Welcome to Red Sea Research

Contact

General Information: info@redsearesearch.org

Jonty Laycock: jonty@redsearesearch.org (Managing Director)

Sarah Fryirs: sarah@redsearesearch.org (Managing Director)

Dr Nichola Fletcher: nicky@redsearesearch.org (Science Co-ordinator)

Douglas Biggs: doug@redsearesearch.org (Instructor Trainer - english)

Juergen Donauer: juergen@redsearesearch.org (Instructor Trainer - german)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jonty Laycock - Managing Director and Instructor Trainer

I have degrees in mechanical/marine engineering and have received extensive training as part of an offshore search and recovery team.  For the last 14 years I have been travelling extensively through South East Asia and East Africa, working in the tourism industry as an adventure resort manager and scuba diving instructor. I have also been involved in the set up and operation of marine national parks in Bunakan, Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia and, on Pemba and Masali islands off the coast of Tanzania.  Since 2004 I have been living and working in Dahab, South Sinai as a scuba diving instructor.  I am the course director of Red Sea Research and oversee the general operations of the course along with instructing the scuba diving modules.

Dr Nichola Fletcher BSc (hons) PhD - Science Co-ordinator

I graduated from Scarborough’s centre for environmental and marine science in 2004 with a first class degree in marine biology.  From here I undertook a PhD in behavioural ecology at the University of Hull completing this is 2007.  I have since been working as a post doctoral researcher with the chemical and sensory ecology research group at Hull University focussing on the reproductive behaviour of the European shore crab.  I have tropical field experience in both the Caribbean and Asia.  At Red Sea Research I am responsible for the scientific operations of the course, running both, the marine biology and benthic surveying modules as well as co-ordinating ongoing science projects.

Douglas Biggs - Instructor Trainer and Course Co-ordinator (english)

I have qualifications in Mechanical Engineering, Commercial Diving and 32 years as a front line officer in the British Fire Service. My original introduction to diving came from the BSAC through the Army (where I obtained the level of Open Water Instructor) and then on to Commercial Diving. I crossed over to PADI in 1996 and worked within the training and retail side of diving. I have also been trained as a regulator service engineer and gas blender. As part of Red Sea Research I will be responsible for manufacturing, acquiring and maintenance of all equipment required on the courses, as well as being an instructor on the courses.

Juergen Donauer - Instructor Trainer and Course Co-ordinator (german)

I was always very interested in the underwater world and in 1998 I began my diving career in Thailand, I was 28 years old and loved it immediately.  By 2003, after many hours spent holiday diving, I took my PADI dive master course.  Two years later I became an instructor.  I am now a diving instructor for VEST/CMAS and PADI and I am qualified as a technical diver with TDI and IANTD for open circuit and closed circuit re-breathers (CCR).  I have been in Dahab for 2.5 years and my work at Red Sea Research involves dive instructor training and co-ordination.  I am also the liaison for German participants and responsible for the design and maintenance of RSR’s databases and website.