"Ross McGrath, a rugged, likeable Australian was inspired to open the
resort over 22 years ago and started from scratch in this outpost, which
lies closer to the Sudanese and Eritrean border than to Cairo in the far
north. In those days, the place attracted hardcore frontiersmen,
uninterested in creature comforts, but devotees of unspoilt diving. Think
of the nautical equivalent of Wilfred Thesiger"
Underwater odyssey in the Red Sea
http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/travel/underwater-odyssey-in-the-red-sea-29968769.html
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SPECTACULAR: David Attenborough described the Red Sea as amongst the most
beautiful places in the world. This colourful paradise features a number of
reefs, including the St John's reef system, which is a world-class diving
site, normally only reachable by boat
*Joseph McKeever* - 02 February 2014
WITH a backward roll into the Red Sea, we made our way down through the
crystal-clear water in what seemed like a giant aquarium. As we descended,
we were met by a huge array of coral colours, from deep blues, greens to
reds and yellows, throbbing and pulsating in the prismed light.
My colleagues, called buddies in diving speak, seemed to have an
encyclopaedic knowledge of the name of every underwater creature. For me,
it was easier to remember their names according to who they looked like ...
and so nudibranch, puffer fish and sharks became Peter Crouch, John
Prescott, and an unnamed parking attendant who ticketed me last week.
The experience of diving the Red Sea is true bucket-list material. It was
David Attenborough who described it as being among the most beautiful
places in the world. It's like a transition from dull sepia to true-life
colour, from black-and-white to cartoons. The group that set out from
Dublin was indeed diverse. Apart from my friend Drew, a jewellery expert
and salesman, the group included an internationally renowned musician, a
foreign affairs diplomat, a venture capitalist, a laboratory scientist, an
early retired banker and me, a doctor . The age ranged from the late 20s to
the early 70s.
A connecting flight from Gatwick took us on the seven-hour journey to Marsa
Alam. From here, we were driven in a minibus on the three-hour drive to the
eco village of Wadi Lahami on the edge of the Southern Red Sea.
The journey was fascinating rather than tiring. It reminded me of an old
desert war film. The Red Sea lies to the left of the road and the desert
and mountains to the right. People are dressed as they would have been in
biblical times. You can see shepherds with small herds of goats, sporadic
tiny villages of shacks or huts dot the landscape, which sadly also
revealed huge numbers of plastic bags blowing like tumbleweed across the
desert sands.
Ross McGrath, a rugged, likeable Australian was inspired to open the resort
over 22 years ago and started from scratch in this outpost, which lies
closer to the Sudanese and Eritrean border than to Cairo in the far north.
In those days, the place attracted hardcore frontiersmen, uninterested in
creature comforts, but devotees of unspoilt diving. Think of the nautical
equivalent of Wilfred Thesiger.
Today, the standard required is that of an intermediate or experienced
diver, although I was told novice divers are welcome. One could enjoy
snorkelling just as much given that the reefs and their sea life are only
three feet below the surface. The diving is off the St John's reef system,
a world-class diving site, normally only reachable by boat. This is beside
the remote but tranquil Wadi Lahami, a very chilled and relaxing diving
commune with room for a maximum of 50 guests
Received on Tue Feb 25 2014 - 13:12:37 EST