#69 June 2016

Dive centre roundup
EDA Digital Online 2016

The Red Sea
The wonderful end to Wills journey
Saving UAE Dolphins
Check Inside
SCUBAPRO MANTIS 2 DIVING COMPUTER
from SCUBA MARINE
Now distributed across the UAE!
Price
10.00 AED
10.00 QAR
1.00 OMR
It Starts Here:
DEAD2
COMES
TO LIFE!
Outdoor Education:
LEARNING
THROUGH
ADVENTURE
Vol. 6, No. 6
June 2016
www.OutdoorUAE.com
Dealers:
Showroom:
Salam Street, Abu Dhabi, UAE
GPS: 24.482060, 54.384863
P.O. Box: 126690
Tel.: +971 2 644 6211
Fax.: +971 2 644 6212
E-Mail: [email protected]
Authorized Dealer:
DIVE ATLANTIS, ATLANTIS THE PALM

PO BOX 211222, Crescent Road, The Palm, Dubai, UAE
Tel. +971 4 426 3409
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.atlantisthepalm.com/marine-water-park/
diving-courses/padi-courses
X-MARINE
PO Box: 95950, Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 221119, Fax: +971 4 2292244 | Email: [email protected]
BARRACUDA DIVING CENTER

PO Box: 8854 , FUJAIRAH UAE
Tel: +971 9 2225580 / +971 50 1101445
Email: [email protected]
EMIRATES DIVING CENTER
Sharjah, UAE | Tel: +971 6 5655990 | Fax: +971 6 5655994
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.emiratesdivingcentre.ae
MAGELLAN MARINE DIVING CENTER
Ajman St., Seaport near Customs Ajman, UAE
Mobile No. 050-1684777
AL JAZEERA DIVING & SWIMMING CENTER
Al Hamra Fort Hotel, Al Jazeera Al Hamra
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE | Tel: +971 7 2445331
MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
JUNE 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM
OutdoorUAE Team
Daniel Birkhofer
Founder and General manager
[email protected]
Curtain Call
For every journey we undertake, be it going camping, plunging into the deep
blue sea, or climbing a mountain, we are made aware that it is always a fleeting
experience. The view we see at the top, the fog after waking up at 7:00 a.m. inside
the tent, or the silence of the sea they are all temporary, and its not a bad thing.
Why not? Some may ask. This is because they then become memories, memories we can be fond
of and memories we can choose to remember. Did you know that according to recent research in
psychology, we have a delete button built inside our brains? This function determines which things
we remember and which gets deleted during our sleep. Thus, we have the power to control what
we choose to become memories or not. For the majority, we always choose to remember the happy
times.
It has been a challenging yet beautiful year at OutdoorUAE. There have been a lot of fun times,
and it was a learning experience so to speak. It was great to be a part of the team, seeing places
here and there and looking at the UAE from a totally different perspective. I wasnt really an outdoor
person to begin with, but being a part of the team quickly changed that. Ive ran an obstacle course,
rafted on waves, fell off a SUP, climbed a wall, tried out a skateboard, rode a
4x4 and many more experiences that I owe to this wonderful magazine.
That being said, this issue will be my swan song. Take a look inside, take
the plunge (pun intended) and see stories about shipwrecks, schools of fish
and corals all hiding underneath the deep blue. Other than that, check out
our comprehensive guide on diving centres and stores if youd like to get
Keith Perea
started in diving or if youre looking for your next trip.
Junior Editor & Social Media
And with that, exit stage left.
[email protected]
Editor
For editorial content and press releases
Tel: 04-447 2030
Mobile: 055 5760322
[email protected]
Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries)
Tel: 04-447 2030
Mobile: 055 8647125
[email protected]
Mobile: 055 9398915
[email protected]
Published by
Outdoor UAE FZE
In cooperation with A2Z EVENTS
P.O. Box 215062
Dubai, U.A.E.
Cover photo by: Neil Andrea
Tel. 04-447 2030

[email protected]
www.outdooruae.com
Distributor
Dar Al Hikma LLC
P.O. Box 2007, Dubai, UAE
Tel. 04-266 5394
Printed at
GN Printing
P.O. Box 6519, Dubai, UAE
2016 Outdoor UAE FZE
Vol. 6, No. 6, June 2016
Get to us on Facebook!
2016 Outdoor UAE FZE

Reg. at Creative City Fujairah
P.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.
Nela Macovei
Business Development Manager
[email protected]
Margo Ciruelos
Sales and Marketing
[email protected]
Ireneo Jung Francisco

Designer and Photographer
[email protected]
Katherine Caedo Patangui

Administration
[email protected]
Ian Sebeldia
Circulation
EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS
Kit Belen
Our fishing pro
Dan Wright
Freelance wilderness guide in the UAE
Jake Lyle
Diving and Watersport Expert
www.OutdoorUAE.com
Facebook.com/OutdoorUAE
Twitter.com/OutdoorUAE
Helle Bachofen Von Echt

Elite Women Cyclist
Instagram.com/OutdoorUAE
The information contained is for general use only.

We have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been
obtained from reliable sources. The publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in
this magazine is provided without a full guarantee of completeness, accuracy and chronology. In
no event will the publisher and/or any of our affiliates be held responsible for decisions made or
action taken in reliance on the information in this magazine.
All contents are copyrighted and may not be
reproduced in any form without prior written
permission.
Rachael Bruford
Travel Editor
[email protected]
WHEN YOURE
DONE READING,
PLEASE RECYCLE!
Marina Bruce
The Desert Diva and
off-road expert
Ivana Chiles
Health coach and outdoor enthusiast
CONTENTS
8 EDAS UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM COMPETITION
18 ACROSS ARABIAN SEAS: THE FINALE
32 NATURAL HISTORY
EVERY ISSUE
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
06 EVENTS CALENDAR
07 BEST SHOTS
44 PRODUCTS
63 DIRECTORY
18 ACROSS ARABIAN SEAS: THE FINALE

22 DEAD2: THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS
23 CAVE OF THE MASTERS
24 A TRIP TO HEAVEN ON EARTH: THE WINDUP
26 NOMADS ROAD
28 BELIZE: TROUT BUMS IN PERMIT PARADISE
EVENT & ACTIVITY REPORTS
LIFESTYLE
08 EDAS UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY

AND FILM COMPETITION
12 DESTINATION MARATHON: PARIS
14 WILD DOLPHINS
16 TAKING THE PLUNGE
32 NATURAL HISTORY
34 HABITUALLY HEALTHY
36 HEALTH POWERHOUSE
38 DIVE LISTINGS
42 FAMILY CAMPING ADVENTURE IN OMAN
OUTDOORUAE
53 2016 YAMAHA FZR WAVERUNNER
54 JEBEL AKHDAR IN THE SUMMER - MARINA
61 DIVING FITNESS BY FITNESS FIRST
TRIED + TESTED
PEOPLE
45 2XU ACTIVE MATERNITY TIGHTS

47 MXDUBAI POLARIS RZR RACE ATV TOUR
49 SUUNTO ZOOP NOVO
51 ALL NEW FORD EDGE
53 2016 YAMAHA FZR WAVERUNNER
59 TOUFIC ABOUNADER: HIKING

60 OFFROADERS CORNER: GERAINTS
LAND ROVER DOUBLE CAB
OUR EXPERTS
TIPS + TRICKS
54 JEBEL AKHDAR IN THE SUMMER - MARINA

56 WOMEN ON WHEELS - HELLE
58 WANTED: NEW KAYAK - KIT
61 DIVING FITNESS BY FITNESS FIRST

62 OUTDOOR EDUCATION
OUTDOORUAE
EVENTS CALENDAR
STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS
JUNE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
30
J
U
N
E
TRAINZSC
Weave up and down through the Zayed Sports City Stadium every last Thursday of the month.
When: June 30th
Where: Zayed Sports City
Contact: www.trainzsc.com
05
J
U
N
E
10
J
U
N
E
DUBAI SPORTS WORLD
STAIR CLIMB TRAINING
When: June 5th-August 27th

Where: Dubai World Trade Centre
Contact: www.dubaisportsworld.ae
When: June 10th

Where: Almas Towers
Contact: www.gulf4good.org
The famous summer indoor training venue is back.

Who says adventure stops in summer?
JUNE
06
RUNMADAN CHALLENGE SEASON 4
30 days of running from one mosque to another

and back to the start after.
Free training hosted by Gulf for Good during the

hot month of June.
JUNE
15
When: June 6th

Where: Anywhere in Dubai
Contact: www.premieronline.com
JUNE
08
NAD AL SHEBA SPORTS

TOURNAMENT 2016
The annual NASS is back with its range

of competitions in order to promote active living
in the UAE.
When: June 8th-27th
Where: NAS Sports Complex
Contact: www.nasst.ae
#THEADMOVEMENT AT GOYAS
Take your training to the next level with more

activities focused on fitness, nutrition and
well-being.
When: June 15th
Where: Yas Marina Circuit
Contact: www.yasmarinacircuit.com
JUNE
24
SSCB CENTURY RIDES POWERED
180km, 161km or 100km. Which one is your kind

of cycling ride?
When: June 24th
Where: Al Qudra Cycle Course
Contact: www.race-me-events.com
BEST SHOTS
Here are the best shots sent in by you for our monthly photography competition! Thank you for all your entries, they were all great and it
was hard selecting the best photos this month. Congratulations to the top three winners, who will each receive Buff headwear, five free copies
of the magazine and the Advance Off-road Guidebook: Shammas Mattil Kadampuzha, John Henzell and Jithesh Sundar. Well done!
Shammas Mattil Kadampuzha

Taken from Delma Island
John Henzell
Camping in a Dark Part of the Desert South of Al Khatim
Jithesh Sundar
Al Ain - Tilapia Lake
OUTDOORUAE
DIGITAL ONLINE 2016
Words by: Emirates Diving Association
awareness towards environmental concerns

for the UAE waters.
Now in its eighth year, Digital

Online 2016 has seen the growth
of underwater photography participation, the enthusiasm, and the
passion step up to another level.
The event has attained equal success with non-divers, who came
to support the participants at the
Awards and Exhibition, held at the
American University in Dubai from
26th-31st May.
The Prizes
Digital Online was established in 2009 by

Marcelo Mariozi, a professional underwater
photographer who had previously been
involved in the organisation and set up of
underwater photography competitions in
his native country of Brazil. As there were
no other underwater photography competitions existing in the UAE at the time, Digital
Online was introduced by EDA for resident
photographers to introduce those unfamiliar
with the underwater world to this unique
environment. The film category was introduced as an extension to the competition in
2012, with the aim of sharing our underwater world through motion pictures.
For the 2016 event, several new participants claimed recognition while past
participants also presented their work. The
huge number of contestants and photographs shown at the gallery proves that
the underwater photography community is
steadily growing in the region, thus raising
EDA handed it over to their online audience

to pick their favourite photos and videos
from Digital Onlines 2016 collection, via
their Facebook page. The photos with the
most likes received first, second and third
places respectively, and the winning video
received an overall winner nomination as
well as a medal and a UV Protection Top
from iQ-UV.
First place photo won an additional dive
trip with Al Boom Diving on the east coast
and the first place video won a dive trip with
The Dive Centre, with a choice to dive either
the west coast or east coast.
Digital Onlines 19 prize sponsors gave this

years lucky winners 26 prizes to choose
from. Congratulations to all of this years
participants for taking part and sharing their
underwater photos and videos. Participants
were only able to win one prize or prize
package each. Entrants with multiple winning entries were given priority in the points
awarded and the participant with the highest score took the prize. The winners were
then able to choose their own prizes from
the options available.
The Peoples Choice Awards
The Sponsors
Sponsors of prizes for 2016 included: BFC

