From the Sinai Peninsular down to its southern reaches, the Egyptian Red Sea offers some of the world’s best diving opportunities, due to its clear conditions and rich biodiversity, with some 20% of species endemic to Red Sea waters. Away from the city breaks of Cairo and Alexandria Egypt holidays are often centered about diving excursions. Here are five of the best dives that Egypt has to offer.

 1. The Brothers is the name given to two islands, little more than rocks, in the South Red Sea, made conspicuous by the presence of a Victorian lighthouse from Imperial British times. Because of the Brothers’ isolation, this is a live aboard trip.

Seen from above, Little Brother Island would seem to taper away on one side, where there is a gentle slope down to the lower plateau at around 40m depth. This plateau is good for seeing resident grey and silver tip sharks, along with visitors of other shark species.

Little Brother drops away steeply on all other sides, where it is covered by fans and black coral. Copious amounts of fish school here too.

Big brother Island is a steep sided reef with healthy populations of tiny fish, such as anthias and sweepers. It is also home to two Twentieth Century wrecks: the Numidia and the Aida.

2. HMS Thistlegorm is a British World War Two cargo vessel of over a hundred meters, which was sunk whilst carrying a heavy compliment of war machinery, including motorbikes, tanks, planes, guns and trucks. Much of this remains in remarkable condition, both in the wreck and scattered around on the surrounding sea bed.

The main hull sits upright at just over 30 meters and the holds are fully accessible. There is so much to see that most people take two days diving this wreck. This abundance of features, in addition to the high level of preservation, makes Thistlegorm one of the most dived on wrecks in the world.

3. The strong currents produced in the Straights of Tiran draw large numbers of pelagic fish, including tuna, barracuda and shark. There are four reefs to dive in this area, named after the British men who first mapped them: Jackson Reef, Thomas Reef, Woodhouse Reef and Gordon Reef.

In contrast to the pelagic wildlife, these coral reefs attract multitudes of brightly coloured fish, eels and turtles, in addition to marauding predators, including hammerhead and white tip shark.

There are also several wrecks, including the Luilla, which struck Gordon Reef in 1981.

Be advised that there can be strong currents in some areas of the reefs and so full exploration requires some background experience.

4. Zabargad Island is the largest of Egypt’s national marine parks. From Turtle Bay you descend to 30 metres, where you are met by a maze of coral pinnacles, sporting multi coloured sponges, fans, nudibranchs and urchins, along with the usual reef species of fish, octopus, cuttlefish and ray.

North of the island is the wreck of the 70 metre Khanka, a Russian cargo vessel that sank in 24 metres of water and has stayed almost fully intact, so that the interior can be fully explored.

5. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef lie in the Ras Mohammed National Park; two conically shaped reefs in close proximity. These, most famous of Red Sea dives, play host to the vast majority of species to be found in this part of the world.

The East side of the reefs has a sheer wall and attracts hoards of large pelagic species. It has its own resident shoal of Barracuda and snappers, along with plenty of sharks. To the West, there is a shallower coral plateau, with multi-coloured anthias, rays, scorpion fish and jacks, to name a few.

The Yolanda Reef receives its name from the wreck of the Yolanda cargo vessel, with its load of toilet basins and other bathroom accoutrements. Most surreal!

image credit to divers adventure

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What Is Tech Diving?

Tech diving (short for “technical”) is both a new branch of diving and a very old tradition. In essence Tech diving is a crossover of longstanding commercial diving techniques and modern recreational diving goals. A Tech diver will use very sophisticated dive methods and equipment that have been developed and refined in military and commercial diving to achieve personal, fun goals. It is a hobby, a passion and an adventure. Tech diving isn’t for everyone, many of the rewards that Tech diving can bestow are not given up lightly; often Tech divers go through discomfort and must train for a long time in order to go where they wish. It is not all clear water, designer wetsuits and beaches; it is often hard work, risk taking and tedious waiting that brings the results the Tech divers seek, not to mention the exorbitant cost of the training and specialist gear!

Tech Divers May Look Funny (And Smell Funny) But Their Devotion To The Sport Is Serious

So If It’s So Hard, Why Do People Tech Dive?

Tec diving is a peculiar sport because, to many other divers, it seems an awful lot like hard work when a normal diver can have a great dive at ten metres and spend comparatively little money. The reason the Tec guys do it however, is simple; Tec divers like to do things to extremes and thus they need extreme methods and equipment to accomplish what they desire. So, what does a Tec diver desire?

To Go Deeper, For Longer

The primary reason that Tech diving exists is because standard recreational diving has many, very difficult limits imposed upon it such as air consumption, water temperature and nitrogen buildup. These factors all impose boundaries on what can be done during a dive, they especially restrict the maximum depth a diver can reach and for how long he can stay there. If a diver wishes to stay longer or go deeper than the standard recreational tables recommend then he must use other techniques and equipment, thus he becomes a Tech diver. For instance, if a standard diver went to thirty meters he’d find that his computer gave him a very short bottom time because of nitrogen buildup, he’d also notice that his air was being used up very fast and he’d probably be getting fairly chilly too. The Tech diver aims to solve these problems by breathing modified gasses to extend his bottom time, he would carry more than one tank of breathing gas to extend his air supply and he’d likely wear a high quality drysuit to take care of the chills. There are many techniques and pieces of gear that a Tech diver has in his armory, but almost all of them are used purely to let him dive deeper, for longer.

