TRAVELSPECIAL
Bottlenose dolphin and calf at Sha ’ ab El Erg
Dreamtime
The last diving day arrived all too soon , and we found ourselves at Sha ’ ab El Erg , another of those innocuous reef systems just outside Hurghada . It ’ s also known as ‘ Dolphin House ’, frequented as it is by the eponymous cetaceans
About 30 seconds after descending , my buddy Sharon pointed down just in time for me to see the arrival of a mother dolphin and her calf . They came close , really close ... pairing off and swimming either side of me before regrouping ... and then returning .
In fact , they never went away . Over the course of the next 76 minutes , these two dolphins treated our lovely group of international divers to the show of a lifetime . I ’ m convinced it was a reward for the unthreatening behaviour of the group , who floated serenely as the dolphins moved between us . The dolphins grew so confident , at times it seemed they were mere inches away . I wasn ’ t sure if they were entertaining us ; or was it the other way around ?
Such are the mysteries of inter-species
fascination . I have often cautioned my fellow divers not to expect the romanticised dolphin interactions of myth and legend . They are , after all , highly intelligent animals bound up in their own unknowable struggles and triumphs . And yet , when all the stars are aligned , nature might just give you a glimpse of something extraordinary . A group of strangers can be united by two inspirational wild animals and 76 minutes of bliss . In the face of nature , we are all humbled .
Essentials
Getting there : A charter flight is included with the package , flying from Gatwick to Hurghada . Hurghada Airport seemed more efficient than usual ; a little less random sadism in the luggage checks .
The liveaboard : Ghazala Explorer has 12 cabins , including three suites . There are typically three guides on board , allowing a ratio of 1:8 in a group .
Book it : A standard , all-inclusive week ’ s package for the Ghazala Explorer costs £ 1,650 with Scuba Travel . Includes diving , flights to and from London Gatwick , seven nights full board accommodation on the liveaboard , twin share lower deck cabin . Also includes transfers , marine park fees and nitrox . Keep an eye on
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Scuba Travel ’ s social media for last minute deals . There ’ s still availability for May and June , and the boat is taking bookings for 2024 . For details go to scubatravel . com tel 01483 411590 .
Eats and treats : The Explorer ’ s food is good quality Red Sea buffet fare , with a greater emphasis on fresh produce . The guests were unanimously positive about their meals . �