We feel that this development is a very positive step to further develop the Red Sea as a major dive travel destination as it exposes it through H2O to practically all three major continents .

In addition to brings The Red Sea and water related activities to general travel shows ( IE not diving dedicated) which is where we feel the greatest growth potential lies in attracting the non divers to learn the sport in the Red Sea.

This is not to be taken lightly given that our share of Diver certification world wide in 2003 was only a meagre 6%.

"SDI is very pleased to join up with the charter members of RSTC", stated Brian Carney, President of SDI."

We look forward to working together in the promotion of consistent and safe diver education for the benefit of future dive enthusiasts."

RSTC consists of:

International Diving Educators Association (IDEA), Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), Professional Dive Instructors Corporation (PDIC), Scuba Diving International (SDI), Scuba Schools International (SSI) and Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA).

These groups meet throughout the year to deal with issues involving training and standards in the scuba industry.

The RSTC is also the Secretariat for the ANSI Committee Z-375, Scuba Diving Training Standards and Safety.

Search & Rescue (SAR) is a marine rescue and medical evacuation center. SAR was founded in August 2001 to meet the increasing number of marine incidents due to the influx of increasing tourism.
With more than 500 outings since its start date, Hurghada and the Sharm El Sheikh stations have contributed to saving several lives in the Red Sea and improved safety within the marine community.

SAR recently launched it’s new operation in Safaga, which covers the area from Abu Hashish in the north till the Salem Express wreck in the south.

The center will be cooperating with local hyperbaric chambers, hospitals and clinics in Safaga and Hurghada. They have now been given permission to establish a new operation in Dahab.

SAR stations are manned by dedicated rescuers with extensive knowledge of marine practices that also have continual medical training. They work with 11 extremely fast RIB type rescue boats that are highly manoeuverable and with their shallow draft can access almost any coral reef formation.
The boats are equipped with all the navigation and medical equipment needed.
The center is a private enterprise, which operates as a round-the-clock public service, and it is sustained by the monthly fees paid by its members. Memberships are given to diving centers, hotels, aquacenters, travel agents, tour operators, sponsors and many more. Membership is vital for the development and maintenance of SAR's fleet and equipment.
Membership programs are available in SAR centers and everybody is welcome to visit and get more information on programs and activities.

It is therefore worth noting that for the first time, Hurghada played host to the first commercial diving course to be held in the Red Sea.

The course which took place in June this year was conducted by Captain Mohsen El Gohary, a pioneer of modern Egyptian diving since the 6o”s..

Captain El Gohary is no stranger to Hurghada and in fact it was because of his attachment to the place since the early mid sixties when he was involved in several military and commercial diving assignments with the Egyptian Navy that he chose Hurghada as the venue for this first course.

I fell in love with the Red Sea from the first time I saw it on 5th September 1956 in Hamata.
That is why I named our Company in 1975 "The Red Sea Company", feeling that the Red Sea would one day be the future of Egypt, Captain El Gohary told H2O during this course.

The course:

The present course is set up to Commercial International Standards issued by IDSA "International Diving Schools" which began in 1982, and is continuously updated.

The course was divided into three phases:

Phase I:
Preparatory + Advanced O.W. for 90 hours (three weeks) held in Alexandria.

Phase II:
Commercial scuba and restricted surface supply + rescue diver for 180 hours (six weeks).

Phase III:
Non restricted surface supply, held in El-Tour, on Maridive (W.B. 300) for 30 hours (one week).

Total hours of the course were 300 (both theoretical and practical).

All trainees passed successfully, and are now working around the world with Maridive in Egyptian oil fields, Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, India, Yemen and Georgia.

Captain El Gohary is also in the process of finalizing the first Arabic language diving encyclopedia which should be out by the end of the year.

H2O asked him if this were to be a one off course, but clearly Captain El Gohary who is president of International diving academy has big plans to establish a branch for the academy in Hurghada and have a permanent base to train Egyptian commercial divers on an ongoing basis.
A very positive addition to the Red Sea diving scene.