I'm pretty sure the spines are God's way of saying "Do not dive" - 18 April 2009

It's our last day in Egypt, and we're spending it at a resort in Nuweiba. Before we get to the resort we're given an option: Pay some additional money to make it all-inclusive, or go a la carte for the meals and drinks. We elect to go the all-inclusive route, and at lunch it looks like a bad call. Think very average cafeteria food.

We also have the option to go diving, and decide to do so along with two of the other folks from the group. What we didn't know was that we'd have to walk about 50 feet in shallow water out to the boat. Or more specifically that we'd have to walk 50 feet where there are lion fish and snakes:I'm certainly feeling cowardly
The fauna are just too much for one of our colleagues - she basically runs out of the water and refuses to go. The other three of us, though, continue on. It's not one of my best or favorite dives - the water is freezing and there's no ladder to get back in the boat.



Laurier, shown below, was a real trooper. It was his first time diving and I think he swallowed most of the ocean, but he's just smiling the whole time.

We were supposed to hit two dive sites, but after the first one the boat started to sink. Instead we just got our one dive in and called it good.

I actually enjoyed dinner this evening - it's amazing how much that can improve your mood.