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Red Sea gets it's first artificial wreck reef |
On August 15th, the Red Sea Association
for Diving and Watersports marked the completion
of its project to create Egypt’s first
artificial wreck reef. The news was announced
at public conference under the auspices
of HE General Saad Abu Rida at the Intercontinental
Resort in Hurghada. The project, which was
funded by the NGO service centre took several
months to complete.
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It involved first assessing the environmental
aspect, identifying the suitable ship to sink,
determine the site for sinking it and finally
contacting the Egyptian naval forces to carry
out the floating, towing and sinking of the
300 ton vessel Hebatt Allah.
The
conference was presided over by HE Governor
of the Red Sea and attended by a host of dignitaries
from the Red Sea and Cairo including the newly
appointed president of the (ETA), Mr Mahmoud
El Kaissouni. Also attending was vice chairman
of the Chamber of touristic establishments
(CTE), Dr Ayman Moharam, director of the NGO
service centre.
During the conference, the Association honoured
HE Governer with a replica model of the ship
Hebbat Allah for his unwavering support to
the sector and the environment. Thanks also
to Mr Mohamadi Heoedic who kindly donated
the ship for the project and Dr Ayman Moharam.
Certificates of Commendation were presented
to all those who helped with the project.
The project included in addition to the sinking
of the ship other components , one of which
was the Red Sea’s first official digital
dive guide in CD format in eight languages,
a demo of which was shown to the enthusiasm
of all present.
A 25 minute documentary film chronicling the
project titled ‘BACK TO LIFE' was also
completed and will be made available in DVD
format later this year and it is anticipated
that it will be aired on a number of TV channels.
Hebata Allah is indeed back to life with a
surprisingly large number of tenants (glass
fish and a large grouper) making it their
new home in its new resting place south of
EROG GIFTUN.
The wreck is currently lying flat on its keel
at 45 MSW on the sandy bottom and the next
phase will be to move it to a shallower depth
to make it accessible to all diver levels.
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significance of the project in addition
to its stated objectives is that it
will be the first of several other
similar artificial wrecks to be created
in other parts of the Red Sea to help
alleviate the existing pressure on
the reefs and to add to the attraction
of the Red Sea as a dive travel destination.
The Red Sea Association will announce
in due course when the site will be
open for divers and the guidelines
to be observed.
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| Diving
NGOs are honoured on World Tourism
Day |
On
September 27th, the UN's World
Tourism Day, Egypt’s minister
of Tourism HE Mr Ahmed Maghrabi
presented Egypt’s diving
NGO's with a special award in
recognition of their role in developing
this increasingly important sector
of Egypt’s tourism portfolio. |
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Karim
Helal, Chairman of the Red Sea
Association received the award
while Amr Abo Al Fatah received
the honours on behalf of South
Sinai Diving Association (SSDM).
Also
honoured from the sector was Dr
Mohamed Saleh, Head of the advisory
committee for diving at the Ministry
of Tourism.
These
honours come as further indication
of the coming of age of our industry
and of the increasing recognition
by the government of its potency.
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| Work
Permits made easier |
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After two years of effort, and
with the backing of the advisory
committe for diving at the Ministry
of Tourism, headed by the ever
active Dr Mohamed Saleh, the Ministry
of Labour has now agrred to waive
the requisite 10% foreign to Egyptian
ratio for applicants for work
permits from the diving sector
for an intial period of five years.
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This
means that dive centers and liveaboards
do not have to have 10 egyptian
emplyees for each work permit
they wish to obtain for any of
their staff.
This
waiver is conditional upon the
Association’s written endorsement
of each request.
From
our side, we shall be more than
happy to provide such endorsements
provided that :
1.The
applicant ( Dive center, Liveaboard
etc ) is a current member of good
standing in the Association.
2.The person
applying has the appropiate qualifications
for the postion applied for.
3.The
applicant ( Dive center, Liveaboard
etc ) undertakes
to train two Egyptians to be nominated
by the Association up to dive
master level every year .
Accordingly,
as of 1/1/2005, professional ID
cards of the Red Sea Association
(a basic requirement for working
in the Red Sea), will no longer
be issued to non Egyptians with
tourist visas.
If
you have any questions or need
more information please contact
us by phone or send us an e-mail
at office@redseaexperience.com
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| MTF
Cairo September 14 -16 |
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For the second year running,
the Red Sea Association and
the SSDM ( South Sinai Association
for Diving and Marine Activities),
took part in this years MTF
in Nasser City, Cairo last
month.
Diving and Watersports were
the main attraction of the
Red Sea Governorate stand
which was personally visited
by HE Mr Ahmed Maghrabi, Minister
of Toursim.
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There
was much interest and enthusiasum
shown for H2O's fourth issue;
it was in great demand and
more than 3,000 copies were
taken by visitors over the
three day period of the fair.
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| The
Red Sea Association forms an Environmental
Committee. |
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Mohamed Habib, Director of the
Association and responsible for
environmental activities has initiated
a committee from stakeholders
(Diving centers, Liveaboards and
Aqua Centers) to meet on a regular
basis, to discuss the environmental
threats to the Red Sea and to
come up with suggestions as how
best to counter them.
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All
members are invited to take part
in these meetings either in person
or by sending any suggestions
or problems of an environmental
nature to the Association.
office@redseaexperience.com
att. Mohamed Habib. |
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