I came back last night from a week's diving in Sharm with Explorers. Stayed
at the Ocean Bay and dived with Ocean College. No probs, no glitches, all
went like clockwork (my suitcases came out first at both ends of the
journey!), no delays, all excellent.

One incident, and not a minor one, marred the experience for some (not me)
and in fairness NOT Explorers responsibility though they are in a position
to do something about it.

At the check in at the usual well-oiled wheels of Sharm el Sheikh airport
(ha ha!) the check-in staff were adamant on wanting to take cash off divers
for checking in diving equipment REGARDLESS of the weight. The group of six
or eight in front of me were obvious divers, with diving brands emblazoned
on T shirts, hats, kit bags (and obviously NOT suitcases). They refused, and
rightly so. Explorers (Thomsons, TUI) start you off with 20kg and grant
another 5kg on production of diver certification. But these Egyptian
jobsworths were having none of it. In order to avoid payment they wanted to
see receipts or guarantees from the travel company that they had already
paid or were exempt from such charges. Of course none could be produced as
none are issued.

Eventually when the Explorers rep was called for, the argument disappeared
as fast as the officials who were clamouring for payment.

But the possibility remains that extortion might be applied by uniformed
officials at that end of the journey. I rang Explorers this morning to tell
them of the incident, that they might get in touch with officaldom in Egypt
to stamp out this improper practice. Unusually for Explorers, they were not
willing to look into the matter, or so I was led to believe. Sad days.

Ken