Scuba Diving Safety Tips

Scuba diving is an adventure sport, which requires skill and a lot of confidence. You should be trained thoroughly and be prepared, both physically and mentally, to spend time under water. Apart from these, you need to take all the safety precautions to ensure a pleasurable experience, every time you dive into the deep sea. When it comes to scuba diving, safety is prioritized because you may encounter a problem at any time during the dive. Go through the following lines and explore the safety rules for scuba diving.

Safety Rules For Scuba Diving

Study The Area
Some areas of the ocean may prove to be unfavorable for scuba diving. Therefore, it is vital to know what the safe places for the sport are. Enquire about the types of sea life present in the area and the safety zones. Check the intensity of the underwater current as well. It is safe to dive into the sea only if the current is not too strong.

Consult A Doctor

Get your level of fitness thoroughly examined by a doctor. It is a good idea to get the blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked. Visiting an ENT specialist is recommended, because most diving injuries are caused due to the sickness or disorders related to eyes, nose and throat.

Banish Fear

The majority of scuba accidents occur due to the fear within the person performing the dive. Banish all your fears before attempting the scuba dive. Apart from the safety measures, confidence is highly needed to perform well in scuba diving.

Be Confident

You should feel confident and be relaxed while diving into the deep blue sea. You should feel at ease underwater. If you encounter any problem, just relax, take a deep breath and think as to what best can be done to save yourself from the situation.

Accompany Your Buddy

Even if you have acquired good practice, it is better if somebody accompanies you while diving into the sea. At the same time, ensure that your buddy has also been trained well.

Plan The Dive

Planning is one of the key elements of a successful dive. Before going underwater, plan out the maximum depth you will go and the amount of time you will spend in the deep sea.

Wear Scuba Gear That Fits Well

It is very important to wear a scuba gear that fits you perfectly. Make sure you feel comfortable wearing it. Check for water leakage in the mask. Ensure that the boots and fins do not cause blisters.

Check Your Air Supply

Keep a check on the air supply periodically, when you are underwater. If you find that you are running out of air supply, come out of the water fast.

Ascend Slowly

An important safety rule is to ascend slowly, as this will reduce the risk of decompression sickness caused due to fast ascend. Ensure that you do not ascend beyond 30 feet per minute. To be on the safe side, take a brake for at least 3 minutes at 15 feet.

Breathe Slowly

While performing the dive, it is important to breathe slowly. Breathe in a slow and relaxed manner. Never hold your breath underwater, as it may lead to severe lung injuries.

Dive Computers, the Smart Choice for Safe Scuba Diving

Dive computers, or scuba computers, have evolved at what seems like light speed. They have become easier to read, easier to understand, and easier to use for their intended purpose-to provide information to monitor your depth and time underwater on every dive. This information is critical to help divers avoid decompression sickness. These functions used to be done by using a depth gauge, a dive watch, and manual dive tables. Now these functions and many more can be done by a dive computer.

The main functions of a scuba computer are to monitor dive time and depth and calculate safe dive profiles. They do this by combining a timer and a depth gauge along with intelligent software to compute absorption of gases and decompression. Most basic models will also monitor a diver’s ascent rate. All divers learn about nitrogen absorption, decompression and manual dive tables in their open water certification class. A scuba computer can make your diving experience more fun by automatically managing your nitrogen.

Dive Computers vs. Dive Tables

Even though scuba computers are more flexible than dive tables, it is still the diver’s responsibility to plan their dive in accordance with safe diving guide lines. I can still hear my open water instructor saying “plan your dive and dive your plan”. The job of the computer is to keep track of depth and time spent underwater, compute the amount of nitrogen in the diver’s body and to alert the diver when these levels are getting too high. The computer also tells the diver when to make necessary decompression stops.

Traditional dive tables use only two things to track a dive, depth and time. Tables assume a dive goes straight to the maximum depth, stays there for a certain amount of time, and then bobs back to the surface. Most dives are not “square dives”. Most of the time a diver will descend slowly, swim up and down and around to navigate the bottom or reef formations, then ascend slowly to the surface. Because of their “square thinking”, dive tables calculate nitrogen consumption more conservatively. Because computers use a more accurate curved profile when tracking depth and time, they allow diver to go deeper and stay down longer. With a good computer, a diver can get more out of their diving.