Tec Diving Is Not Just About Going Deep, It Is Also Used To Stay Shallow For A Long Time.

Divers Love Gear

I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again; diving’s popularity as a sport is massively aided by the fact that people like to buy things, use tools and customize stuff. The fact that the dive industry is so glamorous proves this – people aren’t just buying a lump of technology to let them go diving, they are buying the latest airmax master turbo super gasblaster regulator airflow system! Diving is a “cool” industry and manages to maintain it’s “cred” by selling funky gadgets. I’d argue that a large proportion of Tech divers got into extreme diving purely for the gear that comes with it. The case and point being the re-breather which is the ultimate in James Bond type gadgets. The re-breather is an excellent tool that can achieve much, but its beauty lies in its complicated nature, the fact that a true disciple of technology will be blissfully lost in manuals and tool for hours getting it set up and ready to use is a large part of its appeal. Tech divers are gadget freaks, the clue is in their name!

Tec Divers Are Suckers For New Gear...

The Adventure!

So why on Earth would anyone want to go through all the training, spend the crazy money, endure the hardships and take the risks purely so they can go deep? The answer is often because Tech divers are an adventurous bunch who want to go places that others cannot or dare not. They want to dive on wrecks that have never been seen by the human eye since the day it sunk, they want to find deep fish that have never been named and they want to explore cave systems that are barely even known of, let alone mapped. The equipment and training that Tech divers use allows them to truly go where no man has gone before, and that is a very potent lure for some.

To Challenge Themselves

Ok, so you can accept that there are people out there who do expensive and difficult things to go down for longer in order to see stuff that nobody else has seen, but ultimately what’s the point? The Tech diver has an answer for this too; the challenge! Why else would somebody do horrible and dangerous things? To challenge themselves with a serious obstacle (in this case: the human body vs the whole ocean), learn and train how to overcome it and then do so triumphantly. Nowadays there are few frontiers left; Everest is crowded with families on vacation, you can barely see the sun for all the skydivers, the poles have gift shops on them and it is verging on dangerous to sail on the oceans now from all the one man craft zipping about. The only really hardcore frontier left on Earth is the Deep itself. Instead of climbing mountains, Tech divers drop into bottomless pits and do their damnedest to get back out again.

The Gear And Techniques:

Nitrox and Trimix

Tech divers need to beat the bottom time calculator in order to go where they want, which means using specialist breathing gases. Nitrox is the first port of call when looking into Tech diving because it allows you to extend you dive time beyond standard tables. Nitrox is basically a breathing gas that has had the nitrogen reduced and the oxygen increased. This means that the diver’s body absorbs less nitrogen during the dive and allows their computer to be more lenient. This gas mixture can be varied for the depth the diver plans on going. He may even take more than one mixture to allow him to swap during the dive to make his computer read more favorably still.

There is a limit to what Nitrox can do though because highly concentrated oxygen has adverse effects on the human body, which means there is a balancing act between how much oxygen is put into the mix versus nitrogen. The way this issue is alleviated is by adding a third gas, usually helium, which is a noble gas and therefore has very little reactive qualities. By adding helium to the gas blend, a Tech diver can make a concentration that will (at the appropriate depth) allow him to breath very little nitrogen but not get hurt by the oxygen. This gas switching is the primary reason that Tech divers require so much training, so many tanks and so much money. This really is technical!

It Is Not Uncommon For Tec Divers To Carry Up To Eight Tanks Containing Different Breathing Gas Mixes.

Decompression

Even with all the gasses and mixes available to a Tech diver, his computer will eventually run out of no-decompression time, which means that before he can come to the surface he will be required to do at least one decompression stop. This allows the nitrogen in his body to escape in controlled bursts, thus preventing DCS. Depending on the depth, time and type of gas he is breathing, a Tech diver might be required to decompress for a few hours! Which means being bored and cold for a long time!

Redundancy

Tech divers go very deep, for very long and often they dive solo. This means that they require all their gear to function perfectly at all times. Of course, humans aren’t perfect which means that gear will inevitably falter at some point for some poor guy. The way Tech divers deal with this possibility is by carrying a spare of every item of dive gear. He will carry two knives, masks, computers, lights (maybe three) and several regulators. A Tech diver might be required to decompress for hours, which means lots of breathing gas is required, so many Tech divers have their decompression gasses suspended from a line at the appropriate depths. This means they have redundant gas mixes too. Tech divers do take risks, but the techniques they use are designed to reduce them to almost negligible levels.

