Sharm el Sheikh 2007

Rhianedd Jones, my diving instructor. Quick pronunciation guide: The first name is pronounced Rhianeth (called Rhi which is pronunced "Ree"), which is an old Welsh word meaning maiden or princess.

Diver entering the water by menas of the "Giant Stride" (basically, hold on to your mask and regulator and take a big step into the water).

Wetsuits and equipment at the lower deck.

Buoyancy Control Device (BCD, the vest-like thing) with air tank and regulator + pressure gauge. The BCD is an inflatable vest. Together with the weight belt, the wetsuit and your natural buoyancy, you use it to control your ascending and descending. Mostly, though, you use your lungs as a control device and use the BCD for neutral trim.

The first-stage of the regulator attached to the tank valve. This part takes 200 bar tank air and turns it into 7-10bar medium-pressure air. The medium pressure air is then delivered at ambient pressure through the mouthpiece by the second stage demand valve.

Another type of valve called a DIN-valve. It can use higher pressures than the K-valve used in the previous picture.

Main room.

You don't see them in the streets much either - occasionally, a veiled one can be seen, almost always accompanied by a man. (This picture was taken at El Mercato.)