Another nice feature of scuba computers is most models will come with a computer interface. This enables divers to download their dive profiles on to their PCs and create dive logs.

Types of Dive Computers

Because there are many types of divers, there are many types of computers. Some of the basics types are:

1. MULTI-GAS. This type of computer can calculate dive profiles for several different mixtures of breathing gas, from normal air to various oxygen-enriched blends of nitrox.

2. CONSOLE-INTEGATED. This computer is built into the diver’s console which is attached to the high-pressure hose from the 1st stage of the regulator. Because of this it also displays remaining air supplies.

3. WRIST-MOUNTED. This type is typical of a basic level, watch-style computer. It provides data on depth, dive time, ascent rate, and safe dive profiles, and is for use with normal breathing air.

4. RADIO-UPDATED. This wrist-mounted computer also displays how much air remains in the diver’s tank by means of radio updates from a module screwed into the high-pressure port of the 1st stage of the regulator.

Buying a Dive Computer

With so many features on scuba computers these days, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to choose the right one. Here are some things to consider when buying a scuba computer:

• Is the display easy to read and is it backlit?

• Are the buttons far enough apart so they can be easily pressed when wearing dive gloves?

• Can the battery be changed without sending it back to the manufacturer?

• Does the computer have decompression management and a “time-to- fly” feature?

• Will the computer handle breathing gases other than air, like nitrox?

• Is the manufacturers information easy to understand and do they have a good warranty?

• Does the computer have a digital interface?

Computer Safety

One of my dive instructors would always tell us there is not a dive computer on the market that can replace good old common sense. Never rely solely on a scuba computer. Always practice calculating dive profiles using dive tables and make sure you carry back up devices like a dive watch, depth gauge, and a submersible pressure gauge.

The Scuba Regulator, a Key Life Support Device for Scuba Divers

One of the most important items of diving gear is a scuba regulator. It is the invention that makes scuba diving possible. It is a two-stage gas-supply system that gives a diver air from their dive tank at the correct pressure to be able to breathe underwater.
A scuba tank can contain a large amount of air in a small space. This is because the air in the tank has been highly compressed. Before a diver can breathe this compressed air, it must be reduced to a safe pressure. This pressure differs depending on how deep a diver is underwater.
The deeper a diver goes, the greater the pressure of the water pressing on their chest cavity. This is what we call Ambient Pressure. The air a scuba tank supplies must be at the same pressure as Ambient Pressure. If the pressure is not the same, the lungs will not be able to inflate properly.

How a Scuba Regulator Works

The scuba regulator uses two different parts to do its job of supplying air at the right pressure. The 1st stage, which is connected straight to the top of the scuba tank; the 2nd stage, which is also known as the demand valve (the round thing a diver has in their mouth that blows bubbles). It is connected to the 1st stage by a rubber hose. Both stages play an important part in delivering air at the correct pressure.

1st Stage

The job of the 1st stage is to reduce the air coming out of the tank to a lower pressure of around 116-145 psi (8-10 bars) above ambient pressure. A valve opens in the 1st stage and allows some of the low-pressure air to pass into the hose that connects the 1st stage to the 2nd stage and then closes again. When the air inside the hose is inhaled by the diver, the 1st stage detects a decrease in the pressure in the hose. It then allows more air to flow in, replacing the air that was used by the diver. It automatically adjusts the air pressure in the hose when depth changes occur. It also supplies air to inflate a divers BCD or dry suit. This is done with separate hose going from the BCD or dry suit to the 1st stage.