One way to tell if a diver is a Tech diver or not is by looking at his BCD, if it looks like a jacket then he is probably not a Tech diver, if it looks like a metal plate with a big ballon on it and compression straps then he is. These BCDs are designed to compensate for the massive amount of weight these divers carry in the form of redundant gear and extra tanks.

Final Thoughts

Whenever I hear stories about people who have done amazing things by working hard and learning new skills I am always impressed, but none impress me more than Tech divers. I feel this amazement because a Tech diver is one of the few people in the world who has the chance to see something truly new. They are the last voyagers on Earth and their commitment to exploration and challenge is inspirational… and I also love their gear!

Do you wish to start Tech diving? If you are already Tech diving, what’s your favorite dive story? What mixes and gear setup to you favor? Please share your experiences by using the comment section bellow.

Happy (gas-blended) bubbles!

By Jamie Campbell

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Who, Where and What Are the Marshall Islands?

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is an island country in the North Pacific ocean. It is often simply grouped with the other island countries in the area as Micronesia. The country is made up of five high islands and twenty-nine atolls that roughly form into two strips. There are around sixty-five thousand inhabitants on the islands and they rely primarily on fishing for their industry.

These Really Do Contest For One Of The Most Beautiful Places In The World

For the traveller: you’ll be spending US Dollars when you’re there, and it’d be wise to take mostly cash and some traveler’s cheques because cards are still a novelty out there. Getting there can be achieved by boat or plane, though both are expensive and awkward forms of transport since the shuttle flight service that ran from Australia to Majuro (Air Nauru) was cancelled due to soaring energy costs. Once you’ve arrived you’ll mostly be speaking English, although the natives will speak a mixture of Marshallese and English to each other.

Why Should You, As A Diver, Care About the Marshall Islands?

Because the Marshall Islands is easily one of the best dive spots in the world for both wreck diving and natural diving!

The fact that it is such a pain in the neck to get to has meant that the islands and atolls are relatively unspoilt and are massively diverse with flora and fauna. The dive sites are almost unparalleled in their untouched beauty, and can be seen with great clarity due to the consistently fantastic visibility underwater.

Breathtaking Views, Perfect Conditions And Diverse Wildlife...Paradise!

The main reason that a diver cares about the Marshall Islands, and the Bikini atoll (the swimsuit was named after the island, not the other way around!) in particular, is because of the astounding wreck diving on offer. In the early days of nuclear weapons testing the US found a remote spot in the pacific (that was inhabited, but the locals were shooed away like pests… don’t get me started on a rant!) and bombed the crap out of it with no regards to the wildlife or the fact that this was where people lived. The small plus side was that the Americans had wanted to test the effect of these super weapons on war vessels and had placed a mock fleet in the blast area. Luckily, for divers, a lot of these sank and left us with a lovely sunken fleet to explore. Included in this roster of wrecks is the USS Saratoga which is the only “divable” aircraft carrier in existence. Make sure that you’ve done a few deep courses before you head out though because the good stuff is pretty deep and will require you to go outside normal recreational dive tables – I’d advise you do a nitrox course and get at least a hundred dives under your weight belt before setting off for the Marshalls.

About The Radiation

The Bikini Atoll has had over 75 megatons of atomic bomb blasted in and around the lagoon which has left its legacy. According to recent studies, there is a build up of caesium in the soil which has been passed into the coconut trees and the surrounding food chain. This caesium is not immediately dangerous to humans, nor is the background radiation, however the studies found that living off the land and ingesting enough contaminated coconut and other food stuffs down the subsequent food chain would certainly lead to medical consequences. The upshot is that you can visit the Marshall Islands and Bikini Atoll with relative safety from radiation sickness (the background radiation is lower than that of London or New York), just don’t eat any local produce!

Looks Amazing, Is Actually A Tragedy...

The Wrecks:

• USS SARATOGA – Easily one of the most recognisable names in wreck diving, and certainly one of the biggest dives on the wreck scene! She is around two-hundred and seventy metres long and weighs in at thirty-three-thousand standard tons! The Saratoga is brimming with weapons, dials, armaments and other goodies to look at, and it is the most easily accessed wreck on the Bikini atoll because, despite the wreck sitting at around sixty metres, the top point is only thirteen metres below the surface! The Saratoga is a delight to dive on and can be enjoyed by most levels of diver because of the vast differences in depth and penetration available. The Saratoga is the Marshall Island’s biggest attraction and can be dived on at least four times without repeating any section!
  

  A Magnificent Ship And A Great Wreck!

• HIJMS NAGATO – This is another beast of a wreck, in scope, challenge and rewards. It was the largest warship ever constructed in its day and offers a stunning dive around its huge gun emplacements (they are the biggest guns you will ever dive on!) and massive hull. The ship is two hundred and fifteen metres in length and weighs in at a vast thirty-eight thousand tons! You will have to get used to me putting exclamation marks all over this article because this thing is a magnificent piece of kit…! The wreck lies at around fifty metres deep and is inverted because it was top-heavy. Luckily the ships superstructure props the vessel up and allows divers to fully explore the deck with its massive sixteen inch guns whose barrels are over fifteen metres long! You can dive the bridge, despite it not being part of the ship anymore as it detached while sinking and settled next to the hull.
  

