Chapter 1: Diving in Dahab

Diving is a popular activity in Dahab, and it wasn’t long before I found myself eager to explore the deep blue once more. At just €18 per dive, the price here is quite reasonable compared to nearby Sharm, where you'd pay around €30 plus an additional €25 for equipment rental for two dives. I decided to go for two dives: one in the morning at a beautiful site called Moray Gardens, located south of Dahab, and another in the afternoon at Rick’s Reef to the north.

These dives served as a preliminary assessment for me. I’m aiming for an overnight trip to the breathtaking reefs of Ras Mohammed National Park and the renowned wreck of the Thistlegorm, a WWII site at a challenging depth of 30 meters. To participate, I need to demonstrate my ability to manage depth, remain composed, and conserve air to ensure the group’s enjoyment.

Regrettably, I didn’t bring my camera for the morning dive at Moray Gardens, which was a missed opportunity since the visibility and lighting were perfect for underwater photography. I guess I’ll just have to dive a few more times to make up for it.

Despite not capturing the morning dives, I still got some fantastic shots at Rick’s Reef. There were remarkable sights, including a peculiar octopus trying to blend in and a striking Lionfish. However, visibility was limited to about 15 meters, and sunlight struggled to penetrate the haze from the mountains to the west, resulting in a predominantly blue hue.

The pufferfish was quite photogenic, but the Electric Torpedo Ray was less cooperative. I managed to snap a quick picture before it darted away. A word of caution: touching one of those is a bad idea!

An interesting aspect of diving in this area is the considerable amount of weight required to sink in the salty, buoyant waters. For instance, when diving in Thailand with a short wetsuit, I only needed 3.5kg, but here, even with a long wetsuit, I required 10kg and still needed a bit more. I wonder if my slight beer belly is an asset or a drawback in this situation.

Ultimately, I performed well during my first deep dives in several months. I have a few more tests coming up at Dahab’s premier dive spots, Blue Hole and The Canyon, in a couple of days, and I’m confident they will go smoothly. Whether my camera will survive the depths remains to be seen, but I am excited about Ras Mohammed and Thistlegorm ahead!

Explore the colorful underwater world of Dahab in this exciting TikTok compilation, showcasing breathtaking marine life and diving experiences.

Dahab: A Unique Cultural Experience

Entry 117. Assalah (Dahab), Egypt

Monday, February 27

As I journey through Egypt, I’ve come across various intriguing “contraptions,” a term I broadly define as devices useful for specific tasks. One such example is the distinctive Pigeon House, commonly seen throughout the Egyptian landscape.

Whether these structures are built for culinary purposes or simply for the enjoyment of keeping pigeons remains a mystery. However, it’s clear that considerable effort is invested in creating these large, conical mud homes for the birds.

In conclusion, pigeon may not be a meat-lover's dream, as there simply isn’t enough meat on these birds to satisfy a hungry traveler.

Join me for a delightful morning of breakfast at Skidders, souvenir shopping, and soaking up the beach vibes in this exciting video!

Postscript

Barrington, Rhode Island, USA

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Over the weekend, I tried my hand at mixing a house set on my Traktor S3 digital decks, and it turned out quite well! I’m excited to introduce the Around the Houses mix series, combining 35 years of house music history with some fresh and exciting tunes.