Sharm cruise & stay

[buchhawk]

Ok I will never get a Pulitzer prize for my writing, but I will give it a go.
Last week we went on a Cruise and Stay, The Tempest for 3 days and the Camel Dive resort for the rest of our adventures.
Well it started at Belfast airport for our party of 7, the other 3 were flying from Dublin ( ryanair with 15kg luggage) god help them.
We were flying easyjet with 20kg.
Well we got hammered for £5 per kg excess, costing Jane and I £20
No TV cameras there so no point swearing.
The Dubs arrived in Gatwick wallets intact.
We queued for over a hour and a half, luckly the flight was delayed an hour.
No time to get my box of red wine, straight to the plane.
We arrived in Sharm el Sheik, ready for the "trolly sellers". To my amazement there was no hassle at all, very civilized.

Day 1
On the Tempest we set up our gear, had a briefing, a few beers and bed.
There are another 2 divers on their way from Manchester,their flight is delayed by 6 hours and they arrive in the middle of the night, poor them.
I am hoping that it's Alex Mustard or some photo whizz to put me right!
We're all up early and ready to go. We meet the couple from Manchester, who were a bit knackerd from their ordeal, but well up for the week ahead.
No Alex, but campanologists, could come in handy when we find the 5th wreck!!
The local plod gave us the all clear and away we go.
We had a check out dive at Ras Katy, lovely dive for a check out.
To my amazement I need 14kg on my belt, well 6 after I fill my bcd pockets!
Then we dive the Carnatic, not another boat in sight, bliss.
A night dive at Abu Nuhas, a couple of beers then bed.

Day 2
Time to get the camera out.
First dive Giannis 'D' all to our selves again, a bit of a swim through, a few pics, then off to the Kingston. It's the first time I dived this wreck, and I was amazed at all the hard and soft coral. It was like a garden.

Then we set off for the Thistlegorm, everyone was looking forward to this one, steeped in history.
We arrived on site, oh my God a boat!! The Typhoon, it's ok, it's one of ours.
As they come up the shot we assend.
The Thistlegorm all ours! We stay pretty much to the decks as its the 3rd dive of the day.
Lunch then, the one I was looking forward to, Thistlegorm at night.
Only 6 of us went for this one. The last time there was only 6 divers on Thistlegorm, I think Cousteau was one of them!!
I saw the biggest free swimming moray eel ever.



Another good day had by all, a few more beers and we went to bed like kids on Xmas Eve.

Day 3
Were up at 6am and ready to go. I had a few ideas for a couple of pics I wanted, and down we went.I got my shot. Another great dive.
Well, I forgot to have a look at the locomotives. That's 7 dives on the wreck and I still ain't seen them!! Well,I will just have to go back again lol.

Another lovely wreck, this time we meet other divers coming in all directions,
its like a scene from a Bond movie lol.
I pack the camera away ready for the hotel, and we go for our last dive off The Tempest, to Sharkreef & the Yolande, were I spot one off my favourite fish, the longnosed hawkfish. Don't know what it is but I love um.


Well my finger hurts so I will try part 2 tomorrow.
"The hunt for a hawkfish with a macro lens."

Thanks Ken.

[onthetrain]

Nice pics. thanks for sharing.

[purple vonny]

Fantastic, have a Pullitzer! And well done seeing a long nosed hawk fish, took me ruddy years to spot one. Nice photos too. Glad you had a great holiday.

[buchhawk]

Posted more pics in the gallery
Ken

[Mike Ward]

Nice Kingston shot!

Mario your dive guide?

[buchhawk]

Originally Posted by Mike Ward

Nice Kingston shot!

Mario your dive guide?

Unfortunately

[Tim Ingmire]

Some nice photos, the soft coral+diver and the Thistlegorm ones in particular.

Sounds like a cracking time with few other boats around.