The story of Sharm: how diving began

mad · Dec 27, 2006

Hi buddies,
a couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to the coolest party in Sharm El Sheick at Camel's for it's 20 anniversary.
There I could meet the men who started when there was sand only.
I've written about it here:

http://www.scubaportal.net/diving/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=1

I suggest everybody to look back and think of these pioneers, like Hesham, who did a great work.

Have a nice day, bye,
Marco

mania · Dec 27, 2006

The role of Hisham is important - this is true. He and few others were pioniers in Sharm - starting with absolutly nothing and changing this place into what it's now....

Hisham - Congratulations for 20th anniversary

Mania

drbill · Dec 27, 2006

Interesting read, Marco... thanks. I had planned to go to Sharm but then 9-11 happened and I grew too cautious. It would have been the "perfect" time to go.

Miss Scuba 2006 was also an interesting story... I should return to Italy to dive (I haven't been there since 1968 and only free dove then).

elmo6s · Dec 27, 2006

Great read! Sharm is the best diving I've done so far (Belize, Fiji, Soloman Islands, BVI, Baja are other places I can compare it to) - the underwater life is simply unbelievable, not to mention the fact that I saw tons of hammerheads!

mad · Dec 28, 2006

Hesham is incredible, I'd suggest everybody to meet him, if you go to Sharm please report my greetings to Hesham.

Miss Scuba is also interesting, lol! I'll open a new thread about it.

ciao, Marco

mania · Dec 28, 2006

There was a group of pioneers in Sharm - Hisham, Adly Mestekawy (owner of Pacha), Ibrahim Mestekawy - it's fascinating to listen to their stories. And hard to imagine that 20 years ago Camel Bar and Bus Stop were just simple grill bars selling grilled meat.

Mania

MarkUK · Jan 2, 2007

That was a great party, Marco I was there too.

It was amazing to be on the Roof Bar chatting to Hesham and other Red Sea pioneers, such as Guy from Red Sea Diving College, Rolf and Petra from Sinai Divers, Umbi from Shark's Bay, etc, etc.

We did a piece in the mag on Camel in March and had photos of Na'ama Bay in 1980 and in 2005, and you just cannot recognise the place!

Managed to sneak a couple of cheeky days of diving in as well!

Mark

tboxcar · Mar 10, 2009

We first did Dahab and Sharm in November of '89, there was lot's of camels, sand, hash and UN peace keepers, diving was just OK, we were down at Ras Mohammed, I do remember some swift currents!!!

The story of Sharm: how diving began

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mad

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