Sharm

The next morning, we caught an early flight to Sharm El Shiekeh. Our hotel, Umbi Sharks Bay, was conveniently located right on the Dead Sea. We spent two days snorkeling, sunning, sleeping, and diving. The diving was unbelieveable! Our first dive, which was our least favorite, was a shore dive from a nearby hotel. We saw several eels, lion fish, and a blue-spotted rays, but the most impressive sights were the amazing coral and the number of schools of fish. There was nearly every variety of color coral in an impressive array of colors. There were so many schools of fish, including a school of 8 very large puffer fish, that often times you would look around and realize that you are swimming above/below/ or in the middle of them. The next day, Regina and I headed to Ras Mohammed National Park to dive. Our first dive at Jackfish Alley had, unbelieveably, and even more impressive array of coral--I've never seen such big table coral--and schools of fish, and we saw humongous (at least 3 feet long) trigger fish as well as a giant moray eel that was completely out of its hole and winding its was around the coral.

The last dive, our favorite, was Shark y Yolanda. Even better coral, more schools of fish, a ray and lionfish, huge trigger fish, and toilet seats. Apparently a boat carrying a load of toilets had sunk leaving a path of toilet basins behind. The fist and coral had adopted the toilets and wreckage building impressive underwater features.

Although we wanted to do more diving, concerns about the nearness of our next flight forced Regina and me to spend the afternoon snorkeling. This did not disappoint though. In addition to all of the other fish was had already seen, I was so excited to see my favorite fish of all the dives . . . a masked porcupine fish. It was huge, probably two feet long, with a bloated head and bug eyes. It was bright yellow with black spots. So cool.

That night we ate dinner, as we had the night before, on the cushions and carpets laid out on the beachfront restaurant. This beach getaway was the perfect way to ease into our adventure.