  With Its Preposterous Tower Bridge It Was Destined To Land Upside Down!

• USS ARKANSAS – Another big boy here, the Arkansas was fitted as a capital ship which meant bigger guns and more swanky quarters. The ship weighs in at around twenty-three thousand tons and a hundred and seventy metres long. She was classed as a dreadnought battleship and was initially employed in the first world war. The ship is lying upside-down in the bottom of the Bikini lagoon which means it is around fifty metres deep but the interesting things start at around thirty metres. The hull is completely smashed and crumpled which, added to the coral that lives on it, is quite a sight to behold!
• USS PILOTFISH and USS APOGON – These are the only submarines sunk at the Bikini lagoon and are both in excellent condition. The two submersibles are in upright position because they are designed to sink in such an orientation. Neither of the subs are particularly big, the Pilotfish is around a hundred metres long as is the Apogon. They are both excellent dives for wreck enthusiasts, but they also have a good covering of coral, both soft and hard which entices wildlife into the area. Because of their relative diminutive size, they are ideal for diving in one session. Penetration of these wrecks is nigh on impossible.
• USS LAMSON and USS ANDERSON – Both of these ships are well armed destroyers and are both around a hundred metres in length. The Lamson has a massive plethora of toys to examine in the form of countless guns and cannons, they are easily spotted too because the ship is sitting upright, unlike the Anderson.
• USS CARLISLE and USS GILLIAM – These are attack class transports are both extensively damaged, especially the Gilliam which has suffered catastrophic midship damage. They have a little less in the way of guns and placements to examine but they are still brimming with things to see, especially when you below deck and explore their hangars.
• HIJMS SAKAWA – This is a Japanese cruiser that took serious damage from the blast being as it was placed in the direct vicinity of the bomb epicentre. It sunk on the first explosion.

The Sites:

The Marshall Islands are not just a wreck diving paradise, they are also fully fledged aquatic gardens of Eden. The reefs are full of life and are well worth diving independently from the wrecks.

Bikini Atoll

At the Bikini Atoll itself there is a world famous dive site named Shark Pass which is home to grey reef sharks and silvertip sharks. The reef is also packed with a variety of soft and hard corals, Jacks, tuna and napoleon wrasse.

The Bikini Lagoon Is A Wonderful Oasis For Tropical Fish

Majuro Atoll

The Majuro Atoll is a varied dive with depths ranging from only three metres right down to around thirty-five metres. There are coral pinnacles which are home to small reef fish, and further out you will see some Pacific ocean cruisers looking for lunch!

Mili Atoll

Another feature packed dive site that will amaze divers with manta rays and sharks, and keep them busy in the mean time with giant clams. On the surface the birdlife is remarkable.

Grey Reef Sharks On The Prowl...

Rongelap Atoll

This has all the usual suspects as you’d expect from a Pacific, equatorial dive site but there is a little twist; the dive site is in perfect, pristine condition having been in true isolation for fifty years. The water is crystal and the wildlife is untouched.

Go Exploring!

There are many mapped and well-dived sites in the area that you can be guided around and you will surely enjoy it, however there are many other wrecks and reefs in the area that have never been dived before! That means that the true explorer in you will be fully sated, just talk to the local dive schools about making a trip further afield to fully embrace the underwater environment.

Final Thoughts

When I write about the Marshall Islands I always wind up torn and confused. On one hand I am so grateful that these amazing wrecks and reefs exist in such a paradise on Earth, yet I am also gravely depressed and angered at the atrocities that have befallen the local populace in the name of war machine refinement. It is a double edged sword that cannot be easily dealt with, but I urge you to visit the islands and to come to your own opinion. By supporting their fledgling diving industry we can each do our part to help rebuild their infrastructure.

Have you ever been to the Marshall Islands? Do you dream of diving the USS Saratoga one day? Are you frustrated by the destruction of one of the most beautiful places on Earth, or are you happy that there is such a place at all? Please leave your thoughts and comments in the section below.

Happy (atomic) Bubbles!

By Jamie Campbell.

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Four massive superstructures rest quietly just two miles off shore from Newfoundland and while most divers expect poor diving conditions when it comes to wreck diving, these four WWII era freighters attract underwater photo enthusiasts from all over the world.

Quick Recap on the History of Conception Bay, Bell Island

On September 4^th, 1942, the German submarine U-513 slid quietly into the bay, waited until morning and unleashed a fury of torpedoes on the various boats, all of which had large amounts iron ore in their cargo. It was crucial that this raw good be delivered for the war effort but the sneaky submarine was able to take them down and escape into the Atlantic undetected. In total, twenty-nine men died in the attacks. Almost seventy years later, the blood coated memories of that uneventful night are hardly noticeable since they now serve as vibrant artificial reefs.

