Working as a scuba diving instructor in paradise sounds like a dream job to many divers, so it may sound odd to hear instructors complain about being bored after working the dive industry for several years. But let's face it: teaching the only open water courses day in and day out can become a little tedious for most people after a while. Yet, there are scuba instructors who have made life-long careers out of diving and still have the same enthusiasm as when they started. How do these instructors avoid burn out? By keeping life interesting, continuing their own education and teaching the courses that they really enjoy. Becoming a specialty instructor and gaining PADI’s Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) rating is a great way for instructors to spend more time doing the underwater activities that they enjoy and to pass that love and enthusiasm on to others.

Speciality Instructors

There are 3 ways to become certified as a specialty instructor:

1.  Take a specialty instructor training course offered by a PADI Course Director. With this method, instructors gain teaching tips, marketing ideas and hands-on experience while fine tuning their own skills and teaching techniques.
2. Apply directly to PADI for a speciality instructor rating. This method involves showing a certain amount of experience in the specialty area (20 logged dives) and requires the instructor to have issued at least 25 core PADI certifications before applying. This method is not available for all specialties, and a number of specialties have additional prerequisites, such as the Cavern Diver Specialty Instructor rating for which instructors must also have a full cave diving certification.
3. Write a Distinctive Specialty. PADI has about 25 standard specialty courses available, but instructors can also write a program on a special area of interest and have it approved by PADI. There are guidelines on the PADI website for those interested in authoring a program.

Nearly every deep diver has been there: you surface from an amazing dive, but the memories are a bit foggy. Divers who are trained in stage decompression diving on air will start to notice the adverse effects of nitrogen narcosis on deeper dives at some point during their diving careers. Normoxic trimix is a great solution for divers who experience nitrogen narcosis and want to dive with clearer heads. The normoxic trimix course introduces divers to the advantages of helium while staying within the same limitations as air. The course is can be a goal on its own, or a step on the way to deeper trimix training. And who knows, the course could lead you to pursue even deeper diving and the attractions to be found beyond the limits of air.

Along Atlantic Ave, nearly lost in the shade of nearby hotels, the Old Coast Guard Station Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. stands watch over the very same stretch of ocean as it did when it was built more than 100 years ago. 

Things have changed since those early days — the Life-Saving Service was joined with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, the sand dunes that covered the shore have been flattened and replaced with paved streets, horses replaced with cars and the surfmen who braved the ocean swells with muscle and oar have been replaced with motorized boats and helicopters.

I don’t like fire weapons. I never fired one and never touched one. To me, they represent death and destruction. It is an icon that goes in the complete opposite direction of what love and life represent to me. That’s the reason why I found it awkward to dive in sites where war ships have been sunk. But life has proven me wrong.

While a war ship is an instrument of destruction above the water, it becomes an instrument for life underwater. On July 2005 a series of explosions off Queensland Sunshine Coast created Australia’s newest dive site when the former guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane was scuttled in 27m of water. In less than three minutes the warship slipped beneath the ocean to settle into its new role as an artificial reef and dive attraction. Within days the first fish had discovered the ship and settled in. It was only a matter of weeks before the hull was coated with algae and barnacles.

Hurghada is a small fishing village which offers some of the best diving spots in Egypt due to its clear waters and the quality of its corals. As part of the Red Sea, the warm waters attract a variety of species of fish, such as rays, sharks and a large number of species of tropical fish.

Top Hurghada dive sites

Sites in the vicinity of Hurghada are generally popular with Europeans seeking the PADI certification, and are therefore very busy and not recommended for more experienced divers. Below are six less crowded sites outside of Hurghada, all of which remain easily accessible from the city.

The Abu Nuhas reef is a two to three hour boat ride just north of Hurghada. It boast five wrecks, all of which have sunk throughout different periods of history. Although currents can be strong around Abu Nuhas, visibility is generally very good.

The wreck of Rosalie Moller (a German ship sunk in 1941) is a favourite for many because of the many turtles, stingrays and barracudas. However, due to its depth, this site is recommended only for professional divers, as it descends to 55 meters.

The four other wrecks of Abu Nuhas are the Carnatic (sunk in 1869), Chrisoula K (1981), Ghianis D (1983) and the Kimon M (1978). All are between 20 and 30 metres deep and easily accessible for non-experienced divers. Ghianis D is particularly impressive as the waters surrounding the wreck offer visibility up to 27 metres, making it a pristine location for divers.

The Elphinstone Reef

The Elphinstone reef is famous for its longimane sharks, which can be seen most often between October and December. If you are visiting from May to August, you are more likely to see manta rays.

The waters are clear, but the currents can be quote strong. If you are taking a cruise, this reef is often chosen as a stop on the way towards the Brother Islands.

The Brother Islands

The two "Brother Islands" (“Little Brother” and “Big Brother being” are just 100 meters apart from one another) are surrounded by beautiful coral, and are known worldwide as one of the best places to swim among sharks. Hammerheads are notably present around this site.

The only downside to this site is that it is quite difficult to access, being 150km from Hurghada. Therefore if you want to do a cruise diving from Hurghada to Brother Islands then be prepared to set aside four or five days.

These island are also only offered to divers who own a certification required for diving in a marine reserve. 

Housing

Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh both have many hotels to stay in. The fall of Mubarak and the recent political problems in Egypt have meant that hotel prices are also very competitive.

Of course, it is recommended to read reviews from other travellers before selecting a hotel, for example this site lists more than 200 hotels around Hurghada.

When to visit

During the summer months (July-September) the temperature of the water can rise to up to 28 degrees, whilst the air reaches 45 degrees! Feel free to brave the climate and enjoy less traffic, however the high season for diving is in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

In general, diving is possible all year round: even in winter the water temperature won’t fall below 20 degrees.

Information

The tourist office Hurghada list other activities to do around Hurghada. Visit the British Embassy in Egypt for the latest advice on visiting the country.