[3 min read]
Dawn with Dolphins: A Red Sea Dive Diary
“Dolphins in the bay”, is one of life’s best phrases to wake up to! As someone who has never snorkelled with Dolphins before, I got utterly spoilt in the Red Sea. I shared time in the ocean with dolphins, dugongs, eagle rays, octopus, turtles, sharks … all whilst exploring the vibrant coral reefs.
Sarah and the Red Sea Diving Safari team kindly hosted me for two glorious weeks in Egypt. They promote sustainable dive tourism, education and training. During my stay, I crammed in as much diving as possible. A good recipe to create a happy and content Lucy!
Elphinstone’s Embrace: Sidemount and Nitrox at the Reef’s Edge
Wanting to advance my dive skills this year, I joined Andy to delve into sidemount diving, using two tanks on either side and also did my nitrox course, where less nitrogen and more oxygen extend your time underwater. At the start of my trip I did my first negative boat entry. By the end, I was happily rolling off the boat backwards in sidemount style to dive into the incredible Elphinstone Reef—an epic spot for encountering large marine life.
Through the Lens: Underwater Photography and Mentorship in the Red Sea
So as someone who has never really done photography, let alone underwater, I excitedly joined a group of professional photographers in the Red Sea. Duxy, Alex and Sarah kindly took me under their wing to take my first few photos underwater.
Throughout my scholarship I’m constantly amazed at how wonderful the ocean community is – a community of kind and knowledgeable souls that are so eager to help.
Waves of Healing: Bringing the Ocean to the Wards using VR
As I continue my scholarship, I’m eager to connect young people and the sea. I’ve had an idea to use virtual reality to bring the ocean to hospital wards! Research indicates VR can reduce pain medication and surgery recovery time. Ocean VR could also be a powerful conservation and education tool. Many children miss out on the joy of the ocean due to social and economic factors. Ocean VR in child healthcare could change that and inspire the next generation of ocean advocates. Any ideas, support and help with this project would be hugely appreciated.
A huge thank you to Rolex, the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, Divers Alert Network and my equipment sponsors Fourth Element, Suunto, Halcyon Dive Systems, Reef Photo and Video and Nauticam. Their continued support, along with the dedication of countless volunteers and hosts, has transformed this incredible opportunity into a reality. I’m excited about the adventures that await in the coming year.
