Zabargad and yellow plastic ducks.

I got back from diving in the southern Egyptian Red Sea last week. A
place called Zabargad near Hamata.
On one reef, Sha'ab Sakara, while the others were raving about the
dolphins diving with them I was pointing at a Yellow Plastic Duck.
It was one of the famous 'The First Years' toys.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...ml?in_article_
id=464768&in_page_id=1770

I should have brought it home as there is a $100 reward for them.
Plus I saw the biggest Napoleon Ras and the biggest stone fish and the
biggest scorpion fish etc.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

Hi Mick

I enjoyed Zabargad too. Didn't see a yellow duck. )

Wrote a report of my trip at:
http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/reports/zabargad.htm. Would be very
interested in your recent views to compare with mine of the resort. Is
Prince Ali the Scuba donkey still there? )

Eddie

"Mick Whittingham" <Mick@whittinghamsite.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:WdjKcWBO$BLIFwwq@whittinghamsite.fsnet.co.uk. ..
>I got back from diving in the southern Egyptian Red Sea last week. A place
>called Zabargad near Hamata.
> On one reef, Sha'ab Sakara, while the others were raving about the
> dolphins diving with them I was pointing at a Yellow Plastic Duck.
> It was one of the famous 'The First Years' toys.
> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...ml?in_article_
> id=464768&in_page_id=1770
>
> I should have brought it home as there is a $100 reward for them.
> Plus I saw the biggest Napoleon Ras and the biggest stone fish and the
> biggest scorpion fish etc.
> --
> Mick Whittingham
> 'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
> William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

My wife and I went to Zabargad for two weeks from 23rd April 2008 for a
diving holiday. The Orca Dive Centre was very professionally run with a
system going that meant maximum enjoyment with minimum effort, whether
diving the house reef or on day boats. We took our own gear but the hire
equipment available was in a good condition and well maintained.
ie: Sign in for a house reef dive give them a time, check your Nitrox
in the air station and by the allotted time the resident donkey Prince
Ali will have transported your gear and air to the end of the jetty. He
brings the gear back after as well.
There were two dive boats operating when we were there, but there can be
four or more. Good standard of boats with clean toilets and the boat
lunch is very good . The chef Ali is an Ace! The Dive guides were
Egyptian, Belgian, English and German, and all were very good. One
immediately felt confident in them. Dive briefings very informative but
laid back. On the reefs we dived on, you can follow a dive leader or
with sufficient experience go with your buddy. I believe it depends on
the reefs, which are awesome! The boat crew could not be more helpful
getting you into your kit and into the water and help you on the way
out.
OK now the resort:
We were accommodated not far from the dive centre which suited us. The
room was basic but cleaned well, beds made, and towels replaced every
day. As in all hot climates we adopt a regime of wiping over surfaces
that will be touched by us with an antiseptic wipe after the cleaner has
been through. After you use the toilet use an antiseptic hand jell. One
star or five star hotels we treat the same.

On days we didn't dive we had the pool and all the sun beds to
ourselves. The same with the beach areas (out of season?)

Food: Breakfast was basic and the same as the two Egyptian hotels I
stayed at last year, so use your imagination. A mid-day meal could be
bought at the dive centre for from 3.5 to 8 euros and was good value.
The evening meal is possibly best described as predictable. Beef and
chicken and on other days chicken and beef with the occasional fish
dish. The usual things accompanied this. No one was ill from the food.
Though a couple were ill I had the impression it was not from the food.
If you feel adventurous try eating in a hut in down town Hamata (twelve
huts together). Good fish caught that day and cheap. Plus no problems
afterwards.

There were no children and no mosquitoes, but on occasions it was Fly
Central. People were not waving at you, as you arrived for breakfast,
they were clearing the flies away.

Would we go again? Very much yes. Maybe in the Autumn this year. But I
would take a fly swot. Try Google Earth.

24 15 19 N 35 24 10 E

--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

Cheers Mick

Where is this review URL?

Eddie

"Mick Whittingham" <Mick@whittinghamsite.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:87Bg1KEECGLIFwmt@whittinghamsite.fsnet.co.uk. ..
> My wife and I went to Zabargad for two weeks from 23rd April 2008 for a
> diving holiday. The Orca Dive Centre was very professionally run with a
> system going that meant maximum enjoyment with minimum effort, whether
> diving the house reef or on day boats. We took our own gear but the hire
> equipment available was in a good condition and well maintained.
> ie: Sign in for a house reef dive give them a time, check your Nitrox
> in the air station and by the allotted time the resident donkey Prince
> Ali will have transported your gear and air to the end of the jetty. He
> brings the gear back after as well.
> There were two dive boats operating when we were there, but there can be
> four or more. Good standard of boats with clean toilets and the boat
> lunch is very good . The chef Ali is an Ace! The Dive guides were
> Egyptian, Belgian, English and German, and all were very good. One
> immediately felt confident in them. Dive briefings very informative but
> laid back. On the reefs we dived on, you can follow a dive leader or
> with sufficient experience go with your buddy. I believe it depends on
> the reefs, which are awesome! The boat crew could not be more helpful
> getting you into your kit and into the water and help you on the way
> out.
> OK now the resort:
> We were accommodated not far from the dive centre which suited us. The
> room was basic but cleaned well, beds made, and towels replaced every
> day. As in all hot climates we adopt a regime of wiping over surfaces
> that will be touched by us with an antiseptic wipe after the cleaner has
> been through. After you use the toilet use an antiseptic hand jell. One
> star or five star hotels we treat the same.
>
> On days we didn't dive we had the pool and all the sun beds to
> ourselves. The same with the beach areas (out of season?)
>
> Food: Breakfast was basic and the same as the two Egyptian hotels I
> stayed at last year, so use your imagination. A mid-day meal could be
> bought at the dive centre for from 3.5 to 8 euros and was good value.
> The evening meal is possibly best described as predictable. Beef and
> chicken and on other days chicken and beef with the occasional fish
> dish. The usual things accompanied this. No one was ill from the food.
> Though a couple were ill I had the impression it was not from the food.
> If you feel adventurous try eating in a hut in down town Hamata (twelve
> huts together). Good fish caught that day and cheap. Plus no problems
> afterwards.
>
> There were no children and no mosquitoes, but on occasions it was Fly
> Central. People were not waving at you, as you arrived for breakfast,
> they were clearing the flies away.
>
> Would we go again? Very much yes. Maybe in the Autumn this year. But I
> would take a fly swot. Try Google Earth.
>
> 24 15 19 N 35 24 10 E
>
> --
> Mick Whittingham
> 'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
> William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

In article <SMGdnY93ZIEpP7HVRVnyjQA@bt.com>, Eddie
<Eddie@gimmeyrtot.?.invalid> writes
>Cheers Mick
>
>Where is this review URL?
>
>Eddie

What you see is what you get. If you want more info emails me. But I
will be away this week end if you are after a fast answer.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

"Mick Whittingham" <Mick@whittinghamsite.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xD2PedC8apLIFwVK@whittinghamsite.fsnet.co.uk. ..
> In article <SMGdnY93ZIEpP7HVRVnyjQA@bt.com>, Eddie
> <Eddie@gimmeyrtot.?.invalid> writes
>>Cheers Mick
>>
>>Where is this review URL?
>>
>>Eddie
>
> What you see is what you get. If you want more info emails me. But I will
> be away this week end if you are after a fast answer.
> --
> Mick Whittingham

Didn't want any info really. Just interested in your views to see if my
original write-up was still valid.

Cheers

Eddie