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Support needed for Sinai schools
We are asking all divers and visitors to Sharm to bring with them on holiday educational material and equipment to donate to local government schools in the area. This new project was kick-started by our UK agent Oonas Divers, with a donation of ₤500 worth of equipment.
At the moment we are in close contact with two local government schools. Despite the obvious commitment shown by the teachers at both schools it is glaringly obvious that their determination is undermined by the lack of facilities and equipment. The first schools to benefit from the project are the Rowayset School, a predominantly Bedouin school in a town about 5 kilometres inland from Sharks Bay, and the Fayrouz School which is situated between Naama Bay and Sharm el Maya (Old Sharm).
Teachers at the schools told us that there are many things that it would be useful for holidaymakers to bring out. The list is probably topped by English language books for foreigners followed by sports equipment and educational computer games. Other useful items include decent quality drawing paper, crayons, water colours and other arts and craft equipment.
We have agreed that the dive centre can act as the central collection point for all the donated equipment and we will ensure that the equipment is transported to the head teachers at the respective schools.
 The project is part of a wider development that aims to bring dive centres in the area into closer contact with their local communities. Already we and another well-known local dive centre, Ocean College, have begun a twinning project with the school in Rowayset. We offered free Discover Scuba Diving places last term and the first of these sessions was completed in June. Competitions were held in the schools to choose the lucky participants and the underwater video company Focus kindly made some great videos of the day which have been donated to the participants. Both dive centres have made a commitment to continue these sessions every term.
The staff at Sharks Bay are a friendly mixture of local Bedouins, Egyptians of both Islamic and Christian Coptic extraction and of Europeans mainly from the UK. The complex itself dates back to 1982 when Umbarak, a well-known local Bedouin - born and bred on the shores of the Red Sea - started to run diving trips from the bay.
As Sharm develops more and more of these cooperation’s are planned. They can only make the Sinai a more pleasant place in which to live.
Anyone visiting Sharm are being asked to bring the requested equipment and books and to drop them off at Sharks Bay Umbi Diving Village, Sharm el Sheikh, 7kms north of Naama Bay.
For further information about the project please contact us on:
info@sharksbay.com
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25th Anniversary Celebrations
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In the early 1980s Umbarak, the owner of Sharks Bay started his business with just 6 tanks, a portable compressor and a fishing boat with no license. 25 year on the business has grown to include 5 daily and safari boats and a hotel built into the cliff with 3 different types of accommodation and around 100 employees.
To celebrate his success Umbarak decided to throw the biggest party the beach has ever seen with around 700 guests who travelled from all parts of the world to come and join in the celebrations. A team of chefs arranged a fabulous barbeque on the beach whilst music was provided by a Bedouin Band from El Tor, Hesham Abu Mouatek the famous Jordanian Band as well as ‘On the Rocks’ a local group from Sharm. Further entertainment was provided by 2 Belly Dancers, a Darawish dancer and a couple of Strong Men.
The bands finally packed up at went home at 5am the following morning although a couple of die-hard party goers were still found dancing on the beach 2 hours later.
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