The Wreck s

The SS Lord Strathcoma, SS Saganaga, PLM-27 and the SS Rose Castle, all sunken by the German U-boat, rest at the bottom of the

The SS Saganaga anchor chain snakes about the superstructure

bay in excellent condition. All of these war machines are more than 120 meters long and are home to various anemones, colourful starfish and lots of other interesting invertebrates. The ships are pretty much intact with minimal signs of the torpedo attacks. The Lord Strathcoma´s deck gun is fully intact and accessible via the stern. Many cool sunken treasures, such as radio sets, ammunition and other WWII era relics are sprinkled about the ship. The SS Saganaga seems like a ghost ship since its thick rusty anchor chainsnakes about a third of its structure. Follow the chain and you’ll cross the length of the central superstructure, a cargo bay and you’ll eventually reach the ginormous anchor, all the while spotting remnants of the fatal day such as boxes of bullets and five inch shells. The shallowest

ship of the group, the PLM-27, is the only ship left that has its propeller intact and marine wildlife has grown cozy here. Soft coral wraps all throughout the wreck, making the former floating coffin a vibrant sunken cradle of life for so many marine species. You might even spot a Humpback, Narwhal or Beluga whale during your surface interval here since they arrive for feeding at certain times of the year (June, July, August).

A Bit of Advice

If you decide to visit this unique dive site, take a camera with you and adhere to a few basic tips for shooting wrecks in these conditions. Definitely dive in a dry suit, since the more comfortable you are, the less likely your photos will suffer. Also pack some diving gloves that permit full dexterity so you can manipulate camera settings with ease. More light exists here than in tropical destinations so use a slower shutter speed and wider aperture to brighten up your photos. Lots of rusticles and other sediments are disturbed easily in the dive sites causing your auto focus to go berserk so use manual focus and your best judgement instead.

Here are a few dive operators for anyone interested in visiting Newfoundland:

Ocean Quest Adventures: (709) 834 – 7234

E & S Diving Services: 709-596-4479

Photo Credit: Vlada Dekina

Article by Michael Dawson from Diving Discoveries

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Scuba Diving in The Great Lakes

Straddling the border between Canada and the US, the five Great Lakes make up the largest expanse of fresh water on Earth. Conditions in the lakes can be demanding, but the reward is access to some of the best-preserved wrecks in the diving world. freshwater oasis The pine-flanked shores of Lake Michigan, where nine preserves protect sensitive underwater resources.

World-class wrecks
The Great Lakes cover an area of 95,000 sq miles (246,000 sq km), and offer a range of diving experiences and conditions. Many of the more densely populated regions around the lakes have always been significant industrial zones and have suffered through pollution and over exploitation. The water is cold, and visibility can be limited, although in the lower lakes it has improved through the accidental (and in all other respects unwanted) introduction of the zebra mussel—a voracious filter-feeder that has cleaned the lakes of algae. There are many wrecks on the various lake beds. The very low temperatures and the lack of salt in the water have kept metal hulls relatively free of rust, while wooden vessels and even rope can be found in a remarkably good state of preservation.

Preserving the past
In the early days of diving the lakes, numerous artifacts were plundered from otherwise pristine wreck sites. This malpractice was quickly stamped out through the establishment of a number of preserves. Lake Michigan alone has nine such special areas, covering 1,900 sq miles (4,920 sq km). Notable wrecks throughout the lakes include the Arabia, a sailing vessel sunk in 1884 and still perfectly intact; the Bermuda, sunk in 1870; and the more contemporary Mesquite, sunk in 1989. For more detailed information about this shipwrecks please visit http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/explore_map.cfm

Essential information
Water Temperature: 32–64°F (0–18°C)
Ecosystem: Temperate
When to visit: Year-round, but northern dives may be under ice in winter.
Must be seen: Sea caves along Lake Superior coast; the Arabia and other
well-preserved wrecks.
To keep your Great Lakes shipwreck diving safe and enjoyable, please consider the following:

• Lakes Superior and Michigan are famous for violent weather. Monitor weather conditions and marine weather forecasts.
• Water temperatures vary with the season. Surface temperatures can reach 65°F in summer, but divers will find underwater temperatures in the 40s and 50s. Drysuits are recommended, but they require additional training.
• Visibility normally ranges from 10 to 80 feet, but can be reduced to zero under certain weather conditions. Murky runoff after storms can cloud visibility near mainland sites.
• Diving parties should know CPR and emergency procedures. Carry an adequate first-aid kit, including an oxygen delivery system.
• For diving emergencies, call local emergency medical services first. Then call the Diver’s Alert Network (DAN) at 1-919-684-8111.
• Rangers (at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore) and the U.S. Coast Guard monitor marine channel 16.
• All boaters should use up-to-date NOAA charts for navigational purposes.

CAUTION: Diving can be a hazardous sport, and participants dive at their own risk. The Wisconsin Historical Society and UW Sea Grant accept no responsibility for loss of any kind, including personal injury or property damage. This information is provided for the exclusive use of certified recreational scuba divers or persons under the supervision of a certified dive instructor. Misuse of this information could result in injury or death. Always follow safe diving procedures: Monitor changing site conditions and weather; use a “diver down” flag; do not dive alone. Wisconsin law prohibits unauthorized disturbance or removal of artifacts, structure, cargo and human remains. Please keep these sites intact for other divers to explore.

