Archive for the ‘Adventure Activity’ category

Scuba Diving in London

December 24th, 2011

I first started diving more than five years ago, but it’s only recently that I can truly say I’ve dived in central London; as A few weeks ago I carried out a search and recovery dive for a handbag in Hyde Park.

We were called to the park because a boat had capsized in the serpentine tipping out a small family and their possessions, including an expensive Louis Vuitton BAG. Upon my arrival Alex, who runs Diving Leisure London, and I discussed the best search patterns; considering what we knew to be the likely conditions in the lake. We then kitted up and got in. Once underwater we found it was incredibly murky and at times it was like swimming through thick oil because of a large amount of leafy mulch. Even though Alex was right beside me, I couldn’t see him. The lack of visibility, led us to keep a tight search pattern and at times we needed to feel our way along. After a short period of time we retrieved the bag and a pair of sandals that had also fallen in. We then surfaced and returned them to the husband who had waited by the lake. The rest of the family had gone to dry off and warm up.

A little further afield, when I’m not rescuing handbags, I teach in a lake on the outskirts of the M25. Once again, not the best dive site in the world but it is great for training new divers. For me, the larger deeper inland dive sites is where the fun really starts and once I’m in the sea off the UK coast, that’s where I’m in my element.

There are many misconceptions about UK diving, for example lack of visibility, the cold, nothing down there etc. This really isn’t true. Visibility off the coast isn’t always spectacular, though how often do you actually look at something that’s more than five metres away from you? And the colder waters don’t have to be a problem as a good drysuit will supply you with ample insulation.

As far as what’s down there is concerned, there is loads; a great abundance of marine life including seals, dogfish and basking sharks (which eat plankton). After all the marine life, there are thousands of wrecks at various depths including many that are perfect for technical dives. As a huge fan of wrecks I am spoiled for choice.

Egyptian Adventures – More Than Pyramids and Sphinx

December 4th, 2011

However, there is more to Egyptian adventures than just hieroglyphs (ancient Egyptian writing) and mummies. Though the history of Egypt is certainly rich and worth-learning about, there are also a huge list of things to do that caters to active travellers. Climbing mountains, diving and fishing, exploring and trekking, are some of the many things that Egypt has to offer. And to begin with, here are some of the things that one can enjoy while in Egypt:

The Walk with Moses

According to the Catholic Bible, Moses was a prophet who lead the Jews out of slavery from Egyptians. For 40 days and 40 nights, the large group of Jews travelled the Egyptian sands by foot, camels, and donkeys all the way to the “Promised Land”. To cut the long story short, the Egyptian Pharaoh at that time realized that there will be no slaves to do their work for them, hence, he and his men chased down the Jews. Upon learning of this, Moses and the Jews were trapped between the Egyptians and the Red Sea. This is where the miracle happened, Moses (through God’s power) split open the red sea that allowed the Jews to pass through. When it was the Egyptians’ turn to cross the sea, Moses had the sea to crash down on them, killing many Egyptians and leading the people to freedom.

The “Walk with Moses” tour lasts for about 14 days in order to complete the experience. Activities such as long hours of walking and moderate climbing over rough terrains are in store for tourists, as they walk through places such as the city of Cairo (where visitors can rest at the hotels), the pyramids at Gyza, the Egyptian Museum, and other historical sites, like the path to Mt. Sinai (where Moses prayed) and the chapel of the burning bush. As travellers walk their way to history, camels are provided to carry their bags and water.

Diving at the Red Sea

The famous Red Sea is now a place for diving, allowing tourists to explore an 800-feet deep of marine animals and plants. There are Sinai professional divers that are willing to teach certification courses for anyone who would like to dive in Egypt’s crystal clear waters. In order to fully enjoy this tour, about 5 days of diving is needed, which includes the diving classes and an exposure to one of the unique, lively underwater realm that Egypt possesses (a bit ironic for a place that is known for having little water).

Camel trek

A trip to Egypt will not be complete without an experience of riding a camel. This camel trek allows tourists to relive history as they travel through sand and explore bazaars in cities. The camel trek is also available for tourists that seek to visit historical sites by camel instead of by foot, such as the Egyptian Pyramids, the preserved burial chambers, the hidden white canyon, and the palm gardens of Ein Khudra, to name a few. Having the experience to ride an actual camel and at the same time visit unique places, the camel trek definitely makes an Egyptian tour even more fun.

While the three mentioned things are listed above, it doesn’t mean that those are the only things that one can do in Egypt. There is also a place for fishing in the lake Nasser, where a large fish is said to be found, and sailing experiences such as the “Sail Egypt tour” which lasts for 8 days and 7 nights. Just like the Walk of Moses, it explores ancient history and brings travellers to recreational diving spots and shopping bazaars by water. Whatever tour that the tourists decide to take, visiting Egypt is definitely worth the money.

It is therefore advised that tourists should take that flight to Egypt to experience one or all of the many Egyptian adventures available. After all, there is more to it than the Pyramids and Sphinx.