Travel Management, Tourism Malaysia,
Philippines Department of Tourism, Azure
Dive & Yoga Resort, Marco Vincent Dive
Resort, Al Marsa Musandam, Canon, Grand
Stores, Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel
Villa Resort and Al Mahara Diving Center,

Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Fujairah,
Millennium Resort Mussanah Oman and
Oman Sail, Nomad Ocean Adventures, Atoll
Scuba, The Dive Centre, MTM Marine LLC,
and Al Boom Diving.
The Judges
Digital Onlines guest judgeswere Imran

Ahmad, Jonathan Ali Khan and Christophe
Chellapermal.
EDA Digital Online would like to thank
their printing sponsor, Print Works, who
provide all the prints for the Digital Online
exhibitions each year.
THE WINNING RESULTS

Simone Caprodossi 1652
Overall Digital Online DSLR/MILC winner
John Hager 1212
Overall Digital Online Compact Winner
Pablo Jimnez Novoa 443
Overal Digital Online Video Winner
Yousef Alshekaili 1257
Uae National Photography Award
Video 1st Place Winner, Blue Ocean
BFC Travel Management
Destination Package 5 Days/4 nights in Bali, Indonesia
DSLR/MILC 1st Place Winners

Levente Rozsahegyi 444
Wide Angle
Philippines Department of Tourism | Azure Dive & Yoga
Resort | Destination Package 5 days/4 nights superior
deluxe accommodation for one person in Dumaguete,
Philippines
David Robinson 425

Macro
Tourism Malaysia | Destination Package 5 days / 4
nights to Sipadan, Malaysia
Yousi Falali 410

Black & White
Philippines Department Of Tourism | Marco Vincent Dive
Resort | Destination Package 6 days / 5 nights with
breakfast and 12 Guided Dives for one person in Puerto
Galera, Mindoro, Philippines
Khalid Obaid 406

Black & White
BFC Travel Management | Destination Package 4 days /
3 nights in Terengganu, Malaysia
Compact 1st Place Winners

8
OUTDOORUAE
Rima Jabado 420

Compact
Canon | EOS 700D + 18-55 DC
Kelly Tymburski 410

Black & White
Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort & Al
Mahara Diving Center | 2 nights stay at Anantara Sir
Baniyas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort in one bedroom villa
for 2 with sumptuous breakfast in the Savannah Grill
Restaurant & 2 dives (tank & weights included)
Andy Jones 396

Best of the UAE
Compact 2nd Place Winners

John Hager 413
Compact
Nomad Ocean Adventures | Tdiccr Air Diluent Diver
Course in Musandam, Oman
Simon Croshaw 376

Black & White
Grand Stores | Rollei Action Cam 7S Wifi
Atoll Scuba | a package of 10 dives with Atoll Scuba on

the Island of Dhiffushi in the Maldives for one diver
Jurgens Swarts 367

Best of the UAE
Alaa Khalil 401

Video 2nd Place Winner
Nomad Ocean Adventures | Tdi Advanced Nitrox

Course in Fujairah
Blue Ocean
Al Marsamusandam | 2 nights liveaboard trip in the
Musandam
DSLR/MILC 2nd Place Winners

Simone Caprodossi 426
Wide Angle
BFC Travel Management | Destination Package 4 days /
3 nights in Aqaba, Jordan
Abdulla Almehairai 414

Macro
MTM Marine LLC | Mares Abyss 22 Nitrox Din Regulator
Stewart Clarke 400

Best of the UAE
Millennium Resort Mussanah and Oman Sail Dive Centre,
Oman | 2 nights stay for two adults in superior room,
room only basis, valid from 30th April until 30th December 2016 with 2 tank dive package
Mohamed Abdulla 398

Black & White
Canon | Powershotg7 X
Khaled Sultani 382

Video 3rd Place Winner
Blue Ocean, Canon | Powershot D30
(Underwater Camera)
DSLR/MILC 3rd Place Winners

Iyad Suleyman 409
Wide Angle
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort and Spa | Summer
Promotion 2 nights stay during summer months in a superior room with breakfast buffet for 2 at views restaurant
Sijmon De Waal 395

Best of the UAE
Compact 3rd Place Winners

Jayme Rush 374
Black & White
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort and Spa | weekend
night stay in a superior room inclusive of breakfast buffet
for two at views restaurant
Nuraan Al Hashmi 371

Compact
MTM Marine LLC | Mares Cruise Captain Bag

Best of the UAE
Nomad Ocean Adventures | Underwater
Photography Book by Tobias Friedrich
The Peoples Choice Awards

Abdulla Ahmed Almehairi
1st Place Photo
IQ-UV | UV protection you wear | www.iq-uv.com
Al Boom Diving | Voucher for 2 dives on East Coast with
full equipment for one diver
Leventeroz Sahegyi
2nd Place Photo
Aamer Sulaiman
3rd Place Photo
MTM Marine LLC | Mares Dragon at BCD
Rylan Lee 392

Macro
Ahmed Alnaqbi
Video Peoples Choice Award
Grand Stores | [Qudos] Action Light by Knog
Steven Board 381

Black & White

The Dive Centre | Voucher for 2 complimentary dives for
one person from either the Dubai or Fujairah Dive Centre
Nomad Ocean Adventures | 2 days / 2 nights, Chalet

Package (4 dives) for 2 in Musandam, Oman
Rima Jabado, 1st Place - Compact
Andy Jones, 1st Place - Best of the UAE
Khalid Obaid, 2nd Place - Best of UAE
David Robinson, 1st Place - Macro
Levente Rozsahegyi, 2nd Place - Wide Angle
Simone Caprodossi, 2nd Place - Wide Angle
Jurgens Swarts, 2nd Place - Best of the UAE
John Hager, 2nd Place - Compact
Mohamed Abdulla, 2nd Place - Black & White
Stewart Clarke, 2nd Place - Best of the UAE
Pablo Jimnez Novoa, 3rd Place - Best of UAE
Rylan Louis Lee, 2nd Place - Macro
Steven Board, 3rd Place - Black & White
Nuraan Al Hashmi, 3rd Place - Compact
Sijmon de Waal, 3rd Place - Best of the UAE
EVENT REPORT
Destination Marathon:
Par is
Words by: Nada El Sawy
There are many reasons to run

a destination marathon: a new goal, a
change of scenery, or an opportunity to
combine it with a vacation. Some aim to
run the six marathon majors, while others
look for marathons in interesting cities.
It is certainly what attracts many to the
Paris marathon, described on its website
as 42.195km in the most beautiful city in
the world.
The Paris marathon was my fourth. I had
run the Los Angeles marathon twice in
college, and the Dubai marathon in 2010. I
wanted to run a destination marathon, but
the majors have their challenges, including
qualification times, oversubscribed lotteries, and complicated logistics. What is great
about Paris is that you get a scenic, well-organised, big marathon, and all you have to
do is sign up. As an added bonus, the marathon coincided with our three kids Spring
Break, so we made it a family vacation.
Preparation
For many months prior to the Paris marathon

I had been training with the Desert Road
Runners clubin Dubai and had run several
races, including half marathons, 10Ks, and
goal visualisation would subconsciously

get me to my target time (mind over body,
right?).
The remaining time before the marathon
I focused on not tiring myself out too much.
On Saturday there was the option of participating in the 5K Breakfast Run, but I said,
no way! to that. Instead, the kids participated in their own race, 1.2 km for the 5-7
year olds and 2.2 km for the 8-10 year olds,
at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
The night before the big day, there was
nothing else to do except eat pasta, hydrate, and lay out my gear. I was still debating whether to wear a T-shirt or a singlet, but
settled on a T-shirt, figuring there was no
way I would be too hot.
The final stretch before the finish line in a flurry of emotion
5Ks. I set a 3:30 time for my marathon training plan, although I knew that was ambitious. My personal best was 3:49:09 in LA
15 years ago. However, I did have a more
reachable goal: to qualify for Boston. The
qualifying time for my age group is 3:40, but
I would have to beat that by a few minutes.
Last yearthere were so many applicants that
only those under 3:37:30 were accepted.
Marathon day
On marathon day, I wore an Emirates

Airlines pyjama shirt over my clothes as my
throw-away shirt and also put a trash bag
over it, which actually was completely unnecessary and looked rather silly (leave it to
a cold-weather novice to make that mistake).
I downed a cup of green tea and a sports
drink, ate my banana and peanut butter
power bar, and then hopped on the metro,
The days before the race
Post-race family pic on the streets of Paris
12
OUTDOORUAE
The weather in Paris was cold (around 1015C high) and rainy in the days before the
race, and I was obsessively checking the
forecast for marathon day. On the Thursday
before the marathon I went for a run in the
pouring rain, wearing two layers and a rain
jacket, and came back with frozen hands.
On Friday I went to the expo to pick up
my race bib. I also picked up my ASICS pace
band, a wrist bracelet with ones projected
5km split times. I chose 5.05 as my average
pace, which would leave me with a finish
time of 3:34:29. I then sought to calm my
nerves in the Lululemon meditation bubble.
We were told to write down our goal time
and then listen to a five-minute monologue
in French. I mainly grasped your mind is
stronger than your body and you have
already arrived. I was just hoping that the
Lululemon meditation bubble
Start line with Arc de Triomphe
marathon, you then run in

between a pretend brick wall
Mur de 30. I did not appreciate the reminder, but felt
grateful that I had not hit the
wall yet.
At 31 km I knew there would
be the only isostar energy
drinks station on the entire
course, so I made sure to grab
a cup. At 32 km I saw my
family again, this time with
my sunglasses. I yelled Love
you guys! with a smile on
my face just before entering
the Bois de Boulogne, the
forest at the back end of the
course.
Then at 33 km my legs
suddenly cramped up. This
was the longest distance I
had run before the marathon and it was as if my legs
were telling me no more.
I felt I had no choice but to
stop to the side and stretch.
When I looked at my 34
km split time, it was 6:18. I
could feel that this was the
moment when my goal of
3:37 went down the drain.
I told myself that I could
still have a strong finish
andI got back on track
with 5-minute splits. I
saw my family two more
times, at 35 km and 40
km. By this time there were no more smiles,
just a feeling of overwhelming emotion that
it would all be over soon. When the finish
line came into view, with tears in my eyes, I
gritted my teeth and gave it all I had. Finish
time: 3:39:18.
I was disappointed that I had not reached
my target, but happy that I still took 10
minutes off my PB. I would definitely recommend the Paris Marathon for first-timers and
veterans alike. Although crowded, it is a
beautiful course. There was no shortage of
spectators, many yelling allez, allez! (go,
go!) and some even calling me by name.
My favourite spectator sign of the race aptly
sums up the marathon experience: PAIN is
just the French word for bread.
and sugar cubes, as well as gels at

