So im officially a dive master!! Ive progressed through the course and completed the requirements, the journey so far, so good.
So today I guided a two family group, 8 people, on a snorkel trip to the Blue Hole. The Blue Hole is one of Dahab’s most famous sites, for infamous reasons, look it up on youtube and you will see what I mean. The blue hole is an awesome geological feature, a circular hole in the reef dropping some 100 meters deep. The reef and wildlife that call it home is diverse and plentiful, a great day out.
We arrive at the site after a jeep trip along many a gravel road. When you arrive at the blue hole you are presented with a good selection of restaurants to set up camp for the day. Having visited a number of times I was often directed to go to the Aqua Marina, run by two great Egyptians who are always at your service. After being shown to our seats a mixed juice arrives, free of charge, for myself because I am the guide. Now I know this is given to entice the customers to purchase the same, but you would not get a landlord in Stratford-On-Avon buying the guide a pint to entice his customers to buy lunch now would you?
We entered the water for our first snorkel trip, leaving our valuables in the good hands of the guys at the restaurant. We exit the water and are handed menus for lunch. The customers I had with me where well spoken and friendly English holiday makers. Keeping in mind that they are staying at Le Meridien, 5 star resort, and have booked their snorkel trip with the dive centre based in the resort, this is the first day they have ventured out of the resort and seen a camel!! Again keep in mind this is the best hotel in Dahab and the standards out weigh even the Hilton 5 star resort just down the road. Keeping all this in mind they turn to me and say “is it safe to eat here?” So I reply “I have had many a meal here and it has excelled every time…..and I’m a chef!!” All the meals arrive, again my meal is complimentary as I have delivered them custom. One of the girls had ordered a tuna pizza and it had not arrived. We begin to ask each other where the food is and sure enough the waiter arrives pizza in hand. He asks “You order pepperoni pizza?” Instantly the tone drops
“ No it was a tuna pizza!!”
“you sure? No perperoni pizza?” the waiter asks
“ No we specifically asked for tuna” the lady replies
“ Ah Ok, good cus this is tuna pizza” the waiter replies as he lays it on the table. A genuine laugh comes from all involved, with an air of surprise from the customers, almost as if they did not expect the waiter to have the capacity of humor. Everyone enjoyed their food and we head off for the second snorkel trip.
We exit the water, dry off then settle our bill and leave. The waiter gave me a complimentary bottle of water as I leave, saying goodbye to everyone by name.
I promise I will return with more customers.
The staff also help load and unload the trucks when we go there with divers, the level of service is amazing. My point is that would you get this in England? Who knows, I hope so, it just installs such trust in the community. My guests ask if there was any trouble with theft in any of the restaurants? I replied “ The waiters look after the belongings with up most care. If a restaurant gets a bad reputation here the level of service and hospitality in the other restaurants means the customers would just go else where and they would make no money. It’s in their best interest to offer the best service, and friendship possible”.
Friday, 24 October 2008
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
KOSHERY >>>
Matt, the peaceful protester, completed his Dive Master course yesterday. He completed all requirements and will be leaving for England on the 18th Oct.
Matt and I got on well, he’s a funny old chap, shame I couldn’t get him on the IDC but that’s his choice.
So usually when you complete your DM course the tradition is that you drink a beer through a snorkel, not matt. He doesn’t drink, or smoke for that matter. Matt decided to celebrate with Koshery all round. Koshery is the local Egytian dish, made up of pasta, rice, lentils and chickpeas all topped off with tomato sauce, beautiful.
So the past couple of days have been filled with fun dives. It’s a little different to guiding because you set your own path and get to explore a little more. If all goes to plan I’ll be completing my DM course over the next few days. On the 17th a large group (10 pac) will be arriving for their open water course. I will hopefully be fully qualified to assist on the course.
Ive been here for a month now and have learned a lot, but there is much more to come. I have met some great people and look forward to the challenges ahead. I sometimes think how much I miss certain elements of life at home, most of all my girl. We all have paths to create and follow and unfortunately its all part of the progression.
Ma ‘is salaama.