2nd Stage

The second stage, or demand valve, reduces the low-pressure in the hose to the same pressure as the water a diver is swimming through. This allows a diver to breathe normally. Inside the second stage is a diaphragm. This diaphragm is subject to equal forces of water pressure on one side, and air pressure from a breathing diver on the other side. Breathing in from the mouthpiece reduces the air pressure inside the chamber. The water pressure pushes the diaphragm in, opening the intake valve. When the diver stops inhaling, the pressure in the chamber balances and the valve closes. This gives a diver an air delivery system that supplies air only when they ask for it (Inhaling). A well balanced regulator that is properly maintained will do its job so well that breathing becomes natural and effortless.
The 2nd stage also has an exhaust valve. This lets a diver exhale air out without letting water in. This is done with a simple one-way valve that lets the air escape.
There is also a purge button located on its front surface that, when pushed, allows air into the chamber of the 2nd stage. This air pushes or purges water out of the chamber through the exhaust valve or mouthpiece (this is where the bubbles come from).

The Octopus

The octopus, or alternate air source, is another 2nd stage. It is a backup 2nd stage which is to be used if a diver’s primary 2nd stage fails or if a diver needs to make an emergency accent with another diver.
The octopus and the hose it is attached to are usually colored bright yellow. The bright yellow color makes it easy to find in an emergency. The hose attached to the octopus is longer. This allows it to be offered to a buddy easily and for the buddy pair to remain face to face in a shared-air accent. It is attached to the BC in the area of the diver’s chest.

Tips on How to Choose the Right Regulator

A scuba regulator is a vital piece of any diver’s scuba gear. Because of this, most divers choose to buy their own instead of having to rent one every time they dive. Prices vary enormously, but it is worth investing descent money in a good one. After all, a diver’s life depends on it.
There are several types of scuba regulators. Basic ones are simple, inexpensive and can be very reliable and durable. High-performance ones are more expensive and combine high build quality with low inhalation effort and toughness. Some are environmentally sealed for cold-water use.
And for those divers that are nitrox nuts, there are regulators designed to handle high oxygen concentrations without risk of combustion.
Here are some things to think about when choosing a scuba regulator:

• A primary second stage that has a comfortable mouth piece and easy to hold
• Makes breathing feel “effortless”
• External controls which let you make fine adjustment to air flow
• A purge button that can easily be pushed while wearing thick dive gloves
• Swivel joints on the second stage that offer improved ease of movement
• A good warranty
• Never buy an unbalanced regulator
• Some divers prefer diaphragm regulators for their smooth movement and they have less moving parts

The right scuba regulator is the most important purchase a diver can make. It is important to take care of it properly by rinsing it in fresh water after every dive and storing it out of direct sunlight. They need to be serviced periodically by a dive professional.

Scuba Diving In Taba, Egypt

Although not as dramatic as Sharm el Sheikh’s walls or Marsa Alam’s offshore reefs, the Taba coast offer some very rare marine life in an uncrowded environment. Typical to the area, for example, is a rare species of frogfish, and many species of seahorses, hardly found anywhere else in the Red Sea, making a diving holiday in Taba a unique one.

Clown Frogfish

Most of the dive sites in Taba are situated along the Red Sea coast, in the fringing reefs which adorn the Taba shoreline.

They are mainly reachable by boat, but some have shore access from the hotel, and others and can be reached by car or jeep. Local dive boats leave every day for day or half-day diving excursions.

The Taba dive sites are, in general, also easily accessible to snorkellers. The Taba marine area is protected, as many other areas in Egypt, and diving centres here operate under environmental-friendly procedures. This year, a group of local investors have sponsored a mooring buoy project for the diving boats in the region, installing a total of 16 buoys in the most frequently visited dive sites.

Taba Diving Services

Most resorts in Taba have reliable and well-organised diving centres, which offer all sorts of scuba diving services, from entry-level courses to professional courses, introductory dives and diving packages, with one, two or more dives per day, for those who are certified. Some diving centres are also geared up to cater to technical divers. The area seems to be ideal to try out or practice with rebreathers.

For the non-licensed diving enthusiasts, most centres offer free of charge pool intro’s, where visitors can experience the thrill of scuba diving on a one-to-one basis with a diving instructor in the hotel’s swimming pool. The Taba diving centres also offer experience programmes, where the visitor can try actual dives in the sea straight away, under the strict supervision of a diving professional.

Taba, with its generally calm weather conditions and lack of currents, is an ideal location of the Red Sea Riviera to learn to dive, and most diving centres offer the full range of beginners’ courses.

