Gillian Gifford Report on her trip to Hurghada in 2007

Thank you ORCA

Hurghada my holiday treat

I bought myself a birthday treat - a diving holiday in Egypt.  I had dived a very long time ago and decided to take it up again.  Most of my diving previously had been in warm waters so when I came back to the UK I tried diving here.  Cold and the people that I went diving with were not the most helpful.  So I gave up and …. years later decided to take it up again.  Where to go?  I looked around, do I go back with BSAC or try PADI.  A friend gave me a couple of numbers of PADI dive centres so I rang around.  After a brief chat on the phone with each of the centres I visited ORCA.  The reason for choosing them was the friendliness of everyone and the flexibility of the course to suit me.  An added bonus, they had a holiday booked for September that I could join if I decided to take it up.  After the initial session I was hooked and ready to get started on the Open Water Course.  I could do the pool sessions here in the UK and then finish off the open water dives on the holiday which suited me fine.  Theory and pool sessions over it was off on holiday.

The morning dawned and we were on our way to Egypt.  We met Gary (our esteemed leader) at the airport, checked in and started the holiday with breakfast.  Time to go to the departure gate but there was a slight hitch, where was Amy (Gary’s daughter)?  Everyone was on the alert looking out for her, where could she go in an airport?  Gary sent everyone through to the departure gate where we kept an eye out for her whilst he and his son Arron kept searching. Finally just before boarding they turned up.  It turned out she was in her favourite place, in a book shop lying on the floor reading, who would have thought to look down there.  Five hours later we landed everyone keeping a sharp eye out on Amy. We had left a cold and drizzly England and had arrived to the bluest sky and heat (30oC+) with a gentle breeze.  On the bus and off to the hotel.  Everyone sorted with their rooms, in unpacked and then to the bar.  I was excited I just wanted to go diving and couldn’t wait till the morning.

There were 14 of us on the trip 3 of whom were not diving.  I was worried that being single and with a mixed bunch of people, some of whom I had never met before.  Not to worry they were a great bunch who helped make me feel part of the group the whole week   I never felt left out.  Everyone made sure that if there was something happening that everyone knew about it and could then choose what they wanted to do.

We were here for a week and on board the dive boat in the morning with lunch on board.  Diving everyday twice a day and on one occasion three times with a night dive we were going to be busy.  It was so exciting and I was slightly nervous trying to make sure that I remembered how to put everything together properly and not make a fool of myself.  Everyone was so helpful that I needn’t have worried.  The first four dives were the ones I had to complete for the Open Water.  It was hard to concentrate with so much to see.  Distractions everywhere blue spotted rays, crocodile fish, lion fish, red ones, orange ones and nudibranchs.  I really need to do a fish ident course so that I can recognise them all.  The coral formations were amazing to see and the two wreck dives were great.  There was often a current which made diving along reef walls so relaxed and easy.

We had our two intrepid trainee dive masters, Colin and Graham who were with us all the time to help Gary keep an eye on us.  They were a scream and ensured that everyone was kept in fits of laughter at their antics, including the ones that they didn’t necessarily want anyone to see.  Dropping the odd piece of equipment in the water is one that springs to mind. 

Day two and the final dive of the course what a feeling, myself, Graham and his son Callum had passed.  Then Callum and I it was straight on to the next course the Advanced Open Water.  With briefings at the beginning it was off for skills and then buddied up and a chance to look around again.  Even then I did not stop laughing Colin sat reading his magazine on the ocean floor whilst waiting for me to carry out one of the navigation skills.

After each dive everyone would come up and say did you see this or that fish and on a couple of occasions turtles.  This was one of the best holidays I have ever been on and my deepest thanks to all the guys on the holiday for making me feel so welcome.  I will be doing more courses and look forward to the next holiday.

Most of all I would like to thank Gary for getting me started and encouraging me and to everyone at ORCA for their encouragement, help and support throughout.  They are a great team and I would highly recommend them to anyone.