The Thirty Third of my Fourth donations goes to OCEARCH. OCEARCH is a non-profit, data-centric organisation built to help scientists collect previously unattainable data in the ocean.
You may have seen footage of them tagging and taking samples from huge sharks on a specially made submersible (and raiseable) pontoon:
OCEARCH is recognized as a world leader in generating scientific data related to tracking (telemetry), and biological studies of keystone marine species such as great white sharks, tiger sharks, and more. OCEARCH has embarked on 39 ocean research expeditions as of September 2020.
Their mission is to accelerate the ocean’s return to balance and abundance, through fearless innovations in scientific research, education, outreach, and policy using unique collaborations of individuals and organisations in the United States and abroad.
OCEARCH maintain a free open-sourced Shark Tracking service so you can see where individual sharks are in the world and how far they travel! This allows scientists, educators, and fans alike to learn about the never before documented movements of our ocean’s apex predators.
However, I could not get in touch with them for love nor money and despite the website being up and running, it doesn’t even seem to be registered on Google Maps.
I thought my luck had run out but on the contrary, it was only just beginning!
An intelligent and bold individual whom I hadn’t previously met their acquaintance messaged me to suggest we should meet 40 times in 40 different places and even proposed the first venue – Forti Pizzeria!
Mashallah, I am grateful for such blessings and people coming into my life.
We shared a Polli and had some drinks (menu can be downloaded via the above link) The Pizza was excellent but only Coke and Water on the menu and Sprite available if you asked – I’m not used to the drink selection being so limited.
In any case Forti was popular and based on the food and the service, it will remain so.
At the time of writing, Four Square have this restaurant rated as an 8.9 out of 10; Google reviews say 4.2 out of 5.
Ferrari developed and produced the F40 to celebrate their 40th Anniversary in 1987 so what better way to celebrate being 40 than to drive one?
I had a poster of a Ferrari F40 on my bedroom wall. I loved it in the 1980s and I’ve loved it ever since. It was the first production car to go over 200 miles per hour and remains the furthest evolution of no-nonsense, mechanical engineering.
With it’s lightweight carbon fibre body with only a thin coat of paint, back then, this was more like an race car with a road-going body kit and at the time was Ferrari’s fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car for sale.
In keeping with the car’s unique authenticity, it was also the last model produced that was personally approved by Enzo Ferrari himself.
Some consider it to be the best Ferrari ever made.
Just over a thousand of them came off the production line against an initial run of 400 and so they are rare now.
I remember seeing one on a family holiday from the back of the car as it crossed over a motorway bridge behind me and I still feel lucky!
I was sure I would find one locally and if not may be I could rent one somewhere fairly easily. I hadn’t really considered their current market value.
For example, whilst not completely factory original, recently this rare 1989 Ferrari F40 was the first motor to sell for over £1million on an online-only classic car auction platform:
In any case, remaining grateful for getting what I want, just not in exactly the same form I anticipated or expected, I made a video to capture my experience:
Essentially, the only Ferrari F40 I could find locally was an Authentic Ferrari branded Radio Controlled car! As luck would have it, the model was also on sale so I quickly clicked and collected.
As a child, I used to enjoy racing radio controlled cars. Of all the cars I had, by far my favourite was my Schumacher Cougar 2 Team Works Specification. I still have it although it is something of a classic bordering on a museum piece these days.
This was the first time I’ve ever driven a Radio Controlled car on a treadmill and keeping it lined up and in one relatively small area was actually quite good fun. The basic steering on this model F40 is digital and not progressive whatsoever. Taking this into account and not coming off the back end of the roller was quite a challenge – it was interesting to see how the F40s performance dwindled as the batteries ran out and for sure it ended up crashing off a couple of times as a result!
I had really good fun visiting the Ferrari dealership Fast Auto Technic dressed in all my Ferrari-related merch. and I’m super grateful to Ammar for allowing me to take photos, sit in and start the incredible F8 Tributo!
As luck would have it, I would finally come face-to-face with a Ferrari F40 at the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah Corniche in 2021. I was really made up, they are not common and obviously very valuable so to be allowed to get up close is unusual, based on my previous experiences.
The Terrence Higgins Trust is a charity that supports those living with HIV – they are the largest voluntary sector provider of HIV and sexual health services in the UK, running services out of local centres across Great Britain.
No one really wants to live with this; it’s not limited to any one section of society.
The Terrence Higgins Trust estimates that about 7% of the roughly 103,800 people living with the virus in the UK, do not know they are HIV positive.
Their vision for 2030 is that there will be no new HIV transmissions in the UK.
I’m extremely grateful to have had a great childhood, probably so much so that I haven’t wanted to grow up!
I recently travelled to see my Mother for her Birthday. Presenting myself for a week was just what we all needed after such a long time apart. Current restrictions meant that I had to quarantine for the duration but that proved to be a blessing in disguise as I enjoyed spending some time working in the garden.