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Scuba Diving in New Zealand, Wreck of The Rainbow Warrior

Perhaps no other shipwreck on Earth has the poignancy of the Rainbow Warrior. Sunk in an act of international espionage that shocked the world, it now lies off the Cavalli Islands, in one of the most beautiful regions of New Zealand.

The conservation vessel Rainbow Warrior was moored in Auckland harbor on the night of July 10, 1985. Shortly before midnight, two explosions ripped through it, killing the vessel’s photographer, Fernando Pereiro. This senseless act of terrorism was traced to the French Secret Service, leading to international condemnation and lengthy jail sentences for the two agents who planted the explosives.

The Rainbow Warrior wreck remained in Auckland for many months, before being refloated and towed farther north to the Cavalli Islands, a beautiful marine sanctuary granted sacred status in Maori law. Here it was sunk as an artificial reef, and has become a popular dive site. The Rainbow Warrior is a small vessel, and so can easily be covered in a single dive. It sits almost upright on the bottom, and its superstructure rises to within 50 ft (15 m) of the surface, with the seabed below at 85 ft (26 m). Its bow section is still largely intact, creating the illusion that it is sailing across the white sands of the seafloor beneath its hull.

The Rainbow Warrior’s hull is covered in a multicolored carpet of jewel anemones, and the vibrancy of color on display here is remarkable. Its superstructure is now a home for scorpionfish, blue cod, and shoals of

golden snapper, plus kingfish, and the distinctively shaped John Dory. It seems fitting that this former conservation vessel now serves as a home for so many fascinating marine species.

Scuba diving conditions

Water Temperature   –   57–75°F (14–24°C)

Ecosystem   -   Temperate

When to visit   -   Year-round, but September to April is best.

Expected to be seen   –   Scorpionfish; the prow; the Rainbow Warrior Memorial; the ship’s propeller and stern.

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The landmarks, monuments, culture and history are what attract most people to Greece, but very few tourists realize just how many thrilling sights there are to see under the water in Greece. Sure the museums, ruins and exhibits are worthwhile but there is so much more to explore and discover once you toss on a wet suit and dive deep down. From the unique underwater sea life to the crystal clear waters, you really cannot ask for much more than Greece has to offer.

When you are looking into a scuba diving adventure in Greece some of your options are limited. This does not diminish the quality of your experience but you should be aware that there are many restrictions in the area. This however is quite a good thing as it keeps the divers separate from the other activities and helps nature to thrive. There are also quite a few protective laws that have been put into place in order to salvage some underwater wrecks and sculptures. While this can of course be frustrating for diving enthusiasts it should not persuade you to forego your diving adventure to the area as there is still plenty to see. In fact in recent years a lot of previously restricted areas have opened up and scuba diving as a whole has become quite popular in Greece.

Your safest bet to make the most out of your experience is to sign with a local company that offers a dive tour. While this may restrict you at some points it will ensure that you find and locate the best spots in the shortest amount of time. If you sign up with a large group or pay a little extra you may even be allowed to make your own itinerary.

A pricey option but a worthwhile one is ANDI Greece. They offer a deep sea diving trip through the shipwreck of the Titanic’s sister, the Brittanic. If you have ever had any interest in shipwrecks then this is definitely the tour you need to embark on.

Whether you are looking for crystal clear water, ancient ruins, salvaged sculptures or old time shipwrecks then you definitely want to look into a scuba diving trip through Greece. You can research and ask around for the major and popular sites, but let’s be honest what is the fun in that? Greece offers uniqueness unlike any other diving destination. It is suggested that you create your own plan and your own itinerary; you never know when you may discover some ancient shipwreck or treasure that has been left untouched for centuries. Greece is yours to discover and the best way is via the crystal clear waters.

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Wreck diving

Exploring wrecks is—for many people—the main reason of scuba diving. This activity is particularly popular in countries without coral reefs to dive on. However, it also has a general appeal, because wrecks give a historical context for a dive and demand mastery of special skills.

Wreck diving is not just about ships; crashed aircraft and military vehicles carried by sunken vessels provide equally enthralling alternatives.

Diving on wrecks

Sunken ships have an obvious attraction as sites of archaeological and historical interest. A wreck is a time capsule from a given period, and the waters around most countries contain
thousands of them. Although most known wrecks are metal-hulled vessels, unusual conditions
will sometimes preserve wooden-hulled ships dating back hundreds of years. These provide an
excellent opportunity to examine past shipbuilding techniques, and sometimes hold interesting and unusual artifacts. To explore significant wrecks, you should be properly trained and, preferably, work within an archaeological organization. Information on recent wrecks, such
as warships sunk during the two world wars, is usually readily accessible. It is often possible to research the specifications and history of the vessel, along with details of its crew and mission. Historical records may give details of the events surrounding the sinking of the ship. Wrecks also make for good diving because they act as artificial reefs, attracting all sorts of marine life. Over time, the structure becomes encrusted with marine growth, especially filterfeeders, if it lies in a tidal stream. Fish exploit the safety and shelter that wrecks offer: smaller fish tend to shoal around wrecks; larger fish, such as moray or conger eels, can hide safely in nooks and crannies; and predators, such as sharks,  may be found in the wreck’s surroundings, because they feed off the smaller fish.