a few. At the 10km mark, I had my
gel and a banana piece. I checked
my time (50:34), which was within
seconds of my pace band time.
By this timeI had entered the
Bois de Vincennes, one of the two
forests on the course. I had heard
that spectators would be limited in
those areas, but there were plenty
of people supporting, as well as
loud drumming bands. It was here
that many male runners took the
opportunity to dash off into the
trees to answer the call of nature.
As far as I was concerned, that was
not an option for me!
Post-race Arc de Triomphe
When I found portable toilets
shortly after the 15 km mark, I
On the course
decided this was my chance. It was when I
As I started running, facing directly into the
started running again that I began to get a
sun, I immediately regretted not bringing my
side cramp. Oh no, I thought, its much
sunglasses and also wearing a black T-shirt.
too early for problems.A man next to me
Its ok, I told myself, my husband and kids
told me in French to breathe deeply. Jai
had said they would meet me around 2.5km.
mal ici (I have pain here), I told him in my
I would just ask for my sunglasses then.
basic French, pointing to my side. Respirez
We passed a few notable sights early on,
par le nez (breathe through the nose), he
including the Place de la Concorde and the
told me. Le nez! he repeated again, as
Tuileries gardens. When we reached the
he ran off. I breathed through the pain, but
Louvre, I anxiously looked for my family, but
clocked in 5:30 splits for 16 and 17km.
could not find them anywhere. Over the
At 20km, I saw my husband and kids. I
next few kilometres, I kept my eyes out for
told them, Finally! and then yelled, I
them, but it was hopeless. I tried to keep foneed my sunglasses! as I ran by. My huscused on my race, happy that I was on track
band fumbled around, but I knew I would
with five-minute splits.
have to wait until the next meeting point
I planned to have water at the stations
Next years Paris Marathon takes place on
to get them. I reached the halfway mark at
every 5km and food at the stations every
9th April. The first phase of registrations has
1:48:39. Only a minute off from my pace
10km. I had brought my own GUgel, two
already closed, but the second phase
band, I thought, still ok.
isostarpte de fruits, and energy jelly
begins on 5th September, 2016. To enter,
Running back into the city along the
beans in my waist pack. The food stations
visit asochallenges.com.
Seine river were the most scenic parts of the
had piles of dried fruits, bananas, oranges,
route, including Notre Dame and the Muse All smiles towards the beginning of the race
dOrsay. But this is also where the series of
dreaded tunnels began. I had heard about
the long tunnel de Tuileries that lasts for 1.5
km, which was filled with techno music and
bright lights last year. This year, however,
the organisers chose a zen-like atmosphere
with spa music and pictures of the Maldives
(not exactly the energising kick you need in
a marathon).
Thankfully, when you emerge, you are
rewarded with a view of the Eiffel Tower at
Running past the Place de La
29 km. But, lest you forget you are running a
Concorde & Tuileries gardens
filled with fellow runners.
We surfaced at the majestic Arc
de Triomphe, where the race starts
and ends. I knew that the lack of
toilets would be a problem, so
I allowed around 20 minutes to
stand in line and it did take that
long. I then jogged to my pen on
the worlds most famous avenue,
the Champs-Elyses, feeling the
excitement build.
There were 43,317 runners
at the start a new record.The
weather was sunny and beautiful,
around 16C. The staggered start
times worked very efficiently and I
set off with the massive crowds.
ACTIVITY REPORT
Words + Photos by: Dr. Ada Natoli
When I first moved to Dubai,

I was looking forward to exploring
the desert and its exotic creatures.
But when I realised that there was
a lack of information about dolphins
and whales in the Gulf, I thought
that if I was able to contribute to
something in the UAE, it should
be about what I know best: wild
dolphins.
It stillastonishes me how little we, both
scientists and people in general, know about
the ocean and its life. Despite advances
in research and awareness,our knowledge
just scrapes the surface of the blue world.
Indeed, water is not our natural media and
unless we really put effort into it, life in the
ocean can really pass by unnoticed. I still
clearly remember, during one of the research
boat surveys I was participating in, this 18
meters long whale surfacing just beside a leisure sailing boat and its passengers sunbathing on the deck, totally unaware: they simply
didnt see it!
Dolphins in the UAE follow a similar fate.
People do not even consider the remote
possibility to see dolphins in Dubai or Abu
Dhabi, except indolphinariums. Instead, wild
dolphins live on our doorsteps, many times
visible from busy coastlines such as Palm
Jumeirah in Dubai or Saadiyat Island in Abu
Dhabi. What we know about them, including
how many there are out there, which species,
if they are in decline or not, is close to nothing.
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OUTDOORUAE
Origins
Whales and dolphins are simply amazing

creatures, an example of ultimate adaptation to a totally unsuitable environment. Just
think how hard it is for us to stay totally in
water for more than few hours! Like humans,
theyin fact descend fromterrestrial mammals
that about 50 million years ago decided
to colonise the water environment. They
breathe air, they are warm-blooded creatures
like us and to be able to spend their whole
life in water, they had to undertake massive
adaptation. The posterior limbs withdrew,
leaving space for a powerful tail that functions as a propeller. A thick layer of fat developed under their skin, creating a natural insulator to keep the body temperature constant
(and this is what the whalers for centuries
were after, bringing some populations to
the brink of extinction). Hairs and external
appendixes disappeared,creating a sleek and
smooth skin to minimize friction;the nose
became a blowhole migrating to the nape
and allowing swimming and breathing at the
same time,and ears became only internal.
They optimised their underwater sight and

mastered the utilisation of sound to communicate across oceans and to echolocate their
preys even in the abyss. They perfected free
diving techniques - some species of whales
can spend over two hours underwater reaching depths of 2,000 metres.
Today have counted about 90 different
species of whales and dolphins, four of those
inhabiting fresh waters, but fossil remains
proved the existence of about 593 different
species that roamed our oceans in the past.
Whales and dolphins are extremely social
animals that rely on the group to feed,
defend themselves, migrate and reproduce.
Long-term bonds among individuals are
common; aside from mother and calf pairs,
best friends are frequently seen together
and deaths are mourned.
Thanks to latest research, today we know
that a whales sound can be heard from one
side of the ocean to the other, and that is
how whales can find each other again after
their periodical migration from the cold
feeding grounds at the poles to the breeding grounds at the equator. We know that
different populations have different dialects,
and long-term studies on resident dolphin
populations revealed that individual dolphins
call each other specific names as we do.
Still, in many areas and for many
species of dolphins and whales information
is limited and new species are continuously
discovered. Unfortunately some also
disappear; the bajii was a type of dolphin

inhabiting the Yangtze River and it is the first
mammal species declared extinct in modern
times (2006). Today there are some species of dolphins and populations of whales,
like the Vaquita in Baja California, Mexico,
and the Arabian Humpback Whale in the
Northern Indian Ocean, Oman, that are on
the brink of extinction with less than 100
individuals left.
Our work
To protect a species there are few crucial

steps that need to be taken. We need to
know which species it is,people need to
know about its existence, its importance in
the environment and what they can do to
help its survival. The authorities also have
to be informed with sound scientific data
in order to be able to implement effective
conservation actions.
When I started looking at information about dolphins in the UAE, the only
data available was from two aerial surveys
conducted in 1986 and 1999 in the Abu
Dhabi region. Comparing the numbers of
the surveys, researchers estimate a 71%
decline in dolphin sightings. Other information regarding the species presence came
from a mass stranding that happened in
Iran in 2007 and a survey across the Gulf in
1994. Not very much at all! However, from a
questionnaire run in 2012, the majority of the
sea users interviewed in Dubai said that they
encounter dolphins occasionally, but interestingly most of the sightings were within 5
miles from shore and occurred recently; an
indication that dolphins were still present in
these waters.
The UAE dolphin project initiative was
born to investigate the status of the dolphin
population inhabiting along the UAE coastline with the target of providing the national
and international bodies with useful information to assist the formulation of conservation
plans to protect them and to raise public
awareness about the existence of these species.
It may sound easy to say but this implies a
monumental effort, especially when people
do not know that these creatures exist!So,
after a year-long campaign trying to convince the authority and potential sponsors to
support the quest of studying these elusive
dolphins, in 2014 we ran the first year long
survey dedicated to coastal dolphins ever
conducted in the Gulf.
Dubai dolphins
Dubai has its own wild dolphins and if you

want to see them, you simply need to keep
your eyes open when at sea or at the beach
and it will happen. There are actually two
species of dolphins and one species of porpoise frequenting Dubai waters: the
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphin, the Indo

Pacific Humpback dolphin and the shy, finless porpoise.
One of the powerful techniques utilised by
researchers is photo-identification. Individual
dolphins can be univocally identified by their
dorsal fin, which with time usually accumulates indelible notches and marks. Taking
pictures of all the individuals at each encounter, researchers can estimate the population
size, whether the population is resident and
thesocial structure: who hangs out with who,
mother and calf pairs and the survival rate.
After spending over 300 hours at sea,
covering about 2,000 miles following transects between Port Rashid and Jebel Ali,
the analysis of over 7,300 pictures gave its
results.
Throughout the 20 encounters of dolphins,
we observed 212 dolphins, but looking at
the pictures they are actually much less, as
many of them are the same individuals coming back again in the same areas. We now
recognise 92 bottlenose dolphins and 23
humpback dolphins that frequent Dubai waters. Humpback dolphins are more resident
with a resighting rate of about 40%, with bottlenose dolphins at about 20%. Calves were
observed in both species, suggesting that
both species breed in the area. We can now
follow a number of mother-calfcouples, and
in both species we unfortunately witnessed
the disappearance of a calf.
Your work
As much as researchers can be skilled, they

are at best one boat and a few eyes screening the immense sea. Since the start of the
project one of our main targets was to let
everyone know that there were dolphins in
the UAE and that everyone could actively
help the research.We launched a Report a
Sighting system where everyone who sees
dolphins can report their sighting. This data
is crucial information as itgives us an idea
of hotspot areas for dolphins and potential
targets for future investigation.
Thanks to numerous supporters, we
reached out to diving centers, marinas,
schools, universities and the general
public. We know we are still a long way from
being able to say that we have reached
everyone, but to date we are proud to count

over 350 sightings reported by the public
in our database. Among these are sightings of rare species like killer whales, false
killer whales, Brydes whales and strandings.
Based on these data, we identified some
areas of high frequency for dolphins like the
waters outside Emirates Palace and Saadiyat
Island in Abu Dhabi and Kite Beach and The
Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Furthermore, since
December 2015 and thanks to the support
of TDIC and local venues, we have started
a land based survey on Saadiyat Island to
better investigate the presence of dolphins
along that coastline.
Special thanks goes out to everyone
who supports us: Dubai Municipality, who
provided us with the scientific permit, Duretti
Boat Manufacturing, Dubai Marina Yacht
Club, Salini-Impregilo, ITP Publishing, SuzukiAutosport, Superprogetti, all the volunteers
that participate in the field work, students
from Dubai and Abu Dhabi schools, and everyone that reported sightings and supports
our awareness campaign.
What can you do to help

protect dolphins in theUAE
Whenever you are at sea on a boat or on

land, keep an eye on the water, and if you
see dolphins REPORT YOUR SIGHTING!
Your information is invaluable to researchers and will help them to further understand
the occurrence and distribution of these
creatures.
Simply take note of the date, time and
approximate location. If you can, identify the
species and take a picture. You may help us
to track one of the dolphins we have already
met. If you can, take note of the approximate
number and check for the presence of calves.
You can report your sightings through the
project website www.uaedolphinproject.org,
or through the projects Facebook, Twitter or
Instagram accounts.
Ada Natoli has been conducting research
on whales and dolphins for the past 20
years in different areas of the world. She
is part of the IUCN Cetaceans Specialist
list and is involved in the International
Whaling Commission as well as collaborating with a number of International
Universities.She has extensive experience
in field-work and specialised in population genetics applied to conservation.
She gained a PhD in Molecular Ecology
of two species of dolphins, bottlenose
and common dolphins, investigating
their population structure world-wide and
in specific areas like the Mediterranean
Sea, South Africa and New Zealand. Her
results have contributed to support the
formulation of conservation measures of
these species in different countries.
ACTIVITY REPORT
Taking
the plunge
How braving the underwater
world can open up a whole
world of adventure, both above
and below sea level
Words by: Rachael Bruford
Photos by: Stewart Clarke and Anna Wren
Although Ive been diving since

