In September 2004 Eve and I spent a week at Shams Alam Beach Resort, fifty kilometres south of Marsa Alam.

Diving was provided by Wadi Gimal Diving Centre which offered a wide range of day boat trips but unfortunately windy conditions discouraged us from visiting us all but Torfa El Mesheich and Erg Gubar. However the resort had a large House Reef to explore with Bluespotted rays, Crocodilefish, large Groupers, Octopuses, Scorpionfish, Spanish Dancers, Titan Triggerfish and the occasional Turtle. 

Our excellent dive guides for this holiday were Essam El Mahdy for House Reef dives and Tim Brown for dives from Sultana II.