Mania--
Didn't your profile just show that you were from Gdansk?
I have DIN adapters -- we got two of them when we were living in Berlin before. They're just heavy as hell, for their size. I'd rather not have to take them. But maybe -- just in case. "Special tool" -- is that because your adapters are small enough to fit inside of the DIN valve? Ours are larger -- they have a large collar that can be tightened by hand.
Wife can't use dramamine, either -- it's related to scopalamine. Too bad... She had adhesive patches called Transderm Scop, that could be applied to her neck before boat trips. It would stay on underwater, too. Worked great for her, most of the time.
Until our last two dives in 1991, in Southern France. It was a German dive operation too, and they used small rubber boats. Water was a little choppy, but not too bad. After the dives, everyone on board -- I mean
everyone, but us -- immediately lit up their cigarettes. That did it for my wife... :nosmoke: :looking_a :nosmoke:
Though not quite as bad as off the coast of North Carolina once. Medium-sized boat, with 3-foot (1-meter) waves; about 10 miles (15 km) off shore. She was using dramamine. That was when the divemaster made his comment about how green she was. She didn't dive -- they just threw her off the boat with her BC inflated, tied to a line, while the rest of us dived. She was actually praying for some sharks to show up and finish her off.
I don't blame her for her reluctance about scuba diving now. I just need to find a nice calm dive with nice reefs.
There are some house reefs at Makadi just off shore from the hotel, and a lot of the Germans were saying that they were just as beautiful as the off-shore reefs. Until maybe later in the afternoon, when swimmers have kicked up the bottom and visibility suffered. Also supposed to be great night dives there.
Good tip about buying the medication right away down there. I've also heard that only local medication works, against local bugs. We'll be staying at the 5-star Iberotel Makadi Beach hotel, which is run by either Germans or Austrians. I've been reading a lot of excellent reviews from Germans that have been there, and I didn't see any complaints of stomach problems; in fact, the Germans were highlighting that they had no such problems. We'll be careful, and see. (I remember once, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico...)
Avoid drinks with ice? :11: Yeah, I know... but I'm an American. Gotta have drinks with ice. Wonder if the refrigerator in the room has a freezer?
--Marek
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mania:
Marek
The adapters they are probably using - I've seen it many times - is a simple part that you screw in or out of the tank valve. It's easy to use and they have them on every boat. But if you are not sure - I can give some of mine adapters including the special tool you need to put them in or out. So as I wrote - send me a PM or an e-mail -
mbnin@onet.pl
I'm really sorry to hear about your wife problems... Why don't you try Aviomarin - Polish medicine - or dramamine - you can get it in Egypt. As far as I know most of the dives are boat ones - Hurghada and Makkabi. Shore dives are done mainly in Dahab. As the sea - it shouldn't be too rough at that time of a year - but with sea you never know.
One more tip - as it was written here previously - be careful what you eat and what you drink - avoid drinks with ice, fresh fruits & veggies. And first thing you have to do is buy Antinal in a local pharmacy - it's good to have it. The different bacterias there cause stomach problems so it's worth avoiding it.
Hope you will have fun there and I'm sure that your son would love diving - Red Sea is probably one of the most beautifull places in the world.
Pozdrowienia
Mania