2007, back in the days when I
could still class myself as being
mid twenties, Im not one of those
people who have racked up hundreds of dives and spent a fortune
on equipment.
However, diving has had a huge impact on
my life in so many ways aside from numbers
and gear. From the friends Ive made to the
places Ive travelled, life could have been
very different if Id not visited that swimming
pool in the UK nearly ten years ago. It was
that first lesson on a September evening
which then lead to a diving holiday in Egypt,
which ultimately resulted in me moving to
Cairo less than a year later and beginning a
life of travel and other outdoor pursuits that
I previously didnt even dream of. Ive met

people along the way who have remained
good friends, and Ive been lucky enough to
dive in some of the most sought after locations around the globe.
But perhaps more interestingly, diving has
given me so much more in terms of character building,and I am without a doubt a very
different person now to that nervous girl
fiddling with her dry suit before tentatively
stepping into that freezing quarry in Lancashire, UK, on a cold February morning.
Its given me strength. Not only the
physical strength needed to propel oneself
through the water and scramble back on to
the boat, drenched and exhausted, but also
the mental strength to face my fears and
step out of my comfort zone, into an environment where I do not have total control.
It has taught me to trust those around me,
from my dive buddy and my equipment,
to myself. When I first started diving, I was
not particularly well travelled, but this soon

changed as I began to ask questions such
as, if the underwater world was so incredible, what else was I missing out on? Travel
soon became a regular part of my life, and
I frequently looked for new and exotic locations in which to dive whilst I was planning
trips. The fact that I mainly travelled solo,
plus the nature of diving itself, forced me
to become much more self reliant, braving stressful situations with a calmness that
would have been impossible before, taking
as many steps as possible to minimise risk,
but never using my own fear as an excuse to
miss out on a spectacular experience.
Below, we hear from others abouthow
diving has changed their lives, and find out
what they love about this other worldly pursuit. Travel and meeting like minded people
are themes that resonate throughout,
demonstrating that whilst the underwater
habitat may not be our natural environment,
its certainly one were drawn to time and
time again.
Angelia Keever
I got into diving as a hobby to share with

my would be husband. I loved diving in
Roatan, Honduras. It has had a very positive
impact on my life and has encouraged me
to keep going. From the first day of class,
crying about the uncomfortable feeling, to
now wanting to learn more and be stronger,
it has given me a strength in an area that I
felt weak before.
Anna Wren
I decided to do my open water course about

12 years ago because I wanted to swim with
fish. I completed that course in Dubai and
did my advanced course a few years later in
Egypt. As the years have passed and more
dive sites have been visited, my addiction to
this sport has grown and Ive become harder
to please. Ive just spent 5 days in LayangLayang diving with Hammerhead sharks,
and it was definitely the best diving Ive ever
done (so far!). Its a remote man-made island
300km off the coast of Malaysia which is
perched upon a huge atoll, surrounded by
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OUTDOORUAE
pristine reefs and inhabited by the majestic

scalloped hammerhead shark. We were even
lucky enough to have a school of around
100 swimming with us yesterday.
The Maldives and Sipadan are also in my
top five dive sites because there is just so
much to see on each dive. Diving definitely
shapes my holidays now and being single its
a great way to travel on my own and meet
like minded people without having to do
tours. It costs me a fortune, especially when
I go to the remote destinations, but Im
happy to spend money on such an incredible sport that allows me a glimpse into
an alien world full of life and beauty whilst
travelling and experiencing new cultures at
the same time.
dive. It was just me and my buddy, a fantastic wreck and with phosphorescent plankton
creating sparkles with our movements, it was
magical! Ive always loved travelling and the
diving community are like one big family. I
know I can travel on my own and meet fun
people with a common interest. Divers all
want each other to have the best dive each
time and share stories well into the evening.
I find diving very calming and a great way to
relieve stress. To be able to see the beautiful corals, underwater landscapes and meet
some fish is fantastic.
the club. 200+ dives later, diving has taken

me to some amazing locations around the
world and given me a heap of friends and
experiences I would otherwise never have
met. Its an awesome experience to share
with people and allows me to combine a
love of the ocean with an interest in underwater photography.
Locally, I love Musandam, where Ive
been lucky enough to see whale sharks; and
Dibba Rock where you can usually count on
seeing a turtle or three. Of the places Ive
been fortunate enough to visit in the rest of
the world, my favourites have been Sipadan
in Malaysia for the sheer variety of underwater life, and the Maldives for the ultimate
luxury diving holiday experience.
Stewart Clarke
Claire Barker
Rosanna Dale
I got into diving because I booked a two

week holiday to the Maldives and thought
I might get bored! My favourite three
places to dive are Hin Deng in Thailand for
the amazing Manta Rays, the Blue Hole in
Belize, and my favourite wreck called the
Liberty in Bali, which we did as a dawn shore
After a disastrous try dive one holiday

in Greece, where I was thrown into open
water with little to no introduction to the
equipment, I was determined to overcome
the bad experience and signed up to my
university dive club. Despite doing my open
water training in Plymouth in murky waters
and freezing February conditions, I loved the
challenge, the (extremely patient!) instructors and all the other people I met through
The underwater world has always fascinated

me, so back in 2000 I decided to complete
the PADI Open Water course whilst on
holiday in Egypt. However, it was only really
after spending time working in Saudi Arabia
and then the UAE that I got into diving
properly and bought my own gear. Then I
became passionate about Underwater Photography and the rest is history.
As a keen Underwater Photographer with
a particular fondness for Nudibranch (Sea
Slugs), my favourite place to dive is Anilao in
the Philippines. The Verde Island passage is
recognised as the most biologically diverse
marine habitat on the planet and is a great
place for photographers.
Within the UAE, the east coast offers
the best diving. Recently, a few of us have
been shore diving and finding some very
interesting creatures and habitats. I cant
really disclose the exact location, but we are
making some very surprising discoveries.
This however could be due to ballast water
dispersal from the oil tankers bringing in
invasive species.
Diving has certainly opened my horizons
with regards to travel. I certainly wouldnt
have considered travelling to some of the
remote locations like Lembeh in North
Sulawesi, Indonesia if it hadnt been for diving. Also a few years ago I took a sabbatical
and spent two months living on a beach in
the Seychelles carrying out coral surveys and
diving three times a day. Ive also become a
full blown Nudibranch nerd; to date I have
records for over 260 species found in the
waters of the UAE - many of which are
undescribed in science.
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17
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
The Finale: Exploring the wonders

of the Red Sea, on land and water
Words + Photos by: Will Pardoe
The Red Sea holds incredible

treasures above and below the
surface. Sunken ships have become
magical underwater gardens,
and Jacques Cousteaus futuristic
submarine habitats remain for
modern aquanauts. On land, the
epic temples and pyramids of Egypt
sit God-like in their timelessness,
while in Sudan the scenes from
ancient times live on in everyday life.
In the dunes and desert towns of Sudan,
we had travelled back a thousand years. In
my mind, this is one of the greatest wonders of all; a living history. We sailed out of
Suakin past the wooden fishing dhows and
row boats, bound for a different treasure;
the SS Umbria.
Time bomb
In the summer of 1940, the Italian cargo ship

SS Umbria
Zac & the Propeller

Bombs in the darkness
Umbria had been steaming for Eritrea, laden

with 360,000 bombs for its colonial troops.
With the Second World War already underway, it was forced to anchor by the British
off Port Sudan. Next morning, hearing over
the radio that Italy had entered the war, the
captain secretly ordered his ship to be scuttled, preventing its deadly cargo from falling
into the hands of the Allies. More than eight
thousand tonnes of explosives and war materials sank to the bottom... Fancy a dive?
The massive hulk of the Umbria looms as
we descend into the clear blue waters. We
slip through the superstructure of the stern
and glide through alleyways towards the
open cargo holds. The wooden deck has
rotted away, revealing the neatly stacked
bombs; stacks and stacks of bombs! The
ship settled on the reef at 60, so this
temperamental cargo is alarmingly angled.
Bombs and detonator fuses lie strewn across
the cargo hold. Serene columns of light fall
through the portholes onto the equivalent
of half a Hiroshima bomb; its eerie, and
beautiful.
We continue along the encrusted cor-
ridors; a vivid mix of greens and blues, with

nonchalant fish floating around, like extras
on a set. It feels peculiar to be floating
where men once walked and talked, generations ago. The corridor leads to the bridge,
and as we linger in this wide room it almost
feels like the Titanic, with its quiet history.
There are so many dark rooms and corridors
inviting exploration, down and down into
the heart of this behemoth. It is an otherworldly playground, and I must return here!
Lighthouse for coffee
On our way north we stop at Sanganeb
Inside Jacques Cousteaus submarine hanger
The Urchin
Reef, famous for its hammerhead sharks.

We do a colourful wall dive, but the hammerheads remain illusive. The lighthouse
makes up for it though, and after we climb
down from the top (where a clear horizon
reveals the curvature of the Earth), the
friendly keepers welcome us for coffee. They
are port officials who stay out here for two
weeks and return to Port Sudan for six. The
lighthouse is very relaxed; it is like their holiday home out on the sea. They spend their
time chatting and smoking cigarettes, and
welcoming the occasional visitors; mostly
dive boats. Our coffee break is concluded
by an enchanting call to prayer that resonates throughout the lighthouse.
The Life Aquatic
I was very excited to dive on Jacques

Cousteaus underwater research station at
Shaab Rumi. In 1963, five of his Calypso
crew lived for a month in the Conshelf II
submarine habitat. Part-funded by the oil industry, their role was to study the practicality
of using undersea bases for the exploitation
of the sea. As divers, of course, their interest was in the sea life and the potential for
humans to live in such habitats in the future;
Cousteau eventually cut his ties with oil and
concentrated on conservation. The 1964
documentary of this experiment, World
Without Sun, won an academy award; it is
an amazing combination of an old Bond film
and The Abyss, in real life.
The living quarters, nicknamed the
Starfish, was removed, but the UFO-like
submarine hangar, named the Urchin for its
shape, still sits there today on the edge of a
drop-off.
Above water, Shaab Rumi tells nothing of
the legend beneath. We anchor our dinghy
near the narrow channel that Cousteau
Under construction
Egyptian at the Rameseum
blasted through the coral. Swimming in the

direction the habitat should be, I round a
coral outcrop and the Urchin appears before
me. Even with the regulator in mouth, I let
out a Woooow!. It seems almost holy...
Slowly, we descend beneath the alien
structure and rise up into its dome. There
is a dim light cast by the portholes, but it is
empty except for a small metal table, where
a plump fish sits watching us. Hello gentlemen... he seems to say, Ive been expecting you. He seems to fit into this whole
fantasy.
The Urchin is still air-tight above the portholes, and we break through the silvery ceiling into a pocket of air; the old respiration
of past divers. Ten meters down, we take off
our regulators and laugh and whoop! What
a place! But what a stench; I have to put my
regulator back in to breathe some imported
air.
The dives we did in Sudan were just
spectacular, and totally unique; I never
expected to dive on a space-station under
the sea, nor on a mountain of dynamite.
And being in Sudan, these sites are still
undisturbed by mass tourism, though they
are accessible by live-aboard from southern
Egypt.
Into Egypt
We put away the tanks, raised the dinghy,

unfurled the sail and settled into the cockpit
- our next port of call was 650km north. For
more than a week we followed the coastal
mountains and plains, waiting out the windiest days anchored in desolate bays. Wind
alone is fine, but it builds up the waves and
that is what becomes uncomfortable and
dangerous. Finally, after sunset one night,
we pulled into a marina in Marsa Alam,
Egypt. What a luxury it is to simply step off
the boat onto solid ground.
The real luxury of Marsa Alam was that
there were other boats. It had just been
me and the captain for 3 months, on many
long passages and through obscure places
without much of a common language.
Being a social person I was craving simple
friendship. I was amazed to see a UAE flag
flying from the boat next to us! A couple of
friendly Italians were delivering it from Muscat to Turkey. There was also an American
family, who had three Royal Marine security
personnel aboard for the Gulf of Aden.
These guys were quite jealous to hear of our
encounter with pirates; they wanted to see
action. Instead they had to relax on a yacht
The Ramesseum
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19
for three weeks. The family had not touched

land since leaving the Maldives, 18 days
before. It seemed a shame they had rushed
through such a unique part of the world, taking the risks but missing the rewards.
We enjoyed the simple pleasures of being
back in civilisation; coffee shops, internet,
new faces, and of course - amber nectar! A
Spaniard docked next to us on a small boat,
so we had him and the Italians aboard for a
pasta evening, digging through the drinks
cupboard for Zacs mysterious liquids from
around the world. They cooked the pasta
and we supplied the merriment. Spontaneous boat parties are something I love most
about the sailing life.
Our friends set off and we took the opportunity to go and see Luxor. We drove
through the rocky landscape until we met
the Nile Valley, where a solid line of green
ended the desert abruptly. Lush fields and
palm trees explained Egypts ancient wealth,
cultivating the worlds biggest oasis. I was
thrilled to see the culture still alive. We had
passed donkey caravans riding through the
desert, and in the Nile oasis, beautifully
robed Egyptians were driving donkey carts
piled with sugar cane and grasses.

