Welcome to Red Sea Research

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About Us

Red Sea Research Team 2009 click to enlarge

ALL COURSES AND PROJECTS IN EGYPT ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO DELAYS IN LICENCE APPLICATIONS.

WE APOLOGISE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

COURSES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE UK

Our Mission

Red Sea Research is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing professional training to recreational and non-divers who wish to contribute to the future health of the environment we all enjoy so much.

Red Sea Research trains you in essential research methodology and survey data gathering techniques while earning an internationally recognised qualification. This qualification enables you to participate in marine research projects with confidence.

Red Sea Research has developed a modular scientific diving course aimed at training scientists and environmentally active recreational divers. It is our goal to establish a competent, experienced volunteer workforce capable of being an asset to any marine research project.

Red Sea Research courses increase a diver’s environmental awareness; we also provide an excellent grounding for marine science students in the diving techniques required to become a marine environmental academic.

A by-product of Red Sea Research courses includes the accumulation of relevant baseline data retrieved while conducting repetitive surveys during research diver training. This data allows us to ascertain any changes in the condition of the reef through the collection of comparative data, which is crucial to future environmental research. The scope of our courses will expand as volunteers gain knowledge and experience through actively participating in research projects and contributing to our understanding of the marine environment. As our volunteer membership increases, the number and variety of projects we can undertake will increase, which will benefit the environment and people it supports.

This progressive expansion will help us to further understand the complexities of tropical marine environments and the ecosystems they sustain, with the aim of preservation through understanding, experience and responsible reef management. Red Sea Research profits will be reintegrated into funding for ongoing and future research making our environmental projects self financing.

Video by Clive Hanna

About Us

The Red Sea Research facility is situated in Dahab, South Sinai, Egypt. Due to the large number of easily accessible dive sites and the diversity of marine life and habitats in the area Dahab is an ideal centre for marine research. Several international organisations conduct long-term marine and terrestrial research projects in the area. Red Sea Research has a fully equipped dive centre with access to research facilities that allows for academic field trips and gap year students.

Red Sea Reef Photo by R. Carey

Red Sea Research has a variety of internationally recognised courses to promote environmental awareness benefiting all divers from casual volunteers to committed research divers.

Our courses range from the four-day Eco Diver introductory course to a full five-week environmental Research diver course. Red Sea Research can arrange an itinerary from our modular range of courses to suit your organisation or club requirements. Red Sea Research courses are currently available in English, German, French and Arabic.

Getting there

The nearest international airport is Sharm El Sheik (one hour to Dahab by car) and can be reached via most international airports. This easy accessibility makes the Red Sea Research centre a cost effective and easily accessible destination for volunteer research diver training and serious marine research.

Dive Centre

Red Sea Research is based at Club Red dive centre. A well-established, fully equipped dive centre that meets all European and international safety requirements. The centre also has lecture and research facilities to accommodate scientific field trips, gap year students and volunteer divers wishing to participate in marine research projects.

Accommodation

Red Sea Research has accommodations to suit all budgets in and around the Dahab area from camp-style
dormitories to 5-star hotels, or Self catering apartments.

Red Sea Research courses

Red Sea Research diver courses are designed to enable both experienced and recently qualified recreational divers to

Buoyancy Control Circuit

take part in marine research projects and do so with the minimum of additional on-site training or supervision. Red Sea Research’s multilingual staff will teach divers to understand the terminology, procedures and methodology of data collection required by the International Marine research authorities. We also train students in the safety, planning, methodology and the practical applications of lift-bag use relevant to environmental projects. Red Sea Research trains divers to the level of competence required to be a useful asset to any marine research project while practising and conducting surveys and data retrieval techniques on several active sites.

Red Sea Research courses will increase the student’s environmental awareness while promoting organisational skills, problem solving abilities, self confidence and provide the social and technical skills required to allow a student to become an asset to any marine scientific research team.

Course prerequisite

Students must produce proof of certification to dive up to a depth 20 metres, with a minimum of 20 logged dives. Divers will be required to demonstrate their buoyancy, navigation and rescue skills before participating in RSR programs. Scuba courses can be provided if required.

Certification

A Red Sea Research diploma will be awarded for each module successfully completed with a log book is to record the modules, specialised courses completed and any surveys or research projects on which they have actively participated. A Red Sea Research ID card will be awarded to all students upon completing the basic skills practised in modules 1-4. The certification fee is applicable once only as courses are recorded in the logbook and updated in the Red Sea Research member’s database.

Membership

A membership number is given is given to all students upon enrolment and is printed on all further documentation. The membership fee is included in the initial course fee and will be deducted from future courses. An annual renewal fee of €15.00 is required to retain membership. Members will be invited to join research projects and specialised courses as well as receive an on-line monthly newsletter, internet updates and receive discounts on further education and accommodation expenses. Membership is available to non-divers allowing them to participate in shore- or boat-based projects.

Academic research

Relocating coral.

Red Sea Research can provide facilities and basic training for university field trips allowing the incorporation of our training modules with the university curriculum as required. Red Sea Research can also offer a limited number of work placements, intern-ships and can assist university students with their course dissertations.

Professional qualifications

At Red sea Research we can train and certify research diver trainers to the levels of Site supervisor, Assistant instructor and Red Sea Research Course instructor. These courses are available to students who hold current open water diving instructor certification issued by a recognised diving institution.

Research projects

Red Sea Research has developed an environmental survey program to thoroughly survey and monitor the coastal reefs and ecosystems within 48 kilometre section of the Gulf of Aqaba, from Ras Abu Galum to Nabq mangrove reserve. These baseline surveys include benthic, fish, sea-grass, coral, mangrove and bathymetric surveys as well as creating accurate O/S maps of the coasts underwater topography. The resulting data will be monitored by the South Sinai Marine Protectorate. Red Sea Research divers also assist with many independent and local projects, such as the placement of moorings, site entry and exit guide lines, debris removal, mammal, turtle and reef check programs amongst many other worthwhile environmental projects.