Even kids from 8 years on can enrol in children-dedicated scuba diving activities, such as the popular bubble-maker course, where kids learn to be familiar with water and scuba diving and have fun swimming around in a confined water area.

Dive sites in Taba

Some of the most famous dive sites in Taba are:

• Pharaoh’s Island (also called Coral Island), with its turquoise lagoon and rich reef life, ideal for a day out also with non-diving friends or members of the family, offers 4 different dive sites.
• Fjord , a very rare coastal feature in the Red Sea, with an interesting drop off for advanced divers.
• Topaz and Coral City, perfect for novice divers.
• El Muqabila, interesting for the intermediate diver.

Scuba Diving in Mangrove Bay, Egypt

This site is on the south side of a small bay. The north side of the bay is taken up by a large hotel construction project and is occasionally dived by live-aboards which shelter there form the north wind. However, the south side has a reef in a much better state of preservation, with little anchor damage.
The sloping reef is interspersed with sandy ravines and begins midway along the south side of the bay, where a group of small pinnacles sits just off the reef. Follow the deeper section of the reef to the right, to the outside of the bay, then return at a shallower depth to the entry point.
The coral here tends more to stony varieties, with brain and other massive types in evidence. Fish life is diverse and plentiful, with surgeons, unicorns, groupers, emperors, wrasse and basslets in good numbers.
Try to avoid the many holes in the reeftop during entry/exit, as it is very easy to put a foot in one and turn an ankle or worse.

300 km south of Hurghada. Shore diving and day boats. The rare Dugong live here and in calm weather you can go to Elphinstone on a day trip. It’s run by Ducks Diving Centre in Hurghada.
Matthew Moore

Scuba Diving in Wreck of the Umbria, Sudan

The Umbria was launched in Hamburg in 1911, although her name was then Bahia Blanca. In 1935 she was bought by the Italian government, renamed Umbria and refitted for use as a troopship. For last voyage she was loaded with munitions and building materials. Italy was about to enter the war but no secret was made of her cargo. For her trip down the Suez canal two British pilots came on board. They took two days to pilot her, rather than the normal 3 hours. When the Umbria was able to continue South down the Red Sea, the British Royal Navy sloop Grimsby was close behind. Off the coast of Sudan, the British boarded the ship with the excuse of “contraband control”, with the support of a New Zealand battle-cruiser. During this the Umbria’s captain heard on the radio that Italy was imminently to declare war, and had the ship scuttled. All hands safely abandoned ship.

On the first dive this huge shipwreck swept away the memories of Thistlegorm and the other Red Sea wrecks. It’s a spooky castle covered by corals loaded with 36000 aircraft bombs, cars, wine bottles and so on. The site is visited by mata rays, whale sharks and, at night, tiger sharks. You’ll probably be alone on the wreck due to the small numbers of divers visiting the country.
Cristian Magnani

My absolutely favourite wreck. In my opinion it’s much better than Thistlegorm. It’s because there are just 10-12 liveaboards in Sudan and if you are diving here you can be sure that you’ll be alone. As there are not so many divers the ship wreck is in much better condition
Martins, Latvia, 2007

Scuba Diving Sha’ab Rumi, Sudan

Sha’ab Rumi is one of the most famous Red Sea diving destinations. Located in Sudan, this area offers a very rich sea life along with very interesting diving areas to explore. Many scientists who wish to study Red Sea marine life come to this point due to the combination of sea life, water clarity and coral formations it has.

Hammerhead shark at Sha'ab Rumi - Port Sudan, Sudan (Photo: P. Pacchiodo)

The reefs of Sha’ab Rumi became world wide known since 1964 when Cousteau showed its richness through his cameras to the world and then built his laboratory nearby. Although this area had been widely known before that, since then its fame was broadened and people from many different points of the world are constantly visiting it.

Among the variety of fish and sea life visitors might find in this area we can even find hammer and gray sharks, being therefore ideal for experienced divers who enjoy extreme sports. It is highly recommendable to ask for information regarding these sharks, the areas where they are and how to practice diving near them before going into these waters.

