Following months of planning, training and fund raising, the time had finally come to begin the final phase of this expedition. During the build up to the expedition cadets had raised sponsorship through bag-packing, a 24 hour sponsored swim and approaching local businesses to seek donations. The cadets themselves took ownership for fund raising, thereby giving them new and valuable skills in financial management.
On 25th July 2010, 48 cadets and adult volunteers arrived at Sharm-el-Sheik Airport to realise their hard work. Greeted by temperatures of 40 degrees centigrade, the expedition team set about the task of completing their diving qualifications and learning about this unique, diverse and threatened underwater environment. The first 2 days saw the team complete their open water referral course dives, thereby completing their journey to an internationally recognised PADI diving qualification. The next 3 days saw the team diving some of the most beautiful coral reefs anywhere in the world where they were treated to encounters with sea turtles, moray eels, oceanic white tipped sharks, lion fish, barracudas and clown fish. This included a spectacular dive on the world famous Jackson’s Reef.
The diving experience was integrated with a dedicated conservation learning package, with cadets being taught about this unique dive location and how it and other such dive locations are affected by not only the diving industry, but also by the local socio-economic structure which in the past has threatened these environments, but are now working to restore them to former glories. The cadets learned how this is reflected by the strict local rules and regulations for interacting with the coral reef and its inhabitants, along with areas where diving is banned or restricted.
At the conclusion of the expedition, 48 tanned but weary team members returned to the UK with memories, skills and knowledge which will undoubtedly change their lives for ever. Without the hard work of the cadets and staff involved, along with the generosity of local businesses, Surrey Army Cadet Force Association, The Ulysses Trust and The Berlin Infantry Memorial Fund, this extraordinarily successful expedition would not have been possible and the team would like to extend our thanks to all concerned. Until next year……….