Life aboard the Miss Nouran developed a rythm and pattern of its own very quickly.

Looking at the above two pictures, how long do you think we had been on board? Well that's Hurghada in the background, and we are on our way out. Not what you would call an uptight bunch are they? Funny thing was, as the week progressed everyone managed to reach new heights in the art of the relaxed pose.

Of course it wasn't all about lazing around in the sun, sleeping away the day. No, there was work to do. Our pixie-ish dive master (Gabi) and the expedition leaders worked many a minute planning the happenings of the day. Things like what site to go to, type of dive, who's turn to make the coffee, what to have for dinner etc. Long and detailed were the discussions about the coffee.

Of course the diving was what it was all about. We were lucky in that there were hardly ever any boats in our vicinity, apart from our shadow, which was another boat from the same company that was also going out to the Brother Islands. This isolation was a good thing as on those rare occassions when another boat was around some people preferred to call on the neighbours rather than come straight home after the dive (the inflatable with divers wasn't ours).

For those who returned to the Miss Nouran there was the ritual of recording the slate details, filling in logs, and telling anyone who would listen that you had seen more than they had, that what you saw was bigger, and that Sharkey and Happy had discovered four new species of (you guessed it) shark. All this while scoffing down biscuits (did everyone notice how there was always a box of them for us no matter what the time) and the free tea and coffee. I think I'm going all nostalgic here.

The cook and cabin crew were kind enough to run around and make a birthday cake for Kerry at short notice, and it was greatly enjoyed by everyone - except Kerry who couldn't eat it for dietary reasons. Still, it was a great effort on the part of the crew.

I have to include this picture showing absolute control. Throttle and steering with one foot. Brilliant.

Of course there were some bizarre happenings on board. Here is an odd photo showing how the Scots prepare for a dive.

To be blunt, life aboard was GREAT. What was the routine again?

What more could you want from life? I think these final pictures sum up how we felt at the end of the day. Thanks everyone for a really good trip.