[PeeBee]

I've dived with these fantastic animals a couple of times and have never seen them show any sign of stress at our presence, but there again I'm not an expert in their behaviour. It would seem logical to assume that anything "alien" to their environment should cause some degree of stress but the other side of that argument is that they have been receiving visitors at Marsa Shagra for so long they might miss us . Certainly the scars from the various boats are distressing to see and I was very glad to see the exclsuion zone when I was there this year. Is there any scientific evidence to say that those animals which don't get visited by humans are more content, more likely to breed etc?

John, I know you have been planning this trip to see them for ages, I for one would not hesitate to dive there again under the new conditions, as long as I and my fellow divers stuck to the look but don't touch rule.