Adolescent Napoleon Wrasse

FOTW National Geographic Diver Hilary Says... "You can tell how mature a Napoleon Wrasse is by the size of the lump on the forehead. I am really please to have seen a number of lump less Napoleon Wrasse this year in Sharm. Although they remain an endangered species they appear to be doing their best to buck the trend"

FOTW and Wikileaks

With the prospect of anonymous cyber louts spamming our servers and depriving our wide web reradership from logging on for their weekly fish fix FOTW editors would like to make it quite clear that we have never had any relations with Wikileaks.

Having said that it does appear that World Leaders having been exposed for the stupid pillocks that they are, are now pretty pissed off. Once its appreciated that in the brave new information rich world indiscretions will out, the world will change.

And before you say it, we at FOTW do not read the Mail!

Arabian Angelfish

A signature fish of the Red Sea.

FOTW divers understand the importance of spotting your signature fish.

FOTW Top tips for avoiding back injuries

Following the recent discomfort of our very own Fish affairs editor FOTw have decided to give some tops tips on how to avoid backache.

Here they are....

1. Avoid strenuous activities like digging over allotments in cold weather.

2. Avoid picking up Grand Children, they may look cuddly but they are deceptively heavy. Probably some thing to do with the full nappy.

3. Do not try any position past page 12 of the Kama sutra, These should be left to the under 25's or fully trained olympic athletes

4. Wear elasticated girdles. Also surprisingly warm in winter months and invisible to the naked eye.

5. Take lots of relaxing holidays to tropical waters and go diving....

FOTW Top tip for International Airports

If you were on the Thomas cook flight out of Sharm el Shiekh on Sunday 6th Nov you will understand why this is such a top tip and appreciate to whom it is directed. If you want to call yourself an International Airport then

a) do not close the airport delaying a dozen incoming flights and more outgoing flights whilst four poxy single seater attempt to perform a second rate aerobatics display over the main run way. You just do not do it. Remember why Sharm is Sharm and no longer a small walled town a million miles form no where, and ...

b) do not allow the local mafia to welcome you on your arrival with a rate of 250 Egyptian pounds to cover the 12 clicks Taxi ride into Naama Bay. Some people were likened to various parts of the Camels anatomy, (Its a good job I can restrain my Wife) You may have nice new shiny cars but they are not Rolls Royce's.

The alledged Turtle

For the doubting Thomas on the recent FOTW trip to the sun here is the photographic evidence of the spotted turtle. Circumstances were not ideal, running close to my no decompression limit I had been forced to leave the sand bottom at 15 metres to commence my safety stop. Contrary to popular believe we do not go to any length to get the photos brought to you on FOTW. It's probably the worst ever photo of a turtle taken by a sighted scuba diver . Nevertheless its real evidence........

Forthcoming top tips from FOTW

No doubt now you have dried out your dry suits, you will be looking forward to more top tips from FOTW.

Our very own current fish affairs editor Pete will be disseminating some top tips from his considerable under water experience on deployment of delayed surface marker buoys.

I am also hoping that Pete will have some handy tips on dealing with getting the best from Egyptian waiters... not really fish related but potentially dead useful for those of planning on eating out in Egypt this winter.

Keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks.

Silver Damselfish

Up front and in your mask, these little buggers often spoil good underwater composition. This time round he became the focus of my attention. Only once mind because as far a fish goes they are pretty boring really.

Giant Moray

This big head was protruding out from a coral head in search of passing food or maybe a friendly cleaner wrasse. I doubt he was expecting a FOTW flash photography bearing down on him.

Surgeon Fish

Black on blue. A striking image of a happy smiley fish.

Note from the FOTW Editor

FOTW would like to point out that this Top Tip is not the result of a mishap experienced by a FOTW diver, but is just really good advice.

FOTW Top Tip No 2 Peeing in Your Dry Suit

Dont even think about it.

Crocodile fish or a lumpy bit of coral?

Even though this thing was four or five long, when it digs itself in to a coral strewn sandy bottom it is quite easy to swim right by. Fortunately for FOTW bloggers I didn't and captured this image for you.

Lion Fish

This fine specimen was seen out in the mid day sun by FOTW divers whilst his mates snoozed away tuck up under the coral head behind.

FOTW Top Tip No.1 Deploying Delayed Surface Marker Buoys

While diving off a liveaboard in Thailand it was a boat rule that every buddy pair carry a delayed surface marker buoy (SMB), I was handed a basic model with a five metre string wrapped around the rolled up marker buoy. On the end of the string was a small weight. Nothing fancy, no reel to get stuck and drag you unexpectedly to the surface. When you get to five metres unwind it, give it a two second blast of air from your octopus and let it go, catching the weight. What could be simpler. Well I learn the hard way what the buoyancy force of a fully inflated SMB is, as the thin cord inadvertently looped itself around my little finger as I inflated it and proceeded to drag me up to the surface by my pinky. So much for safety. Fortunately there was nothing over head and the dive had not been particularly long or deep but it was a painful way to end a dive and one that I am not particularly keen to experience again. I suggest you don't either.

Unicorn fish

Usually timid and camera shy, thesethree unicorn were spotted by FOTW divers gliding along a reef wall near Hurghada.

FOTW Top Tips - New feature

As we all know that Scuba diving is a very safety conscious sport. After all if you get it wrong there are a number of rather nasty outcomes such as drowning, drifting off into a shipping lanes and getting mown down by a tanker or getting shredded by a twit on a jet ski to name but a few.

To contribute to safe diving we at FOTW thoguht it would be good idea to pass on our top tips to safe diving. Practical tips based on under water experiences of the FOTW team. Watch this space........