Hayah, meaning ‘Life’ in Arabic, is HEPCA’s most ambitious project yet. The project’s focus is raising awareness, providing education and encouraging active participation in sustainable environmental initiatives throughout the Red Sea.

Take a look at our Hayah project page for an outline on this project and our objectives. More information on this exciting community project will be released soon including a complete micro site dedicated to Hayah.

The HEPCA mooring team successfully completed work last week (6th April 2008) on an enhancement of the new mooring system at the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm.

Over the last three months since phase one of the conservation work and the installation of the 32 mooring lines at the site of the wreck, at least half of the lines have been damaged and some enhancements recommended for ease and safety. This follows a consultative meeting that was held in February in Sharm El Sheikh between HEPCA and Managers of several of the larger dive centres, and representatives of the CDWS and SSDM.

Divers from the HEPCA mooring team spent several days working on the mooring system and have lengthened the lines to minimum 18m depth. All the lines are now fitted with steel eyelets to make tying on easier, and each line has a buoy to aid easier identification. In addition, boats are no longer permitted to use the mooring system unless they throw an anchor from the stern. This extra stability should help to ensure that the lines do not become shredded by rubbing against the structure of the wreck in wind and strong currents.

It is hoped that these new enhancements to the system will eliminate any issues with diving operators using the mooring system and will ensure that all who visit the SS Thistlegorm comply with its use. This additional work was undertaken with minimum disruption and without the need for closure of the wreck.

HEPCA thank everyone for your understanding, cooperation and support.

Is Earth Day already in your diary? Have you planned an event or organised a clean up of your favourite dive site, beach or other area? Earth Day takes place on April 22nd 2008. This is the largest annual environmental event that is celebrated simultaneously around the globe by more than half a billion people.

Here in the Red Sea, hundreds of people of all ages will be celebrating Earth Day and giving their time to help ensure our beautiful environment stays that way.

HEPCA invites you to participate this Earth Day. We are already working with a number of schools, hotels, dive centres and other organisations on events and educational projects on and around April 22nd 2008. We would like you to be involved. HEPCA can supply bags for rubbish collection, mesh bags for water use, banners and other materials to help you with you mark Earth Day 2008. Please contact us for assistance.

Earth Day 2008 is also the official launch date of HEPCA’s most ambitious project yet. HAYAH, meaning ‘Life’ in Arabic, focuses on environmental citizenship: raising awareness, providing education, and encouraging active participation in sustainable environmental initiatives throughout the Red Sea.

HAYAH will be launched on April 22nd 2008, but this project is not a one-off, one-day event. A full program of environmental actions, ongoing projects and awareness materials and resources will be rolled out over the coming months.

More information on this exciting community project will be released soon.