Besides its amazing reefs and walls, Sha’ab Rumi also hides very interesting wrecks into its waters. Towards north divers could find the Blue Belle wreck. This wreck is next to the reef and covered with sea plants, and divers who can have a close view of its inside would be able to observe very beautiful and varied tropical sea life having its habitat into this wreck.

Divers who enjoy currents could have a great time going to the south area of Sha’ab Rumi where strong currents are very common. This area contains coral formations which can be seen from the surface and go deep into the water. This way, divers can combine their current diving along with the observation of beautiful and rare corals.

Sha’ab Rumi is also very famous for its corals and receives visitors from many different points of the world wishing to observe and study these beautiful forms. This area is full of amazing coral formations of many different kinds and colors, from hard to soft ones and often surrounded by a great variety of sea life which turns this underwater landscapes into some of the most beautiful which divers ould observe.

Dive Site: Sha’ab Rumi

Location: Sudan

Description: Reef dive

Depth: 5 – 35 metres (15 – 115 feet)

Visibility: 20 metres (65 feet)

Sha'ab Rumi

Sha'ab Rumi

Sha'ab Rumi

A narrow plateau starting at 20 Metres stretches out for 50-75 m then drops off at 40 m. It drops to 600 m on all sides. Lots of grey reef sharks, hammerheads are usually there, silvertips and sometimes silky sharks. I have had several manta encounters and the coral as well as the fish life is extraordinary with schools of barracuda and trevally.
Christian Karlsson

Best place for hammerheads in the red sea. During one dive I had almost 50 in front of me. There are also lots of grey and whitetip reef sharks and thousand of barracudas at very close range. Best season for hammerheads is from November till April.
Vladimir Guberinic

The best dive place on the planet. Great visibility (20-30 m), great corals, scalloped hammerheads (once even more than 60! in a group), grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, napoleon fish, groups of bumphead parrot fish, etc. on the plateau also sits Jacques Cousteau’s shark observation cage. Amazing dive site!!!
Miha, 2007

Fantastic preserved coral reef drops onto a flat outcrop around 23 m – there is a Grey Reef Shark cleaning Station – you can lie in the sand and watch them. The reef then slopes to the depths – 700m+. Schooling Hammerheads. If you want to be surrounded with at least 3 species of shark this is the place – the coral itself is world class on its own – great dive.
Richard Rigby, 2007

Scuba Diving Dahlak Islands, Eritrea

More than 200 of Eritrea ’s islands belong to the Dahlak archipelago with a great opportunity for yacht cruising (scuba) diving and (pearl) fishing. Charter yachts are available for hire in Massawa. Only four islands are inhabited, with a total population of just 2,500, who still maintain their traditional lifestyle of fishing and herding goats and camels. The isolated and uninhabited Dahlak Islands, and the rich feeding grounds which surround them, attract large numbers of nesting sea birds from all over the red sea. Some islands have shores lined with mangrove trees or salt bush. Shoals and submerged coral reefs, a spectacular marine life (dolphins, sharks, dugongs, turtle species, hermit crabs, fish, mollusks or shellfish), shipwrecks and pumice stones formed from submarine volcanoes make the Red Sea an unforgettable diving experience.

210 islands surrounded by coral reefs form a natural gateway.

An important difference with other diving spots in the Red Sea is an unexpected result of the years of war. During the fights, fishery came to a halt and resulted in a spectacular increase of large numbers of fish. A second advantage of this forced isolation is a relative lack of shyness of the fish. It is thought that there are 325 species of fish in the Red Sea.

The Dahlak Archipelago has been designated as a national park during the Ethiopian rule. Presently you can’t go there alone (and without permission).

During the war of independence a group of Eritrean freedom fighters – under the name Naval Force – carried out diving operations against the Ethiopian armed forces. These freedom fighters today make up the core of Eritrean diving tourism, organized by Eritrean Shipping Lines in Massawa.

Currently Eritrea has some attractive dive sites open for tourism diving. Some of the important dive sites in the Dahlak Archipelago and north of Massawa include: Desie, Madot, Nakura, Kundubul, Dahlak, Durgam, Durgella, Dehle and Dehl Bahot. All the islands have natural, good, long white sandy beaches which are excellent for recreation. The offshore water is also excellent for swimming, sport fishing and water sports.