Egyptian Wedding
On the first night I ended up at an Egyptian wedding, invited by a cousin wed met
at lunch. Wandering through the narrow
streets, a colourful marquee appeared,
with all the neighbourhood in attendance.

I sat with the men, smoking herbal shisha,
with cheeky children crowding around. A
sword fight was played out in traditional
dance, and as it always seems to happen, I
was called to join them. Surrounded by the
children, I cut loose with my headdress; then
I was given the sword, and the children were
cleared from the arena. It was enchanting to
watch, and though I didnt do it any justice
myself, it was great fun to swing a sword in
combative dance!
To give the whole picture though, I was
pestered for money by the children, and
even some of the adults. This was quite a
theme in Egypt, and though understandable, it definitely detracted from the country.
Money always cheapens an experience,
and it was really in contrast to Sudan, where
even a beggar would not beg if you did not
offer.
Something indisputable is the incredible
wealth of ancient monuments. UNESCO
World Heritage sites were sitting quietly by
the roadsides, without a person in sight. We
decided to investigate one, and we found
ourselves alone, wandering beneath the
immense hieroglyphed columns in a temple
complex of Ramesses II. In the silence of the
desert, it felt like we could be the first explorers to find these ruins. In fact, amongst
the hieroglyphs were ornately chiselled graffiti of names from the 1800s.
Another highlight was the Step Pyramid.
At 4,600 years old, it is the oldest pyramid
in Egypt, built 100 years before the Great
Pyramids. Its showing its age, and in 2011
an extensive restoration began. This is
actually what made it so cool; we arrived
to find wooden scaffolding all up the side,
with jellabiya-clad Egyptians hauling stones
up with ropes and pulleys. It was as if the
pyramid was still being built!
There was a film crew up in the scaffolding, and I got into conversation with an
Egyptian man who was working with them.
When it is finished, it will look like new he
said. I asked him if that was the right thing
to do. I believe, yes. If we leave it now,
it will all turn to ashes and dust. he said,
looking up at the pyramid, Then what do
we have? Ashes, and dust.

Into the Pyramid
Egyptian wedding
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The Red Pyramid was Egypts first successful smooth-sided pyramid, the third attempt
by Pharaoh Sneferu who built the infamous
Bent Pyramid. It used to be a polished
white, but as with the Great Pyramids, the
limestone capstones were carted off in Medieval times for other buildings.
Its one thing to see a pyramid, and its
another to go inside. I was amazed to see
steps leading up to an opening. No way! We
climbed up the steps and found a tight shaft
leading down and down into the heart of
the tomb. After 200ft of stooped shuffling,
the shaft opened up into a vaulted chamber;
a cathedral inside a pyramid. Woah, I heard
Nile Valley
myself say, which echoed around the tiered

ceiling. I followed a corridor into a second
vaulted chamber, where steps had been
built to access a shaft in the roof. This lead
into the burial chamber; another 50ft high
chasm with a million tonnes (literally) of rock
above it. Just incredible.
And we were the only car in the car-park.
Now is the time to go to Egypt.
Suez Canal
We continued up the coast, fighting the

north winds and hiding in bays until we
reached the port of Suez. There at the dock
were the friendly boats of the Spaniard and
Italians. It was great to see them again, tying
it all together at the very end of the Red
Sea. They left with their canal pilots early
the next morning, bound for the Mediterranean.
The Suez Canal has no locks, so it isnt
particularly interesting; its 193km through
dirty desert. There is a fortified wall along
the northern shore, with regular garrisons,
and periodical floating bridges ready ashore
for troop movements. Every boat requires
a canal pilot, and it took us three days to
go through mostly spent waiting for the
pilots! And they couldnt speak English, so
the Arabic proved useful again. I kept them
happy with hummus, dates, foul maddems
and sweet tea. Finally, we reached the Mediterranean waters of Port Said. The Indian
Ocean, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Red
Sea were all a crazy memory.
The End
From a trip that was set into motion while

reading a thread about piracy in the Gulf of
Aden, perhaps what transpired was to be
expected... All I can really say is Wow. Runins with pirates, Yemeni rebels, helicopter
gunships and Poseidon himself; not to mention the Bedouin of Sudan and the monuments of ancient
Egypt. The Red
Sea was especially amazing,
and Im already
cooking up ways
to get back.
Activity Report
Diving
Rachael Bruford
FEBRUARY 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
The Countdown Begins

Words + Photos By: Chris and Amanda Fraser
Chris and I first met at YasWaterworlds Survival of the Fittest

team competition in 2013a fitting beginning for two of the most
competitive souls on the planet.
Shortly after meeting, Chris told
me about his plans to drive his car
back to Durban via the east coast
of Africa; a dream that was slowly
becoming a reality after purchasing
his Toyota Prado and a large world
map. I was in! After a spontaneous trip to Nepal, the relationship
status changed and my hopes of
tagging along were looking up.
Three years later and we found ourselves
married! Slowly, the plans started coming
together and I was able to add in my two
cents about the route. Suddenly, the trip
went from East Africa to most of Africa and
Southern Europe, and from six months to
one year.
And so the DEAD2 (DubaiEurope
AfricaDurban) journey was born. Thirtysix countries over one year. The route and
timeline have changed almost regularly and
both are likely to change further. Starting
22 July from Durban, the road trip loops
through East Africabefore cutting across
Zambia and Angola. We then head north
throughout West Africa, detouring to the
islands of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde.
We finish our trip crossing Southern Europe,
ultimately returning to Dubai via the ferry
from Iran.
As mentioned, the purchase of a brand
new Toyota Pradogot the ball rolling for
the DEAD2 journey. Growing up, Chris was
fortunate enough to be exposed to some
of the harshest offroad environments in the
world. In his experience it was very clear:
Toyota was king. Choosing a model would
be the only deciding factor. After several offroad trips in the UAE and Oman, it was
decided that this integral part of our trip

would need a name. Read more about Magellan and all of the modifications required
for our journey in next months article.
For a trip of this extent, careful planning
was required. We considered such factors as
migration patterns, regional weather, safety
concerns, and the most popular times for
the fish to bite. From this point, a tentative
route was mapped out in order to estimate
total kilometers and fuel costs. This would
help to create one of the most important
aspects of the trip: the budget. Included in
our budget was the carnet du passage (a
very expensive passport for the car), visas,
fuel costs, accommodation, national park
fees, food, and bucket list activities.
Step two in the planning stage was to
research all of the necessary requirements
for visas. Being tasked with arranging visas
for an American and South African passport
holder would require a certain degree of
organisation. When I was reminded of the
definition of organised: adj. arranged in a
systematic way, especially on a large scale
I started to panic. After copious amounts of
research and a number of visits / phone calls
to embassies, an extensive document was
created with all of the requirements necessary for visa obtainment.
And then came the bucket list! As a fishing
addict, the main reason Chris had planned
this trip was to fish in areas too far or too
expensive to reach from Durban. Nembwe,
tiger fish, tarpon,Jack Crevalle, marlin, and
caberra snapper are included on his fishing
wish list. We would also like to take in as
many African sunrises and sunsets as possible, hike Mount Kenya and the GR20, scuba
dive with Whale Sharks, witness miniature
elephants on the beaches of Gabon, and
visit the Dogon Country in Mali.
While all of the planning and budgeting had been completed, it wasnt until an
exact departure date had been set that
we became serious about saving. Once it
became more of a do or die attitude, the
account quickly started growing. Some tips

we found to be most successful for our savings included:
1. Just Say No!: Whether it be to the
birthday brunch once a month or the long
weekend getaway, saying no helped us save
big time. Yes, it was extremely hard. Yes, our
weekends were quiet. Yes, we saved.
2. Pay DayPut it Away!: The thrills of payday no longer existedthe minute the SMS
came in from the bank was the minute the
transfer to the savings accounttook place.
We feel beyond fortunate to take part in
an adventure like this. Our journey will have
us traveling to some of the most untouchedareas in Africa. To show our gratitude, we
want to give back, even if on a small scale.
As a teacher, I believe it is important that
all children have access to schools and
resources to enhance their learning; therefore, we will be stocking up on educational
supplies in major cities to deliver to these
remote areas along our journey.
Learn more about our small charity,
Books for the Bush on our website
www.dead2travel.com,
www.facebook.com/dead2travel.
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
Cave of the
Masters:
Grotta Giusti
Words + Photos By: Massimo Ziino
Everytime I come back home

to Italy, and specifically to Tuscany,
I get the urge to visit my friends at
Grotta Giusti. This extraordinary
place, which is totally unique among
its kind, is located in Monsummano
Terme in the province of Pistoia.
Grotta Giusti is an underground karst

cave, which intersects with a thermal aquifer
a few tens of metres from the surface, and
takes its name from the Giusti family, owners
of the limestone quarry which once stood
here. The cave itself was discovered by pure
chance, in the spring of 1849, when some
quarry workers broke through the roof of the
cavity; by throwing stones into the void they
quickly realised they had stumbled upon an
important discovery, an impressively vast
underground cavity with the presence of
water. I often imagine those first wide-eyed
excursions into this hot and humid underground world; lamp-lit explorations which
slowly revealed the mysterious 300m cavity
in all its natural glory, with lakes, winding
corridors, stalactites and stalagmites. The elevated internal air and water temperatures,
the humidity level and the impressive size of
the cave led the owner, DomenicoGiusti, to
consider the possibility of its therapeutic potential, and in fact an initial spa complex was
built around the entrance to the cave just
a few years later. The waters, at 34C, were
indeed beneficial and Grotta Giustis fame
quickly spread throughout Italy and abroad.
For many years it was a meeting place for
intellectuals, politicians, artists and poets
- the national and European lite. In fact
The terme spa
The natural Grotta copia
...its the only place

in the world where
the entrance to
a cave dive is so
comfortable and
luxurious!
Giuseppe Giusti, the son of the owners,