Preparation and skills

Wreck diving can be a fascinating activity, but it is not without risks. Under no circumstances go inside a wreck if you lack appropriate training and equipment; the danger of entrapment is very real, and specialist knowledge and skills are required to enter wrecks safely. Exploring the outside of wrecks is safer, but always treat such sites with respect.

diving in confined spaces
Wreck penetration often involves exploring in dark, confined spaces. It is not recommended for those with claustrophobic tendencies.

Finning technique

Wrecks often contain a lot of static silt and mud, which is easily disturbed by changes in water currents caused by divers finning overhead. Good visibility can suddenly and dramatically change to almost zero, so using a frog kick, which generates relatively little turbulence, is recommended to minimize disruption of the silt. The best time for wreck diving is at slack water, but a small current can help sweep away any disturbed silt.

Using guidelines

When you arrive at the dive site, ensure that your boat cover is moored to the wreck’s marker buoy. If it doesn’t have one, an experienced diver needs to swim down and attach a guideline directly to the wreck, to act as a guide for other divers to follow. If you intend to return to the surface via the same guideline, it can be useful to use a distance line to help you find your way back to the bottom of the guideline, especially in poor visibility. If you plan to ascend from another part of the wreck, deploy an inflatable marker buoy

Penetrating wrecks

When wreck diving, you should carry backups of certain pieces of gear, such as your reel and your flashlight, as well as an independent air source, such as a pony bottle (see p.68), in case
of emergencies. You must also ensure that you follow the “Rule of Thirds” with your air consumption—a third of your air is used to get to the site and explore, a third to return to the point of entry, and a third is left in reserve as a contingency. Allow extra time at the end of the dive to find the guideline, and do not take any unnecessary risks with your dive time, depth, or penetration.

the golden rule
Never remove items from a wreck. As with any artifact, marine finds are more useful to archaeologists when examined in situ, and their context provides more information about the wreck than if they are handed in without details of where they were located. Worse still is if they are lost forever in a diver’s personal artifact collection.

Exploration tips

It is a good idea to investigate the area around a wreck, since artifacts may have spread over time and pieces of wreckage may have been knocked off that might be of interest, but take great care.
Always be aware that the structure (both inside and outside a wreck) may be much degraded and potentially dangerous. Wear protective gloves, even in warm waters, as corroded metal can be sharp. Wrecks are often heavily fished, so carry a knife in case you become entangled in fishing line. You also need a powerful flashlight (and a backup) to illuminate your way in poor visibility, and to signal to your buddy. In some very enclosed wrecks, it is advisable to wear a helmet and head lamp.

Responsibilities when Diving

Wrecks are historical sites, and just as you would not remove artifacts from a historical site on land, such as a castle or monument, you should also respect a wreck and not damage it in any way. Be considerate of the enjoyment of others who may dive the wreck after you. Dive
responsibly and with care, and do not remove anything without being given permission to do so. When you find an artifact, such as a ship’s bell, after a long, hard search, you may feel that you deserve to be able to take it away as a trophy, but all such discoveries should remain where they were found, or be raised by trained archaeologists for preservation in a museum.

Artificial reefs

At some popular dive sites, wrecks have been sunk deliberately to provide a safe, interesting dive at a reasonable depth for recreational divers. Such wrecks quickly become colonized by marine life and provide a fantastic opportunity for diving and marine research. They are generally
a good place to start wreck diving, since the structure will be intact and any hazards will have been removed. At some wreck sites there are special diving trails with underwater display boards to explain the layout. There may also be laminated booklets that you can take with you on the dive, which enable you to read about the most interesting features of the wreck while on site.

diving in confined spaces
Wreck penetration often involves exploring in dark, confined spaces. It is not recommended for those with claustrophobic tendencies.

Virgin wrecks

Every wreck diver’s dream is to find a previously undiscovered wreck—and there are certainly still plenty to be found. Before you embark on such a search, you should familiarize yourself
with the law regarding wrecks, and any wreck you find should be reported to the authorities. Generally speaking, you can dive any wreck around the world apart from those that are designated as historic wrecks and war graves, which are restricted and require special
permission to dive. Locating a virgin wreck can be a difficult, lengthy task, and is likely to
be expensive. But a modern hardboat with an experienced skipper and high-tech equipment such as an echo sounder, 3D imaging of the seabed, and a GPS system, combined with charts and some good background research on your part, could help you hit the jackpot. Many undiscovered wrecks are found in very deep water, so make sure you are fully qualified and appropriately trained before undertaking deep wreck dives.