Dahlak Kebir

The largest island, Dahlak Kebir, which is located 58 kilometers from Massawa, is some 643 km² with a population of about 1,500. It was the chief port for pearl fishing in the southern part of the Red Sea and was formally used as a military base by the Ethiopians.

Dahlak Kebir offers opportunities to visit Afar fishing villages, as well as ancient Turkish and Islamic ruins. The many hundred years old Arab inscriptions, the monumental cisterns, and the 360 wells are important living historical footprints, the proof of a high level of historical development that took place in Dahlak Kebir.

A more sinister aspect of the islands’ history is that they were one of the most important conduits for the export of slaves from the mainland to Arabia.

Nacura

Nacura is an island situated west of Dahlak Kebir. In the early years of the Italian colonial rule i.e. 1891/1892, the island was established as a detention camp for the anti-colonial Eritreans as well as opponents from other Italian colonies.

During the Ethiopian occupation of Eritrea the prison was used by the Dergue. Thousands of political prisoners lost their lives, indicating the bitter conditions of this prison.

Marine base Nokra

Opposite to the Luul Hotel (Dahlak Kebir) lies the old marine base Nokra, setup by the former USSR and Ethiopia during the war of independence.

After the last days of the war the base was abandoned. One of the last actions before the retreat was the destruction of all military and non military hardware and to scuttle patrol boats, ships and the floating dock, that might be of any use to the Eritreans. This vindictive behavior has resulted in an interesting heritage for divers.

The two cranes of the former floating dock rise above sea level in the northern channel between Nokra and Dahlak Kebir, while the rest of the wreck is populated by riff fish, a variety of corals and blue and black speckled manta rays. The Russians even left a complete  perational officers sauna for 20 persons, which is quite remarkable in one of the hottest regions on earth, which temperatures of over 50°C!

Eritrea Tours
Richard-Arnold-Str. 2
71642 Ludwigsburg
Germany
Tel/Fax (+49) 7141-565099
E-mail: info@eritreatours.com
Web: http://www.eritreatours.com

Dahlak Islands Luul Resort Hotel - Dahlak Kebir

The waters along the Eritrean coast have been nicknamed "fish soup" because of the 1000 or so species that live in the Red Sea. The Red Sea has many unusual species of colorful fish and coral.

Blue speckled manta rays and various corals occupy the wreck of the former floating dock of the Ethiopian marine base Nokra.

Turtle returning to the sea, after laying her eggs on the beach.

Seil, a small rocky island in the Dahlak Archipelago, in the entrance of the Gulf of Zula, south of Massawa. The island, 35 kilometers off the Massawa coast, is famous for its bird life and diving opportunities.

Scuba diver closes up on a deadly puffer fish in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea.

White sandy beach of Dessei (Dahlak Archipellago).

Scuba Diving In Massawa (Mitsiwa, Massauwa), Eritrea

Two islands and the mainland together form Massawa. They are connected by two causeways. Apart from the salt ponds there is not much of interest in the mainland part of Massawa although this is where the majority of the population live. The first of the two islands is called Taulud with the war memorial, the St. Mariam’s Cathedral, the old railway station, the Dahlak hotel and the Imperial Palace. Crossing the second causeway you enter the rather Moorish port area of town. This part of Massawa, called Batse, still has great charm, especially at night when the little alleyways between the Turkish, Egyptian and Italian buildings come alive. One of the foremost attractions of Massawa, both day and night, are the bars and restaurants. Massawa was once the largest and safest port on the east coast of Africa but suffered terrible damage during the war. Massawa used to be the headquarters of the Ethiopian navy. It was fought over by both sides during the struggle for Eritrean independence. To this day Massawa remains the largest natural deep-water port on the Red Sea. It is now Eritrea’s main port and access to the rest of the world and is being rehabilitated. The dockyard is back in operation and handling an impressive tonnage of merchandise. Numerous houris from Yemen and Saudi Arabia intermingle with larger ships. Massawa is the departure point for trips to the Dahlak islands and diving expeditions. One can enjoy the sights with the minimum of hassle and maximum safety. Fishing craft are slowly returning. Massawa is a historical and cultural melting pot. Sheikh Said Island (or Green Island) is just opposite Taulud, the first of Massawa’s islands reached by crossing the first causeway. It is ideal for a day trip/picnic and not expensive to reach. North of Massawa is the white sandy beach of Gurgusum. The beaches are clean and uncrowded. It is a good place to sunbathe, for swimming, sailing, (scuba) diving or snorkeling. Although the places of interest all are within a distance of less then 5 kilometers of the Dahlak Hotel and Hotel Central, the usually high temperatures do not invite the visitor to walk for more then 30 minutes. It is essential to take a water bottle on every trip when traveling to or walking in the surroundings of Massawa (and the Dahlak Islands)! The best restaurants in Massawa are the Eritrean Restaurant, which serves good and cheap meals, pasta’s, steaks, grilled fish and salads. Salaam is a fish restaurant in the old part of town. This very modest restaurant serves large portions of grilled fish for very reasonable prices on tables in the open air.