It was during this time that my Mother popped out so my Sister and I started skiving off and messing about. I fixed up my Carrera Vulcan mountain bike and attempted to make the most of the property boundaries by creating a downhill course that went from highest corner of the property to the lowest opposite other.
Playing out with my Sister felt like we were ten years old on the school summer holidays without a care in the world. We had the weather and time and now the benefit of modern technology on our hands.
This was an experience that demonstrated ‘you’re only as young as you feel’ – even falling off into a bush did not deter me.
My Sister was so good on the camera we did the main bit in just one take although I did boss her about quite a bit – just like any self-respecting older Brother should!
I completed the course numerous times – it was really technical and fun, especially on those Continental Contact Reflective commuter tyres but I think we need a ski-lift installing to keep enjoying it all day!
The thirtieth of my 40 donations goes to World Animal Protection. What appealed to me what their Sea Change campaign that reduces the huge suffering caused by ‘ghost gear’ – abandoned fishing gear that turns oceans into death traps for sea animals. This is something I am passionate about having almost always returned from a dive with some cast off fishing gear or other rubbish in my pocket.
Spending longer underwater than some people work in a week sounds extreme but breaking it down into 40 one hour-long scuba dives way off shore in the Red Sea made it a pleasure, especially during the pandemic!
Most dives last around 1 hour. At least, that is what I typically aim for. Sometimes, if there is strong current or some other issue then they may be shorter and equally, provided that it is safe to do so, it may be worth hanging around under the surface a bit longer (like I did to spend more time with the shark under our boat in the below video).
Plan the Dive, Dive the Plan:
My plan was to do all the dives during the pandemic once domestic travel was possible. I therefore would do the following trips to try and achieve it:
Farazan Banks July 2020 (a total of 9 dives over 3 days) – cumulative total 9
Yanbu September 2020 (a total of 12 dives over 3 days) – cumulative total 21
Yanbu October 2020 (a total of 11 dives over 3 days) – cumulative total 32
Rabigh May 2021 (a total of 12 dives over 3 days) – cumulative total 44
I figured that with 44 dives to go at, I had a 10% buffer / margin of error to make up any shortfall. However, things don’t always go to plan…!
Highlights:
Being able to do this during the pandemic kept me sane; a few things really stand out so I have listed them below:
Interaction with a Silky Shark
Freediving the Aiona
My deepest dive to date
Having a reef named after me (Budgie Smuggler Reef, Marker 35)
Farazan Banks July 2020 (a total of 9 dives over 3 days):
We did 9 dives over the long weekend and had some amazing experiences including a very up close and personal encounter with a beautiful and inquisitive Silky Shark:
The dive sites were as follows:
Day 1:
Canyon Reef
Malathu Island
Shi’b Ammar Reef (night dive)
Day 2:
Belgium Reef
Malathu Island
Marmar Island
Shi’b Ammar Reef (night dive)
Day 3:
Aramco Reef
Aramco Reef
God laughs at people who make plans:
Due to an avoidable and thoroughly regrettable error on my part, I did not download the detailed data files from my dive computer before they were overwritten by the data from new dives. The computer records the total number of dives and has therefore recorded the dive took place but it only has capacity to hold the detailed data for 59 dives.
So, I can prove I was there and that I did 9 dives but if I rely on these dives, I will be unable to prove categorically that these dives equate to 9 of the 40 hours underwater!
This issue was exacerbated by me using my diving watch for freediving. Even when it is on Gauge mode, the number of dives racks up fast and risks overwriting important earlier dive data. I have addressed this by purchasing a separate watch, specifically for freediving.
I hereby commit to downloading my dive computer data after each and every trip going forward!
Moving on:
Since then, I managed to do the other 35 scuba dives so I’m confident that I have spent well over a total of 40 hours underwater. That being said, for the sake of completeness, I will gladly do another 5 dives to collect the 40 dives worth of data and post it on this blog.
For each dive, I’ve put a picture of the relevant dive maps or nautical charts below with some other links and photos etc. I’ve also included the detailed data from my dive computer for each of them. This allows you to see the maximum depth, total time, water temperature and dive profile of each dive, amongst other things.
Yanbu September 2020 (a total of 12 dives over 3 days):
Yanbu, KSA – nautical chart
The dive sites were as follows:
Day 1:
Aiona Wreck
Marker 32
Abu Galawa
Abu Galawa (night)
Day 2:
Mansi
Marker 39 Tes Tes
Marker 35 Budgie Smuggler Reef
Abu Galawa (night)
Day 3:
Marker 34
Marker 29
Shermo Reef / Aiona
Shermo Reef / Aiona (night)
Dive computer information and maps:
Aiona Wreck:
Marker 32:
Abu Galawa:
Abu Galawa (night):
Mansi (HH):
Marker 39 Tes Tes:
Marker 35 Budgie Smuggler Reef:
Abu Galawa:
Marker 34:
Marker 29 (no map available):
Shermo Reef / Aiona:
Shermo Reef / Aiona (night):
The sun setting at Shermo Reef
Yanbu October 2020 (a total of 11 dives over 3 days):
The Twenty Ninth of my 40 donations goes to Action for Dolphins (AFD). AFD aim to end Dolphin hunting (as if that is even a thing) and Dolphin captivity; AFD also strive to secure dolphins welfare rights and protection by law.
