For the last five years, underwater photography students in the second year of their B.A. (Hons) in Marine and Natural History Photography degree course at Falmouth University, Cornwall, England, have come to Marsa Shagra with Oonas Divers to hone their underwater photography skills.
Having undertaken classroom, pool and a series of UK underwater photography dives in the first and second years of their degree, the Red Sea field trip provides the students with a more intensive diving experience than the weather and academic timetable can permit in the UK. Led by Gaynor Bennett, Lecturer, and supported by Helen Richardson, Photography Technician, the December 2013 field trip was run over two weeks (one week in the first years) to enable all 24 students to maximize the opportunity to practice both still and moving image. The two week stay proved to be hugely successful allowing the students time to include dives at Elphinstone, Abu Ghusson, Nemo City and of course Abu Dabab, and will be replicated next year. Our Environmental Manager, Sarah O’Gorman gave a talk on the conservation activities that are so central to the ethos of the operations at Marsa Shagra, Marsa Nakari and Wadi Lahami. Many have been inspired to further pursue marine conservation topics as a result. Gaynor and Sarah hope to build on this input for forthcoming trips. The students also attended a presentation from Islam Al-Sadek, the head of the Red Sea National Park rangers in Marsa Alam, about the Red Sea Region and the work of the rangers in the area as well as a DEEP (Divers Environmental Presentation Program) presentation held by Mohamed Ismail from EPEA in Shagra Village who taught them and our dive team very special and interesting facts about the Red Sea marine life and general environment-related topics.
The students also participated in an on-land cleanup in Marsa Egla - you can see the pictures here.
Photo competition winner Fred Mallin received an RSDS goody bag for his image of a Clown Fish & its anemone. The judging was led by Dr. Hossam Nasef, underwater photographer and hyperbaric specialist. The body of work the students produced for their portfolios is being put to good use with forthcoming exhibitions, magazine articles and short films. The next cohort of underwater photographers embark on their training next February and are already very excited about the forthcoming Red Sea field trip in December 2014. To find out more about the Marine and Natural History Photography Course at Falmouth University, click here. Whether you are a dive club, university or school group, or just a group of friends wanting to dive together, all three of our villages can cater for you. Contact your local agent for more information.