Special event / National Holiday 8 and 9 February: Operation Fenkil Anniversary, a remembrance of the last days of the war fought to liberate the city of Massawa (1990). The three tanks at the end of the first causeway were the main military hardware, used by the EPLF in the operation Fenkil. They now serve as a statue, at the spot where they halted in February 1990, in memory of those who gave their lives for the liberation of Massawa.

Massawa – main port of Eritrea
Massawa Map	Massawa Map

Diving Boracay Island, Philippines

BORACAY ISLAND is a tiny patch of paradise about seven kilometers long and only one kilometer wide at its narrow midriff. It is surrounded by the finest white sand beaches you will ever see. The main beach, or White Beach as it is commonly known, is located on the western side of the island. It is about four kilometers long and it is where most establishments are located.

Boracay is located off the northwest corner of Panay—a large triangular island in the Philippines. It is part of the province of Aklan which is famous for its piña cloth and Ati-atihan Festival. Boracay’s largest villages or barangays are Manoc-manoc, Balabag and Yapak. The total land area is approximately 1,000 hectares.

Boracay Island: Island Maps

Walking along the White Beach of Boracay is a treat for the senses. There’s the spectacular aquamarine waters fringed by talc-like sand on one side, and then there’s the parade of shops, restaurants and resorts on the other. Here you will find everything you need to make your stay on Boracay Island comfortable and memorable.

Shopping is a very popular activity in Boracay Island. Besides the usual souvenir t-shirts, one can also find handicrafts, paintings, jewelry, garments and even furniture! Bargaining is expected and makes up half the fun of shopping.

Since Boracay is a major destination of visitors from all over the world, it is not surprising that authentic international cuisine can be found everywhere. A gastronomic adventure awaits the hungry beachcomber, but whichever restaurant you end up in, don’t forget to order a fresh fruit shake – definitely a part of the Boracay experience! Just ask for the fruit flavor currently in season.

For those who wish to really get away from it all, 15 minutes of brisk walking is all it takes to escape to the other, more peaceful but equally beautiful beaches of Boracay Island. Visit Puka Shell, Ilig-Iligan, Punta Bunga, Balinghai, Diniwid and Bulabog beaches to catch a glimpse of Boracay as it was just a few decades ago.

A myriad of activities is available for those who wish to do more than laze around in the sun. Bike excursions, sailboat tours, horseback riding, jet skiing and massages can be arranged.

Dive Sites

ANGOL POINT

Start Depth: 5 meters
Maximum Depth: 12 meters
This is an excellent dive site for beginners and training dives. The reef is covered with stony corals, leather corals, nudibranchs, anemones, sea stars and sea cucumbers. It is also a favourite for night dives and is a good spot for macro photography. Good for snorkelling, too.

BALINGHAI

Start Depth: 8 meters
Maximum Depth: 40 meters
Balinghai is two walls running parallel to each other. The deep wall features sharks and tuna while the shallow wall is pockmarked by small holes which house anthias, lionfish, triggerfish, bannerfish, puffers and gobies.