became an important poet during the 19th
century Italian Risorgimento. Many distinguished guests enjoyed the therapeutic
benefits of the waters, including Giuseppe
Garibaldi who visited in 1867, while composer Giuseppe Verdi later defined GrottaGiusti as the eighth wonder of the world.
Over the years it has been developed into
what is now a modern and technologically
advanced spa complex, with a hotel, fitness
centre, beauty salon, convention centre and
an avant-garde open-air thermal swimming
pool.
Despite all this business development
and activity, the current owners also allow diving in the underground lake, which
makes this place totally unique. The group
of dive guides, headed by Luciano Tanini,
make this experience possible - accompanying divers in the exploration of the flooded
fracture. The depth is not excessive, never
more than 18 metres, and the equipment
needed is similar to that used in cave diving.
The organisation of the dives is impeccable, and the guides are highly experienced;
divers are given a substantial and thorough
briefing, after which they can proceed into
the water. The dive starts in the lake known
as Limbo, which are reached via a vertical ladder a few metres high, after passing
through a cavity lined with impressive rock
formations. The cave is accessed directly

from the spa structure, and in my experience
its the only place in the world where the
entrance to a cave dive is so comfortable
and luxurious!
Forget your wetsuit; swimwear, T-shirt and
sports shoes are the right gear for these
warm waters. In some parts the underwater corridors are just wide enough to pass
through, and occasionally you ascend to air
pockets where you can immediately share
the sensations of this incredible dive with
your buddies.
Compensation is important; the dive
route through the cave includes frequent
changes in depth, which may only be a few
metres each time, but these small ascents
and descents require good compensation
abilities. I could stay here for hours, but
given the water temperature its best not to
overdo it; in fact, when you come out, you
will immediately feel the physical benefits of
the thermal waters, but you may also feel a
little cooked.
The photographic opportunities are stunning and endless, but professional equipment is necessary to get good results; in
particular, powerful lighting is critical. The
clear and limpid water is perfect for good
shots, just be sure to move well and carefully, without kicking up sediment.
I dont think theres anywhere like this in
the world, and Ive certainly never found
anything that compares. Diving in Grotta Giusti is an experience that I recommend to all
divers with a strong exploratory spirit, who
are in search of new and unique sensations
and experiences.
Happy diving!
The open air thermal pool
For more information on the

history of this cave, check out
www.grottagiustispa.com or visit them
at these geographic coordinates:
Latitude 43.86867, Longitude 10.81321
OUTDOORUAE
23
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
A Trip to Heaven on Earth

Words by: Alaa Ali
Photos by: Guido Peeters, Krystal Leong and Laetitia Zimmermann
The Roundup
Following on from his article
in last months Outdoor UAE, Alaa
Ali reports on his third, fourth,
fifth and sixth days of diving in the
Maldives. Read on to find out more
about the types of dives enjoyed by
Alaa, and the varying locations that
he visited as part of his liveaboard
experience.
Day 3
Early Morning Hammerhead Dive Felidhoo Atoll - (Blue Ocean Dive)
The FotteyoKandu dive site is not only

famous for the day dive but also for a
6:00 a.m. Hammerhead dive. This dive is
performed very differently from the day dive
as divers spend most of their time in the
blue water. During the early morning hours
scalloped hammerheads rise to shallower
depths and divers get to take a glimpse of
them. Unfortunately we were unlucky!
Golden Wall - Felidhoo Atoll (Channel Dive)
Named for the beautiful blanket of yellow

soft coral that covers it, the Golden Wall is
located adjacent to a channel that acts as
a busy expressway for sharks and stingrays,
eagle rays, schooling tuna and trevally, and
barracuda. With overhangs where turtles
and sharks sometimes nap, and where
glassfish and colourful schools of anthias
and other reef fish can normally be found,
the site is also home to moray eels, lobsters,
crabs, and others. Beginning at ten metres
and featuring a maximum depth of 35 metres, the site is suitable for all divers.
Devana Kandu - Felidhoo Atoll (Channel Dive)
This has been declared a Marine Protected
24
OUTDOORUAE
Area, and is certainly one of the most exciting drift dives of Felidhoo Atoll. In the outer
reef there are caves that fall vertically from
30 metres into the depths below. In the middle of the northern passage is a long, narrow
reef which rises slightly up to 15 meters from
the sandy floor of about 18 meters. Divers
can go along the channel length from the
north to discover south passages that are
merged, featuring a wide range of healthy
corals. A magnificent display of corals
stretches for every 500 meters of channel
width to a depth of about 15 meters, which
is highly unlike any other diving channel.
Alimatha- Felidhoo Atoll (Reef Night Dive)
Alimatha is five-star experience! One of

the Maldives most famous dive sites, it has
rightfully earned its reputation. Here is the

best advice. Jump in the water about 20-30
minutes before sunset, NOT when its dark.
Pretty much as soon as you are in the
water, you are overwhelmed by the action.
There are plenty of nurse sharks that come
whizzing past you, stingrays that rub up to
you like cats or unceremoniously nudge you
out of the way, and giant trevally that are
too busy going about their business to care
about mere divers.
My advice would be, to stick with your
group, and not to move around too much
pick a spot with no other groups nearby and
get comfortable. Obviously you will need
a torch, and if you are shooting underwater it gets really tricky. If you are shooting
stills you will need a focus light, and youll
need at least one powerful strobe if you are
shooting a video. The best thing is that you

can just sit down and let the scenes come
to you, so just get comfortable, select your
settings and shoot away!
Day 4
Kudara Thila - South Ari Atoll (Reef Dive)
This is a really beautiful dive. We started

by going through an arch covered in coral.
There were coral and reef fish of all colours
on top and lots of snappers, fusilier and
anthias. On the top of the thilawas a large
turtle, moray eels, angelfish, coral groupers,
soldierfish, nudibranchs, triggerfish and various puffers. There are also large overhangs
with beautiful coral in the roof. The reef
top is at 14 metres with sharp drop-offs to
20 and 25 metres on most sides. There is a
small canyon on the north side and a large,
long cave at 20 metres on the eastern side.
When the current is not too strong, divers
can swim around this 80 metres long thila
without too much difficulty. On the deeper,
more gentle slopes on the northern side
are large sea fans. Swimming around the
fan slopes there are a number of grey and
white-tip reef sharks.
Kudhi Maa - South Ari Atoll (Wreck Dive)
KudhiMaa Wreck is a medium sized steel

wreck lying very close to the Machchafushi
house reef. The wreck is a Japanese cargo
ship that was purposely sunk in 1998 to
provide divers visiting the South Ari Atoll
with a wreck. Measuring 52 metres wide,
around the shipwreck you can find a school
of batfish, some puffer fish, box fish, large
lion fish and two basking nurse sharks who
are always positioned under the wreck!
One interesting feature of the wreck is the
competition for space that has sprung up
on the surface itself. Algae, sponges, sea
squirts and corals are all fighting for that
valuable piece of metal from which to start
their growth. Depth is 12m descending to
30m.
Day 5
Five Rocks - South Ari Atoll (Pinnacle Dive)
This site contains five huge pinnacles at 25

metres deep. There was a strong current
and visibility wasnt great. It is full of channels, overhangs, and so many fish, including
about six sharks, two napoleons, leaf fish,
oriental sweet lips and moray eels. What I
have noticed here is that the coral reef is
healthy and very colourful! This remote site
is made up of five underwater rocks forming
a pinnacle with a flat top at about 15 metres.
A GPS was used to locate the site, which is
washed by currents. The marine life and corals are truly spectacular.
Sun Island Beyru - South Ari Atoll (Reef Dive)
Whale shark searching began at 9:00 a.m.

We spotted the first whale shark near Sun
Island Beyru and snorkelled for almost 20
minutes before the whale shark faded into
the blue! The second encounter was at the
outer reef of Sun Island Beyru while diving,
and once again the whale shark swam with
us for a few minutes. I noticed for the first
time the swinging current effect, which was
nice but meant thatyou had to keep an eye
on yourself in case you hit or damaged the
coral reef whilst swinging.
Dhigga Thila - South Ari Atoll (Reef Dive)
One of the few thilas in the Ari Atoll displayed magnificent coral growth; this was a
great site for reef sharks, with large gorgonian fan corals and large overhangs worth exploring. The table corals on top of the thila
are also worth checking out. For me this was
one of the best dives in the Maldives, after
finishing three dives on this day! The crew
had prepared a treat for all divers, taking us
to an abandoned island to enjoy an amazing
BBQ dinner a real Pirates of the Caribbean
experience!
Day 6
Panettone South Ari Atoll (Reef Dive)
The minute we jumped into the water, there

was a 3.5 metre manta ray waiting for us! It
was hovering over a rock, allowing cleaning
fishes to do their job. The encounter was
pretty close. Behind us a white tip reef shark
and eagle ray were swimming. The water

current got stronger and it was swinging so
we had to hold onto the rocks.
Dhega Thila - South Ari Atoll (Reef Dive)
This is a very interesting formation, with a

wall of sea fans on the outside of the main
peak, and some pinnacles on the western
side. There is a tunnel to swim through cutting the reef where yellow sweepers stay.
At the north side there are another two
pinnacles, with a narrow canyon between
them. The dive can be very deep and the
currents treacherous. This was the worst dive
on this trip due to very strong currents which
I couldnt fight and I actually ended the dive
after 15 minutes.
Moofushi Kanu - South Ari Atoll (Reef Dive)
A reef around 2km long, with caves and

overhangs breathing with life. Here you can
admire the sea fans, whip corals, and its
marine life, like sting rays, manta rays, napoleon wrasse and sharks.
Conclusion
A liveaboard is by far the best way to cover

a large area and see the best dive sites the
selected atolls have to offer. All of the sites
were good, but some were better than others. Strong water currents were an obstacle for me at some dive sites, but I would
certainly go back for more!
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
Nomads Road:
Overlanders for Life

Episode 4: Travelling
through history in Jordan
Words by: Grg Trastour
Photos by: Grg, Magali,
Natasha and Anastasia Trastour
We arrived in Jordan nearly

a month ago, but unfortunately
our first week was spent waiting
around thanks to some logistical
problems. On the positive side, we
were welcomed by a local couple
who helped us to discover how
Jordanians live. After getting back
our vehicle and spending two days
making final preparations, we were
at last able to hit the road again.
We started our trip in the eastern part of
the country, discovering the desert and a few
monuments, such as Qasr Amra, a desert
castle which was built in the 8th century.
After stopping to take in this UNESCO World
Heritage Site with its wonderful frescoes,
we slowly drove to the Northern part of
the country, visiting a few other desert
26
OUTDOORUAE
castleswhich had been well preseved.