Finding out more

If your interest in a wreck goes beyond merely diving it and you wish to enhance your dive by finding out more about the wreck’s history, there are a number of available sources of information. Good starting points include books on wrecks in the area that you are diving, and using the Internet to do some background research. There are numerous websites and forums where you can discover more about wrecks, and also make contact with other divers interested in finding new wrecks. Furthermore, local museums may have displays of artifacts recovered from wrecks in the area, and local divers and boat skippers may be able to reveal information about the history of a wreck.

Dive deep and explore exotic marine life when you choose to enjoy Sharm el Sheikh holidays.

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Three wreck divers from Cornwall were forced to plead guilty to crimes, participation in which they denied for six years.

They acknowledged that they stole property from the wrecks of “Don Pedro”, and each received six-month jail term with two years delay and a fine of 4,700 £.

But a divers during six years insisted that they were never near the “Don Pedro” wrecks, because they had permission from the Spanish government to work in neighboring wreck: the Dutch ship “Friesland”.

It is very questionable assertion, since when the divers were arrested, they had bottles and broken Chinese porcelain from «Don Pedro» with them, which they then claimed they have, simply to identify the wreck. And of course, they just went to report on their finding the Spanish authorities.

It is believed that «Don Pedro» sank with a cargo of gold and diamonds, and divers were accused of stealing from wreck, as well as damage to the Spanish cultural heritage.

(By the way, «Don Pedro» is open for divers now, you can dive and see. It lies at a depth of 25-45 meters, not far from the shore, so that it is available. Who is going to Ibiza, ask around.)

Threatened with arrest up to six years and a fine of £40 000, divers today have agreed on a deal offered by prosecutors.

Mr Kubin, one of the convicts explains: “We – now are considered criminals in Spain.

The deal arranged our lawyers. We went, we were charged, we had a translator who explained what was happening, and we agree with the charges involved.

The situation was tense, as we stood there, and they talked about the six months’ imprisonment, and we just were not sure of the outcome of the case, and then in the end they said that the period of delay.

After so many years it’s finally finished.

We are disappointed because this isn’t the outcome we expected, but continue to insist on my innocence would be wrong, and anything else we could do. Our lawyers told us that was too big a risk that we will receive the maximum punishment.

There is no sense of celebration, but there is relief. I am going to sit under the sun, listen to the bells of the cathedral, drink coffee, then beer, then go home and try to continue my life ».

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The dive is being conducted in a channel called «La Boca» in Cuba. Duration of immersion is usually 45 minutes. Immersion of group is being started from the platform (number 1 in pic). Further diver diving gradually along the vertical walls of the underwater channel. The group gathering all together at depth of 7 meters, where already can be found wrecks of Spanish vessel «Nuevo Mortera», sunken in 1905 and moreover this wreck is considered the best preserved of all the steel vessel which were sunken at that time. After reaching a depth of 25 meters, instructor distributes the divers along the banks on the right side of the wreck (number 2 in pic). At the same time, diver-supporter and video operator taking already predetermined positions. Participants separated from each other’s position with distance of 6 meters in depth of 26 meters. Typically, as soon as the instructor begins to cut the fish, immediately appear sharks that swim close to the seafloor, though they are keeping a distance from the divers (only at the beginning).

Then the sharks take direction to the instructor. It seems like he is inviting them to have a dinner, moving the bleeding fish which he holds in his hand. It does not take a lot of time, as sharks already know what’s going on.

At some point, one of the shark goes straight to the instructor. Being in motion whole time, it opens powerful jaws and takes the fish directly from the hands of diver, and then either turn toward or continue to float above the diver. The sharks swim slowly all the time and behave “peacefully” in relation to the other sharks. Sometimes the lens of camera attract their attention and they even touch the camera with nose. Sharks usually swim near to the instructor in whose hands there is a fish. At the end of immersion, the sharks continuing to «dance» in the place where they feel the smell of blood. Usually sharks are not willing to follow group. The return of the group occurs in the following order. The instructor ask the participants to return for which they have to pass screw of the sunken ship and start to climb along the left side of it. It provides protection from currents. Immersion ends at the nose of the wreck, after which all of the follow to the point 3 ( on pic ) where they need to stop for at least 3 minutes for decompression. After decompression, everybody rise on a platform with help of stairwell.

In some days, there was the presence of up to 14 sharks. More often 5-8 sharks can be seen during the show. Some of them reach up to 3 meters length.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR Diving

* strictly keep the position specified by instructor
* Keep your hands crossed or slightly explore the sand
* Keep calm and refrain from unnecessary sudden movements
* Reaching the feeding place, try to maintain buoyancy and keep close to the bottom. So you’ll do not need to use the flippers to keep buoyancy and your actions will not lead to a deterioration in visibility.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHARKS

Type: Bull Shark or tub head.

Scientific name: Carcharhinus Leucas

Color: The back is gray. Abdomen has white color. Fins gray with a blackish tinge.

Length: Up to 360 centimeters.

Weight: Up to 230 kg.

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