BAT CAVE

Maximum Depth: 6 meters
This dive site is a series of small caves leading to the actual Bat Cave which is also accessible by land. Conditions must be just right to dive here, since waves usually pound against the rocks and swift currents can take you offshore. Lobsters, sea snakes and of course, the bats overhead can make a fascinating dive.

BEACH NIGHT DIVE

Maximum Depth: 5 meters
The beach is a little-known treasure trove for divers with a sharp eye. It is a sandy area with patches of sea grass and hard corals. Watch out for flounders, crabs, nudibranchs, squid and pipefish.

CAMIA

Start Depth: 18 meters
Maximum Depth: 30 meters
The Camia is Boracay’s house wreck. It is a 30 metre-long cargo boat that was sank as a Fish Attraction Device in January 2001. It has since developed very nicely as an artificial reef. The residents now include a couple of huge red bass, some bluefin trevallies, scorpion fish and a school of batfish.

CHANNEL DRIFT

Start Depth: 10 meters
Maximum Depth: 35 meters
Strong tidal currents flow through the strait, taking divers on a joy ride through canyons and crevices. Coral growth here is very impressive and occasionally white tip sharks and trevallies are sighted.

CORAL GARDEN

Start Depth: 5 meters
Maximum Depth: 12 meters
This dive site is right off the main beach and usually has calm and clear conditions. It is ideal for beginners and training dives. It is a popular fish-feeding area, so expect to see sergeant majors, butterflyfish and batfish crowding around. A favourite snorkelling spot.

CROCODILE ISLAND

Start Depth: 5 meters
Maximum Depth: 20 meters
From a distance, this small uninhabited island looks like the head of a crocodile. Currents can be fierce except at slack tide, which makes for a beautiful collection of corals. It is a gently sloping wall with several canyons and caves containing a wide diversity of fish.

LAGUNA DE BORACAY

Start Depth: 5 meters
Maximum Depth: 20 meters
This dive site is located on the ”backside“ (east side) of Boracay. It is well-suited for beginners and professionals alike, with a great diversity of clams, anemones, feather stars, butterflyfish, lionfish and sea squirts. The area is quite large, and almost every inch is covered with hard and soft corals.

LAUREL ISLAND

Start Depth: 5 meters
Maximum Depth: 20 meters
Big Laurel and Small Laurel are two separate dive sites which are very similar and quite close to each other. Big Laurel has a tunnel swim-through filled with soft corals and nudibranchs. Both Laurels are sloping walls with healthy corals and prolific fish life.

Boracay Island

FRIDAY’S ROCK

Start Depth: 7 meters
Maximum Depth: 18 meters
A dive at Friday’s can actually cover two dive sites: Friday’s Reef which is 7 to 12 meters, and Friday’s Rock which is 12 to 18 meters. This famous fish-feeding station is a large boulder which provides photographers a chance to capture close-up shots of emperors, triggerfish, red bass, scorpionfish and surgeons.

PUNTA BUNGA

Start Depth: 9 meters
Maximum Depth: 24 meters
This site is the start of a series of walls which connect to Yapak. The drop-off is filled with cubbyholes where moray eels, lionfish, groupers and triggerfish reside. Stingrays are usually seen on the sandy bottom at 24 meters.

TULOBHAN REEF

Start Depth: 5 meters
Maximum Depth: 20 meters
Although it is quite shallow, a slow steady current usually allows drift diving to cover a wide area. Sea snakes are common, while sea cucumbers, eels and feather stars can be seen waving in the current.

VIRGIN DROP

Start Depth: 18 meters
Maximum Depth: 35 meters
This wall dive is ideal for deep dive training. Large sea fans and crinoids provide colourful hiding spots for bass, moray eels and nudibranchs. Rays are sometimes seen gliding through the thermoclines during tidal changes.

YAPAK

Start Depth: 30 meters
Maximum Depth: 40 meters
Yapak 1 and 2 are actually two separate walls which begin at 30 meters and drop down to 70 meters. The most famous of Boracay’s dive sites, close encounters with white tip and grey reef sharks, dogtooth tuna, groupers, napoleon wrasses and giant trevallies are common. Surface conditions can be rough, and therefore a negative entry is often required, followed by a spectacular blue-water descent.