures that the light and colour loss, which are compensated for, are the same when you set the manual white balance as when you take your photo. Its usual to turn off the flash when using manual white balance as this will replace light (and therefore colour) which will lead to uneven colour balance across the image. The areas that the flash illuminates will be too red, whilst those that the light doesnt reach will be too blue.

you are familiar with the process and the buttons. This will allow you to set your equipment up safely and quickly before a shot and make your diving more comfortable. Practise makes perfect! More tips and advice can be found in this new guide. Available as an app for both iPhone and iPad.

Practise setting the manual white balance on your camera before diving so that Click here for details
THE EQUALIZER Jul-Aug 2011

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER - Kitty Jempson

This months featured photographer is Kitty Jempson. Kitty has always been fascinated by the underwater world and as a girl, would take endless photos in the pool with a disposable camera. She now runs underwater photography workshops with Worldwide Dive and Sail, where enthusiasts can gather to learn from Kitty and their fellow passengers. To see more of Kittys work visit www.underseaimages.co.uk

THE EQUALIZER

All Photos: Kitty Jempson

Jul-Aug 2011

PHOTO CONTEST
The winners of the latest EQUALIZER photo contest are;

COMPETITION RULES
If you fancy yourself as a budding Alex Mustard or simply have a photograph that you think can cut the mustard, why not share it with us? Each issue we will choose three underwater photographs to be published in THE EQUALIZER, with the best of the three receiving a special prize. So if youve ever wanted to see your favourite image in a magazine - this is your chance. Please read the guidelines below before sending your files to ensure that they meet the requirements. Your file must be saved as a jpeg and be a maximum of 250kb in size. The image itself should be a minimum of 500 pixels along the longest edge. Please rename the file so that it is your name (i.e. JamesDawson.jpg) and include in the body of your e-mail any details you would like to add. Then simply e-mail your images to us at

FIRST PLACE - PAUL COLLEY SECOND PLACE - STEVE RATTLE THIRD PLACE - JOAKIM KRASSMAN
Congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you to everyone who took the time to send in their photographs. The quality was very high but after a lot of deliberation, the judges all agreed on the final three. To enter, see the details opposite.

FIRST PLACE - Paul Colley (UK)

photocontest@aziabmedia.com

Our panel of judges will then select the top images each issue to be published in the magazine. So dont be shy. Send your favourites to us now and you could see your work in the next issue of the magazine. Checklist Image must have been taken underwater Less than 250kb At least 500 pixels on longest side yourname.jpg
Jul-Aug 2011

2nd Place - Steve Rattle (Egypt)

THE EQUALIZER

3rd Place - Joakim Krassman (Sweden)

NARCOSIS CORNER with Michael Onkers

A light-hearted look at a dolphin spotting season in the Red Sea by Michael Onkers
Call me Michael. Some weeks ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my bank account, I took some work on a dolphin spotting boat sailing about a bit. The ship was called the SS Piquant and was renowned in these waters for its reputation and fearsome captain. As I arrived at the boat for my first day, I was introduced to one of my shipmates. His name was Flip Flop and although he had being spotting dolphins for years, he was also new to the Piquant. We chatted a bit and I knew at once that this was someone I would learn a lot from. We were discussing the finer points of blow hole identification when the ships captain arrived. Captain OHab was a towering man with a wild mane of red hair and a beard to match. He has a scar on his face that some say is from a bolt of lighting that struck him, while others say it is a shaving scar. Once aboard, he immediately began bellowing instructions to the crew who, to a man, performed their tasks in a professional manner. Flip Flop and myself were given our instructions by the first mate, Costa and we at once set about our duties. As I passed the captain I noticed that he had only fingers on his left hand and no thumb. I thought no more of it at the time, but would later learn how he came to lose his digit. It was on a voyage not unlike the one ours would be when the ship came across a white dolphin. Dolphins are spotted regularly in these waters but white ones are highly prized for their speed in the water
THE EQUALIZER

THERE SHE BLOWS!

and acrobatic nature. The captain was pointing at this almost mythical creature so that his guests would be better able to take their photos when, without warning, the beast leapt from the waters and bit his thumb clean from his hand. It was said that the captain changed that day and became the fearsome leader that his reputation states. Some say that he was driven mad with rage, while others claim that the white dolphin stole part of his soul in that moment. I dont know which story is true or whether it is idle talk from sailors, but I learnt as the season went on that the captain had never forgotten that day. He seemed driven to find the white dolphin and make good his revenge. I worked aboard the Piquant for many months and saw many marvellous things. Every day the captain would steer the ship from the wheel - which had been modified to allow for his missing appendage - while crew were stationed to scour the horizon for dolphins. Our guests left happy from each trip and while the mood was always one of good humour and levity, still the captain would look scornfully at the sea. As the season drew on and the weather began to turn, we were receiving fewer guests and we all knew that soon we would need to search for alternative employment until spring. It was in these latter weeks of the autumn that the captain seemed even more detached and distant. He would offer bonuses of great wealth to whosoever would find him the white dolphin and offer his chance of making

peace with the creature. Everyone was highly motivated by the purse offered and we all turned a keen eye to the water. I shall never the forget the moment when I heard Scurvy Steve shout Dolphin Ho! and the captain, upon seeing the white back dipping below the waves, became like a man possessed. Guests and crew alike were all thrown scrambling across the deck as captain OHab sped across the sea in pursuit of his quarry. The chase was to come to nought however, as the dolphin remained submerged and never again came into view. The guests were less than amused by the captains antics and there were some stern words writ on the feedback forms that day. As time came to pass, the season ended and the Piquant was moored for the winter months. Captain OHab left on a misty morning and has not been known to return since. Some say that he lost his mind through dreams of vengeance and to this day remains in a home for insane dolphin spotting boat captains. While others claim to have seen him walking from the beach into the surf with a butter knife in his hand. I dont think we shall ever learn the truth of what happened to him, but I still feel a shiver in my heart whenever I see a white dolphin or a captain with red hair. Footnote: The events set forth here are all a true account and any similarity to classic American literature is entirely coincidental - honest

Happy Diving

nkers ike O
Jul-Aug 2011