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to experience these incredibly talented and intelligent creatures you will appreciate they should be protected and left to swim free in the communities and environments they belong.
The aim of AFD is to stop cruelty to, and gain legal protection for, small cetaceans (dolphins and other small whales). AFD focuses on small cetaceans because these sentient animals do not have adequate legal protection, and are subjected to some of the most extreme cruelty inflicted on animals anywhere in the world.
AFD’s primary goal is to bring an end to unregulated and inhumane hunts that kill thousands of small cetaceans annually. Initially, AFD will focus on the devastating hunts taking place in Taiji, Japan.
AFD also works to end activities that harm Australia’s marine life and to end the practice of dolphin and whale captivity. Scientific studies suggest that dolphins and whales suffer in confinement. Therefore, AFD campaigns to have the practice of cetacean captivity abolished.
While AFD began in Australia, dolphins and whales need our help in many countries and, as such, our efforts to protect them are truly global.
Principles
AFD has the following core principles:
Its sole purpose is to improve the welfare of dolphins and whales
It will act lawfully, peacefully and respectfully
It will not denigrate or criticise the people of Japan or other countries in which dolphin hunting occurs – its argument is only with those few who are involved in the practice of dolphin hunting
It is committed to using donors’ money wisely, with the aim of maximising the benefit of each dollar for dolphins and whales
The Aiona is a wreck in the Red Sea. The story I was told is that the ship was captured from the British by German submariners in World War 2. The Germans gifted it to their Turkish allies who ran it onto a reef off the coast of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia and it’s been there ever since!
I’ve explored between 35 and 40 metres deep a number of times on this particular dive site and become familiar with it.
Here is a video of an earlier trip:
This 40s 4 40 trip, I was with a number of very experienced divers, none more so than my buddy. We wanted to know how deep the sea bed is and so took measurements in the sand, a few meters out from the propeller. Previously, I had only ever hovered above the sea bed, toward the top of the propeller.
By doing so we achieved a depth of 48.7 metres – that’s my deepest dive so far.
Diver above the starboard side of the propeller
Diver going through the starboard side of the propeller
A few metres from the propeller
My buddy depth checking the sea bed
The Port side of the propeller
Even though I was only 5 minutes into my dive, you can see from the below data how little time was available at that depth before I had to ascend to a more shallow depth to stay within no decompression dive limits (<2 minutes):
I descended to 48.7m in 5 minutes, took some pictures and headed back up
Clearly, I was aware of this and started to ascend too quickly for the dive computer’s liking; I was only 8 minutes into my dive and already on my ascent but within one minute of no decompression time!
Dive computer screen warning me to slow down on my ascent – note 1 minute of no deco time remains
Once I had added a few more minutes on my no decompression time by ascending, I slowed my assent rate appropriately.
My deepest dive to date – 48.7m
The rest of the dive was spent at a more shallow depth exploring the wreck itself and the reef to the North of it, before returning to the dive boat. The brief dip during the safety stop was to retrieve something.
Going beyond no decompression limits is not necessarily a problem provided you manage it correctly but I believe it is good practice to stay within no decompression limits when recreational diving unless exceptional circumstances and experience provide good enough reason to go beyond them (e.g. an emergency or something like a specific wreck or incredible marine life).
I experienced no negative effects during or after this dive. I’m left with a recollection of feeling lonely down there and it clearly being time to get back to the surface (full Buddy respect).
Suffice to say, it is of the utmost importance to always dive within your personal limits, relative to your qualifications and who you are with.
Here are some pictures of the Aiona from an earlier trip:
Being reasonably familiar with the Aiona and with the support of my friends and dive operator, I freedived the wreck. The highlight for me was penetrating the wreck through a hatch on the port side and swimming up through the hull of the wreck before exiting through its broken deck to re-surface.
You can watch more about the Aiona in the amazing documentary ‘Desert Seas’ by David Attenborough:
The twenty eighth of my 40 donations goes to the Shark Trust who are safeguarding the future of sharks through positive change. The Sharks Trust believe the best way to safeguard the future of sharks is through a solutions-based approach that promotes positive change.
The Sharks Trust’s conservation goals set the agenda for their work. They achieve their goals through projects and campaigns that bring together different players. All of their projects, campaigns, and policy actions drive progress towards these 3 key goals:
SPECIES PROTECTION – protection of endangered species through legislation and effective conservation action. Their Saving Species projects place science at the heart of conservation action.
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT – fisheries managed for sustainability to prevent declines in non-threatened species. They’re working to transform fisheries to prevent population decline through overfishing.
RESPONSIBLE TRADE – They promote responsible trade and reduced demand for non-sustainable shark products.
There’s lots of ways you can help. From raising awareness about shark conservation, to taking part in one of their citizen science projects – they’ve got something for all ages. Visit their Get Involved page to find out more.