Arriving in northern Jordan, near the
Syrian border, the landscape became hilly
and we began to climb in altitude and see
hills covered with olive groves. We went to
archeological site of Umm Qays, north of
Irbid, where you can see (when the weather
permits) the Sea of Galilee and the Golan
Heights of the Levant; a breathtaking landscape. The site of Decapolis, which has been
the center of Greek culture in this region, was
also interesting to visit. We made a stop to
visit the 12th century well-preserved Ajloun
Fort, located at the top of the hill with 360
views of the green region. The most interesting site in North Jordan was the ancient
Greco-Roman city of Gerasa in the middle of
the current city of Jerash. A lot buildings and
monuments are still standing, such as the
theaters, hippodrome, the oval forum and all
the huge gates and columns, in addition to
the well restored Zeus Temple and Artemis
Temple.
After a stop in the capital city to visit
the Citadel, we drove south to Aqaba, the
Jordanian port on the Red Sea. On the way
we made several stops to visit all the main
historic and natural sites. Some of them were
completely deserted by tourists despite their
historical and archeological importance.
Others, however, were invaded by the local

population, especially during weekends.
It was really interesting to see the difference between the days of the week and the
weekend at the same tourist site, as it added
another dimension to the place, gifting
you with either serenity or the tumult of the
crowd.
One of the places we couldnt miss in this
area was the fabulous Dead Sea, which at
400 meters below sea level and with really
salty water means that you are able to float
without any difficulties and even lay in the
water to read a book. Its really impressive! Then after this experience we drove
up to Karak at 1000 meters to see thefort,
which was built during the Bronze Age. The
weather was not ideal, with strong rains that
forced us to stop for a few hours because of
land slides.
We then stopped at Madaba, the key
place to visit for churches and to see old
mosaics, but also to discover the weaving
project which provides a resource to large
parts of the population in this area. Next,
Dana Valley, a biosphere reserve, was a nice
place to stay for a few days to have a rest or
do some hiking.
Our last visit of historic and archeological
sites was Petra and Little Petra. We spent two
full days discovering Petra and its surroundings. We will remember for life the moment
when we arrived at the end of this long
corridor called As-Siq and discovered the
Treasury, known all around the world.In this
moment you really do understand why Petra
is one of Wonders of the World. But Petra is
not only The Treasury. Its a huge site where
there are a lot of buildings, tombs and monuments, such as the Monastery, which can be
visited after climbing 800 steps. However, its
well worth the climb and not to be missed!
The Jordan Pass is highly recommended,
as it includes the Entry Visa fee and access
to 43 monuments and sites including Petra.
There are three options available, but it really
does depend on how many days you want
spend in Petra. We recommend a minimum
stay of at least three days. The Jordan Pass
will really help your budget, particularly if you
are keen to visit as many sites as possible.

We are currently in Wadi Rum, one of the
best wadis we have been lucky enough to
visit on the Arabian Peninsula. Its a peaceful
place with a dramatic landscape where you
can spend a lot of time climbing, trekking or
simply visiting by car, camel or horse. Local
Bedouin guides know all the main points of
interest in this region.

Our adventure in Jordan is nearly finished.
In a few days we will take the ferry to Nuweiba in Sinai from Aqaba, the unique port
of Jordan, before we head over to Egypt and
then Sudan.
The Trastours is a family that has been
overlanding the planet for as long as they
can remember! Made up of Greg and
Magali as well as their daughters Natasha
and Anastasia, The Trastours is a family
filled to the brim with an unstoppable
sense of adventure for the ultimate
goal to explore the world.
You can check out their next stop at
www.nomadsroad.com or look for
Nomads Road on Facebook and Twitter.
Belize:
Trout Bums in Permit Paradise

Words By: Rasmus Oversen
Photos By: Rasmus Ovesen,
Martin Ejler Olsen and Leslie Berkeley
THE HOARSE SCREAMS

of my Sage 6010 reel wont
come to an end, and the
dangerously arced fly
rod is being pulled
convulsively towards
the surface film. I
struggle for footing
and lean back on the
fish as much as humanly possible, but
I have a bad feeling.
I have caught permit on
the flats before, but the
fish out here on The Elbow
a subaqueous reef in the
southern part of Belizes Turneffe Island,

use radically different tactics to get rid of
the flies. They flutter and spiral irresistibly
downwards, and even the slightest hint of
leniency brings consequences usually
resulting in snapped leaders. The crux of the
matter is to prevent the fish from reaching
the sheltering embrace of the jagged corals
deep down. Once that happens, the fish will
break you off and the battle will be lost.
It is like some mean-spirited prankster just
tied a cruise ship anchor to my fly line. It
disappears into the abysmal blue depths at
a dangerously fast pace, and I cant seem to
do anything about it. As the backing starts
peeling off, I know Im done for, and only
a few seconds later, I fall backwards as the
line goes slack. That was a BIG fish, says
the guide, without offering much in terms
of consolation, and hes obviously right. He
now materialises at the casting deck, where
I am crouched in frustration, and grabs my
rod. He proceeds to check the drag on the
reel, which I had set to a daunting 9/10 in

the morning, and seconds later, he hands
me back the rod and drops another Pizza
Fly in my hand. As I tie it on and mentally
prepare for another round, I glance down at
the reel and notice that the drag is now set
at 10/10
LATER THAT DAY after escalating winds
force us to quit the offshore fishing, I have
a word with one of the dive masters at the
Turneffe Island Resort. He coincidentally
happened to be out diving at the Elbow that
day, and he saw a 35lb+ permit racing towards the corals with a Pizza Fly in its mouth
and a taught fly line dragging behind it.
35+lbs!, I repeat in an inquiring manner.
Yep, but I saw WAY bigger fish out there!
he says with a twinkle in his eyes. I dont
know whether to feel comforted or scared
by this surprising info. All I know is that I really blew it today. I had three more shots at
big permit, and managed to screw everything up. Now, I can only hope and pray that
the winds will calm down, so I can head out
to the Elbow again and get my revenge.
Over the next couple of days, me and
my fishing buddy Martins patience is really
put to the test. Usually, the weather here in
Belize is very sedate and stable in late April,
but the calm serenity of our Caribbean sanctuary has now been blown relentlessly to the
sea. Fiery-tempered winds howl and hiss in
the compound evergreen leaves of the palm
trees, and the ocean is hardly recognisable now with its frothing 15-20 feet waves
pounding the sheltering coral rims.
DENNIS YOUNG, our passionate guide
is challenged to find some decent fishing
for us in the coming days after all, there
isnt much shelter to be found when youre
stranded on a small and relatively featureless island out to sea. Nonetheless, Dennis
manages to put us on some massive schools
of tailing bonefish that provide us with some
exciting challenges. And whenever we hook
up with one of these ghostly speed devils,
we even tend to forget about those alluring
charcoal and silvery permit out there on the
Elbow with their bright yellow brushstrokes,
powerful flanks, and soulful gazes.
WHILE FISHING THE MANGROVES, Im
fairly certain Martin forgets about the permit
for at least 20-25 minutes. Here, he hooks
up with one of the migrating silver kings that
are just starting to rally. The self-assured tarpon takes the fly with brute force and after
the prescribed strip strikes, it starts popping
out of the water here, there, and everywhere

shaking its head epileptically. When it finally
tires of the frantic jumping, it employs new
tactics to get rid of the hook. It writhes and
turns; rolls aggressively in the surface and
all of a sudden it rushes for the entanglement of the mangroves. Martin is tiring out,
but he is determined to land the fish, and
in the end he succeeds. When he finally
sits there with more than 40lbs of silvery
armoured tarpon in his lap, he is as euphoric
as Ive ever seen him.
AFTER FOUR DAYS of us continuously asking our guide when the weather is going to
calm down, I can tell he is starting to get just
a little tired of the repetitions. He is a great
guide, but no oracle - and he can only tell
us that usually this kind of weather doesnt
occur at this time of year. All we can do is
cross our fingers and make the most of the
situation. I do so by catching a small permit

of around 10lbs at Permit Paradise an aptly
named and fairly famous flat to the north
of our resort. It engulfs a Merkin Crab in
the middle of a big, muddy foraging frenzy,
and delivers a heady fight with numerous
long runs and powerful manoeuvres. When
I land it, I have a strange feeling that things
are going to turn to the better. And that
same evening, after a massive thunderstorm
passes, the winds suddenly calm down.
WITH TWO DAYS LEFT, Martin and I are
eager to get to the Elbow again. And when
we wake up the next morning and issue
out of our cosy little cabana, we are excited to see that the sea looks calm. When
we meet with our guide, he isnt quite as
optimistic. He fears that massive swells
from the past few days might cause severe
difficulties and he is right of course. The

unprotected Elbow reefs to the South are
still being pounded by massive waves, and
even though we agree to attempt some
fishing from one of the resorts big dive
boats, things look gloomy. We see massive
schools of permit, but we cant really get to
them. Our flies are being pushed towards
the surface and out of reach, and after two
hours of desperately clinging on to a rope in
the front of the boat doing haphazard casts
and being smashed by gruelling waves
plus almost getting tossed overboard a few
times, we agree that this irresponsible folly
has to end. Were gutted. But we still have
tomorrow!
WE CAN HARDLY BELIEVE the change
from yesterday, as we rush out towards the
open waters of the Elbow again. With just
this one day left, we are excited beyond
words that the ocean is one big stoic expanse of calm azure blue water. The fish are
here too, and it doesnt take us long to find
the first school of fish and what a school.
The ghostly shimmering of fifty or more
permit emit from the distorting mirror of the
surface film. Soon after, the heavy epoxy fly
whistles ominously through the air and takes
the water with a big splash right in front of
the nervous mass of fish below. I let it sink
for a few seconds and start the ultra-fast
double-retrieve.
SUDDENLY, I feel a nerve-wracking tug
propagate through the line, and as I lift the
rod to set the hook, the line starts disappearing through the guides at an unrelenting pace. This time, however, Im prepared.
Every single leader knot has been doublechecked for strength, the drag is set to
maximum, and I use whatever muscle power
my 11-weight can muster to prevent the fish
from breaking me off on the corals deep
below. After what seems like an eternity, the
snarl of my tormented fly reel comes to an
end, and I manage to turn the fish and bring
it towards the surface for a bit. Hereon after,
I am my usual confident self, and even an
additional couple of maniacal runs cant prevent me from bringing a pristine 25lb permit
to the boat. Moments later, I sit in the boat
with the incredibly beautiful lead-coloured
fish in my arms and a big smirking smile on

my face. We snap a few pictures, and as I
put the sturdy fish with its twinkly eyes and
leathery skin back into the lukewarm water, I
draw a sigh of relief.
As the day progresses, we hook up with
several more fish and land some additional 20lb+ permit that make us forget
completely about all the impatient waiting,
the thunderstorms, the ones that got away,
and not least the arduous upcoming journey
back to little old Denmark. I guess that is
the essential magic of sublime fishing; it dissolves whatever time-constrained psychological ballast youve been carrying around
and provides you with an enticing window of
opportunity. It feels divine!
The really big ones evade us this last day
on the Elbow, but hey it is always nice to
have a reason to come back!
FACTS ABOUT TURNEFFE
ISLAND RESORT:
Turneffe Island Resort is a Belizian luxury
lodge situated on its own little idyllic island
in the Southern part of the greater complex of coral and mangrove islands called
Turneffe Islands. The island houses around
30 guests in beachside apartments and
cabanas. The lodge also consists of a main
building with a cosy dining hall, an outdoor
pool area with its own wooden deck and
bar, as well as a marina.
Typically, youll be fishing from eight
oclock in the morning until five oclock in
the afternoon, both wading and from the
cool and practical boats. This means that
you have about nine hours of flats and open
water fishing every day, and this is more
than enough to try out different spots and
different fish. One weeks worth of guided
fishing - including housing at the resort,
costs 2,990 USD in the high season, and it
includes delicious lunch packages and cool
drinks, so that all you need to worry about
is catching that highly prized trophy fish.
At a supplement, you can book some night
fishing, which is a great idea, if you want to
target tarpon.
The season stretches across the whole
year, but March, April and May are particularly great for permit fishing. If you want to
go full-hearted for a grand slam, or if you
are a sucker for tarpon, the period from

mid-May until the end of September is the
optimal time to visit the lodge. The average
size of the permit is truly impressive with
20lb fish being common and 40-50lb fish
being a real possibility if youre able to
land them that is!
For more info, check out www.turnefferesort.com. Here, you can find up-to-date
prices for housing and guiding and book
your own trip.
WHAT GEAR TO BRING:
When fishing for offshore permit at the
Elbow, your gear needs to be completely
top tuned. Any weak links will be met with
severe punishment i.e. broken leader tippets and snapped leader/fly line
and sinking), since the depths at which the