Matt and I got on well, he’s a funny old chap, shame I couldn’t get him on the IDC but that’s his choice.
So usually when you complete your DM course the tradition is that you drink a beer through a snorkel, not matt. He doesn’t drink, or smoke for that matter. Matt decided to celebrate with Koshery all round. Koshery is the local Egytian dish, made up of pasta, rice, lentils and chickpeas all topped off with tomato sauce, beautiful.
So the past couple of days have been filled with fun dives. It’s a little different to guiding because you set your own path and get to explore a little more. If all goes to plan I’ll be completing my DM course over the next few days. On the 17th a large group (10 pac) will be arriving for their open water course. I will hopefully be fully qualified to assist on the course.
Ive been here for a month now and have learned a lot, but there is much more to come. I have met some great people and look forward to the challenges ahead. I sometimes think how much I miss certain elements of life at home, most of all my girl. We all have paths to create and follow and unfortunately its all part of the progression.
Ma ‘is salaama.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Hi all, im rubbish at updating this. Anyway, been here for three weeks now and im all settled in to the routine, Dahab has a nack of sucking you in and grabbing hold without a warning. Most people I spek to who came here for say six months, end up staying three to five years, somtimes more.
The studying is going well, I had exams on everything from dive equipment through to Physics and Physiology!!
Theres so much work involved in a day I hardly have time to breathe before my head hits the pillow. Working In diving is not as much a stressful job ut it is consuming. The logistics involved in aranging a days diving phenominal, For example:
An average day guiding a dive involves ariving at the dive centre around 8:15. Before the gusts arive you have to get an oxygen kit, first aid and a spares kit, all of which need to be signed out from the itinerary. Then you need to collect tanks, if your doing two dives in the day everyone needs two tanks, 12Ltr weighing around 50Kg each. Lets say theres three customers, one instructor and myself thats 10 tanks, plus one sare. All this plus a crate of equipment for each person needs to be loaded onto a truck. We leave at 9:00am when the customers arrive, we also need a permission slip to get us through the police check points.
The we get to dive, two dives with Lucnch in between, after this all equipment is hauld back on the truck and we arrive back at the centre. Th process is then reversed but all the kit mest also be washed.
Then log books are filled and we discuss the day and the fish we see. Custmer service is key, we have to keep the customer happy and willing to return for more the folowing days. When the custmer leaves its time for a beer, then off home to study for exams...then slleeeep!!!
Awake the next morning to repeat the process....
Average day, somtimes different if we are running a course, so dont go thinking its all sunshine and cocktails, fair enough its better than the regular 9-5, but its still work its just outdoors in 30 degree heat with alot of swimming around looking at fish thrown in for good measure.
The studying is going well, I had exams on everything from dive equipment through to Physics and Physiology!!
Theres so much work involved in a day I hardly have time to breathe before my head hits the pillow. Working In diving is not as much a stressful job ut it is consuming. The logistics involved in aranging a days diving phenominal, For example:
An average day guiding a dive involves ariving at the dive centre around 8:15. Before the gusts arive you have to get an oxygen kit, first aid and a spares kit, all of which need to be signed out from the itinerary. Then you need to collect tanks, if your doing two dives in the day everyone needs two tanks, 12Ltr weighing around 50Kg each. Lets say theres three customers, one instructor and myself thats 10 tanks, plus one sare. All this plus a crate of equipment for each person needs to be loaded onto a truck. We leave at 9:00am when the customers arrive, we also need a permission slip to get us through the police check points.
The we get to dive, two dives with Lucnch in between, after this all equipment is hauld back on the truck and we arrive back at the centre. Th process is then reversed but all the kit mest also be washed.
Then log books are filled and we discuss the day and the fish we see. Custmer service is key, we have to keep the customer happy and willing to return for more the folowing days. When the custmer leaves its time for a beer, then off home to study for exams...then slleeeep!!!
Awake the next morning to repeat the process....
Average day, somtimes different if we are running a course, so dont go thinking its all sunshine and cocktails, fair enough its better than the regular 9-5, but its still work its just outdoors in 30 degree heat with alot of swimming around looking at fish thrown in for good measure.
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