April 30, 2013 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt 8:00a to 6:00p

Sharm El Sheikh means “Sheikh’s Beard."

Today, I had set up a snorkel tour with Ramses Tours since Sharm El Sheikh is known as some of the best snorkeling in the world.  We were joined today by Rick & Janie, Hal & Gail, Jeff & Julie, Michael & Elizabeth, Steve & Karen and Fred & Kay. Marianne, Tom & Sherry were to join us as well, but they were exhausted from the day before and opted to rest. They had some issues on their tour yesterday as one lady passed out several times and was taken to the hospital. She is fine, but she was dehydrated and needed fluids. It was about 102* yesterday and she wasn’t drinking enough. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Ramses (our tour company) paid for the ambulance and the hospital visit. They contacted the ship and let them know what was going on as well. I can’t say enough about how happy we have been with their services. The guides and drivers are top notch and it felt more like an old friend showing you their country. 

Our group met in the Casino lounge until the ship was cleared and off we went to find our guide. He was there, but we did get a bit of a late start as he was also providing transport for 2 other couples that were not there. Our group was all there and we asked if we could go and he could go back to pick up the other 2 couples that weren’t on our tour. One couple (the same one that hijacked our tour in Doha) did show up only to say they were canceling their tour. Unclear if he was trying to get on ours, but we wanted no part of them after our previous experience with them.  

It was a short drive to the dive shop for those who did not bring snorkel equipment with them to get it and then another short ride to the area with the snorkel boats. The area is quite controlled and it took a while to get the go ahead to get to our boat called Dalas. We had to go through x-ray machines and then were led to our boat for the day. It turned out to be a very nice boat with an inside area, galley, dun deck on top and an area where the snorkel or divers could gather to put on their stuff and get into the water. 

 

We all climbed the ladder to the top deck and enjoyed our 2 hour ride towards the northeast of Sharm El Sheikh along the Gulf of Aqaba, which is more than 1800 meters deep towards Tiran Island. We had 3 snorkel stops. Tiran Island,the famous wreck of the Thistlegrom and Blue Laguna. At the end of the day we sailed back to the jetty of Sharm El Sheikh.  

 

 

The water in the Red Sea is pretty COLD! (who knew?) Actually, we did know and had brought our wet suits. It was still cold. The Blue Laguna is part of  Ras Mohammed Marine Park. 

The snorkeling was fabulous at all 3 sites. Lots of healthy hard and soft corals and many types of fish we have never seen before. Tons of colorful clams, clownfish, black and white small fish and bright orange small fish, pink and green striped and parrotfish in colors we have not seen before anywhere else. Our last stop had tons of jellyfish. Big ones with purple star shaped centers in the pretty white/clear jelly. They are not stingers and we got to hold and pet them.  

 

 Greg & the guide

 me chillin between snorkels

me holding the jellyfish

 Greg

 our guides hamming it up

 

We had a nice freshly prepared lunch of salads, vegetables, fish,  pitas, hummus and more. Soft drinks and water were provided throughout the trip. YUM! 

 

 

The coastline is one resort after another and we saw the ex-president Mubarak’s house nestled amongst them.  

The crew had cast out a fishing line behind the boat and all of a sudden we hear a loud whistle and there was a fish on! They pulled in a pretty metallic silver blue tuna.  

 

 

At one point I was sunning on the back of the deck and I thought I saw a dolphin fin. Then another and I said to Greg I think I see some dolphins. About that time one showed itself and he yells DOLPHIN! The pilot of the boat takes off after them until we are right in the midst of them. I didn’t have my camera handy, but Karen and Julie got some great shots. We stayed with them for quite a while watching them play.  

 

I would have to say it rivaled the Great Barrier Reef in many ways. (Though it was fantastic as well.) Everywhere has its own special things. No rays or sharks here. But gorgeous fish and corals. As we were all relaxing up top, I said to Karen & Steve these are our favorite days. Relaxing and sun and water. We needed it after our long hot day before and some rest was needed before Petra and Wadi Rum the next day. It was a great time with a great group of friends that we have made on this trip. 

Greg was downstairs and missed the photo op at the end of the tour

 



4 of us wanted to shop for a couple of trinkets and the driver dropped us off at the Old Market and agreed to come back at 5:00 (about 15 minutes) to pick us up after returning the other people to the ship. He never came back (perhaps a language barrier) and though it might have been walkable we weren’t quite sure of the route so we grabbed a cab and were back in no time. We were back with 10 minutes to spare before all aboard and the captain blared the horn and people were yelling at us from their balconies. That has been one irritation on this whole trip. The Captain likes to leave early. The published time is say 6:00 with all aboard at 5:30. He leaves at 5:50 or earlier if everyone is on board.

 



We showered and went upstairs to eat and we went to the show which was Malcolm  Pitt who did a Lionel Richie tribute. He was a great singer of his music, but I didn’t like his performing style. 

Here is the sunset as we sailed away....

 

 

We came straight back to the room to go to bed since as what must be a cruel joke we had to give back the hour we got so we lose an hour of sleep tonight and we have an early 4:30 wakeup call for our tour of Jordan.  

As a side note, tours to St. Catherine’s Monastery in Mt.Sinai (home to the Chapel of the Burning Bush where Moses received the commandments) were canceled due to security.