permit are found varies. Sometimes, theyll
be popping their heads out of the water and
feeding in the surface film, while at other
times, theyll be further down, and the only
way to get them is to use a relatively fast
sinking line.
The leaders should be designed for pure
abuse. Double-check all leader knots, and
finish off with a 3ft section of 20-25lb test
Photos: Q.Dein, Rider: Shawn Richman
connections. Generally, the gear has to be

top tuned and being an overly optimistic
UL fanatic doesnt make any sense whatsoever. There are permit up to 50lb+ at the
Elbow, and even smaller fish (those weighing in at around15-20lbs!) will tear your gear
apart if it isnt up to the task.
10-weight rods will do for the most part,
but if youre hoping to hook up with one
of the real giants, a 12-weight rod might
be more suitable. Youll be fighting the fish
directly below the boat, so youll need a
fairly short rod with loads of backbone. And
forget about those double-handed saltwater
rods. Youll need to bend the rod right down
into the handle, to put maximum pressure on the fish. By using a fighting handle
further up on the blank, you simply shift the
power centre in the rod to a more lenient
place. And in the process, you risk breaking
the rod. (This has happened numerous times
on the Elbow)
In terms of reels, youll want one of many
excellent large arbour reels out there one
of those with a drag system that can stop
a team of horses. Dont worry too much
about the backing. If more than 30 yards of
backing peel off your reel, youre doomed
anyway, and the fish will break you off on
the corals below. Its all about hooking and
holding!
With regards to the fly lines, clear lines are
certainly to be preferred. Permit have great
vision, and, especially in open water, fly lines
are quite conspicuous. Youll need a couple
of different ones (floating, intermediate
fluorocarbon. Only the very best and meticulously tied knots will hold up, so dont be
sloppy.
The guides at Turneffe Island Resort swear
to a fly they call the Pizza Fly. It is a pink and
extremely heavy epoxy fly that is as dangerous to cast as it is effective. With lightning
quick retrieves, it moves erratically and unpredictably through the water like a shrimp,
and it really gets the permit agitated.
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Natural History
LIFESTYLE
Teaching S.T.E.M
through Field Studies
Words + Photos By: Dan Wright
Nowadays, the main buzz

phrase you will hear in education all
over the world (and the UAE which
since September 2015 has joined
this trend) is:
What this basically means is that the focus

of schools and lessons is leaning heavily towards these main subject areas, and
teachers are constantly looking for innovative ways to deliver them in fun, hands on
ways that stimulate the students into new
ways of learning.
A study from the National Training
Laboratories in 2000 found that only about
5 percent of the information delivered
through lecture was retained. Compare
that with retention rates at 50 percent for
discussion group and 70 percent for practice
by doing. Even higher, at 80 percent,
was retention by students teaching others.
(www.hermanmiller.com)
Here, the national agenda is focused on
training the future generations of technical
leaders for Industry and Business and with
major projects like the Nuclear Industry
(aiming for over 40 GWe by 2020) and the

Space Race (aiming to send an Orbiter to
Mars by 2021), the need for a generation of
talented, technically advanced students to
lead these projects is ever greater.
When I go into schools in the UAE to
meet teachers and to write bespoke training
programs for their students at the ADAPT
Adventure Center in RAK where I work, the
most common requests I am getting are for
more Evidence based activities so they
will have something to show the inspecting authorities from the Ministry of Education (MOE). In Abu Dhabi this comes in the
form of an annual inspection by ADEC (Abu
Dhabi Education Council) and in Dubai it is
delivered by KHDA (Knowledge and Human
Development Authority).
These inspecting authorities have sets of
KPIs that are looking for specific outcomes
from the schools. In particular they want
to see evidence that students are learning
about the culture and heritage of the country they are living in. It is vital for students
spending any length of time in a country
that is not their own to have opportunities
to better understand the people and the
traditions around them. This will help them
later in life to develop a more worldly view
and a better empathy for other nationalities.
As John Lennon said, we are after all A
Brotherhood of Man.
So where does Field Studies come into
this? Well, if we accept that people learn
better by doing then we can agree that
the concept of Experiential learning is
going to be a great way for young people
to get real life, hands on experience of the
subjects they learn about in the classroom.
For example:
Is it better to learn about Water Conservation from a book or go out into the field to study it in a real life environment?
Geodesic dome
If you are studying Geometrical shapes in

Maths in school then the majority of this will
likely be on paper (drawing) and in books
(reading). But if you take the class outdoors
and give them a pile of old newspapers,
some plastic pipes, a tape measure, scissors
and roll of sticky tape and ask them to build
a mathematically correct Geodesic dome
will they be able to? We hope so and especially with a bit of a briefing and a printed
set of instructions. Once built, the students
will then be able to actually test the properties of the dome and see for themselves
that it really is a self-supporting structure
that can actually hold a variety of weights off
the ground. This of course can be tested by
actually placing weights on top of it!
This type of practical activity is cross
mapped straight out of a teaching textbook
and into a real time exercise and the students will remember it for years afterwards!
Another example of Field Studies is the
use by teachers of Case Studies. If a
student is learning about Environmental
Science in the classroom then it is very
likely that they will be introduced to Case
Studies related to their subject area. If you
come from the UK and your text books are
Key Stage books then the majority of
your case studies will be based on British
locations, for example, you might, in Key

Stage 4 (GCSE), be learning about Natural Habitats, and the case study for this
is Dawlish Warren on the Devon coast
(I know because I went there for my High
School Geography field trip!).
If you live in the UAE and your only case
study and point of reference for Natural Habitats is Dawlish Warren in the UK,
and the chance of actually going there is
very low, then your retention of information about that subject is going to be low.
So I go into schools to talk to Science or
Geography teachers, who give me a list of
subject areas to work with. I then write them
new case studies that relate specifically to
the landscape the students live in and then
we take them on field studies trips to those
landscapes to engage them in active, handson learning.
Teachers also want their students to be
able to think outside the box, problem
solve, work to deadlines under pressure
and of course, very importantly communicate and work as a team. Field Studies programs provide suitable environments for all
these outcome requirements. Activities specifically designed to elicit these responses
in young people and to test their leadership
skills are both fun and educational. A great
example of one activity we run is TOXIC
WASTE in which students are briefed that:
A Chemical factory has had a major spill
and it is your teams job to contain this by
collecting the various hazardous items from
inside the danger zone and depositing them
in neutralisation bins. Of course you cannot enter the danger zone and you cannot
physically touch the hazardous items. We
will provide you with several items which
may or may not be useful (a few red herrings useless items to confuse them!) and
you will be required to complete the task
inside a time limit to ensure the hazardous
items do not heat up and explode (usually
we make the time limit hard to meet to give
them added pressure!).
The group then gets a few minutes to
discuss the task and share solutions before
we ask them to proceed.
In the debrief, when the task is finished,
we spend time getting the students to think
about how they completed the task and if
they could improve on it next time. Often
the whole activity is linked to a Learning
Model and in this example we often use
Kolbs Learning Cycle. It is useful to the
Toxic waste - teamwork!
students to learn about processes and

models that they can then apply to their
everyday lives when they have to solve their
own problems:
David Kolb - Experiential Learning Theory
It also gives them a sense of community

and teamwork or espirit de corps, which is
very important for their personal development.
Organisations like World Challenge in the
UAE, who are one of the main providers of
Adventure Education and Field Studies
through camps like ADAPT are leading the
way in the UAE for the next generation of
young people to take their STEM lessons
out of the classroom and into the outdoors
where there is almost unlimited potential for
exciting and breakthrough teaching techniques and learning experiences.
So, whenever you see a new school advertising a STEM Curriculum or when your
school gives a presentation on STEM and its
place in modern education, be sure to raise
your hand and ask the important question;
What practical field studies training are you
providing in these subject areas and how will
it really benefit our children?
Field studies usually means that the

students will be going away from home
for one or more nights. This in turn has
hugely beneficial outcomes for the students. It teaches them about:
Self-sufficiency
Socialisation
Self-confidence
Taking responsibility for your own actions
and decisions
Respect for diversity in others
Camel culture
Dan Wright is a Wilderness Expedition

Guide and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). He has a degree
in Environmental Science and works as the
Project Manager of the ADAPT Adventure
& Field Studies Center, based in RAK. Dan
writes for a range of publications in Arabia
and Asia on Environmental Issues and
Personal Development. His wife Nirjala is
the former Nepal National Mountain Bike
Champion and their son Percy is an adventurer in the making! They spend all their
spare time exploring the UAE.
OUTDOORUAE
33
Habitually healthy
Its More than What You Put In
Words by: Richard Thomas
The Paleo Revolution is, in the

eyes of many, the only lifestyle that
we should follow in our modern
society. It provides you with the
perfect amount of nutrients to stay
lean, strong and energetic.
Generally speaking, supermarkets offer
a wide variety of products which are full of
sugar and transfats, or foods which have
become so over processed that they are unrecognisable. These food types are making
our bodies degenerative and contributing to
many issues such as diabetes, obesity and
cancer to name a few.
I believe that people should be looking at the bigger picture when it comes to
the Paleo Revolution, and an integral part
of changing it from a diet to a lifestyle is
exercise. Exercise is any form of movement
that requires physical exertion in order to
improve ones health. This is why exercise
and what you eat are so closely knit.
The Paleo diet will help provide the
right balance of protein for the building
of muscle, fibre
to maintain your
ideal weight
and healthy fats
to concentrate.
Exercise should
be supplemented
alongside your
diet to ensure
that you have the
correct balance of
hormones.This in
turn will not only
help your body
in the short term
but it will increase
your quality of life
Recipe
The most basic way to look
at a paleo recipe is:
4-8 oz of lean protein such as chicken,
lean beef, turkey or seafood.
Then add several servings
of multicolored vegetables either raw,
steamed or lightly cooked.
Finally, round out the meal with
good fats from avocado, olive oil
or a handful of unsalted nuts such
as almonds, pecans, macadamias
or walnuts.
34
OUTDOORUAE
over the long term.

Leading a healthy
lifestyle is about having
the right diet, following a flexible fitness
schedule and not
doing anything in
excess. But the most
important aspect of
this lifestyle is to enjoy
it, and the only way
that it will work for you
is if you enjoy the challenge and understand
that its only going to
make a better you.
Physical fitness is
not only one of the
most important keys
to a healthy body,
it is the basis of
dynamic and creative
intellectual activity.
- John F. Kennedy
The Cycle Bistro

GPS location:
Latitude:
N 25 02.792
Longitude:
E 055 14.384
Phone:
04 425 6555
LIFESTYLE
Health
Powerhouse
Lets talk fish
How to stay healthy throughout the summer

with some great fish choices on your plate
Words + Photos by: Ivana Chiles
The idea of sharing my

knowledge about fish with
you came recently, as I was
enjoying my early morning walk on
our impressive Jumeirah path. I
came across Umm Suqeim Fish
Market, with its massive variety of
freshly caught fish, and decided to
explore it a bit more.
I was pleased to see that all the fish was
reasonably priced and, more importantly for
me, there was a vast selection of small (and
healthier) fish on offer. Are you wondering
why I mentioned the small fish? Well, Im
hoping that after reading this article you will
become more knowledgeable about your
fish choices. You will learn that not all fish is
equal and discover why you should be concerned about the amount of mercury from
that delicious looking tuna steak.
Why do we eat fish and why is

it recommended for athletes?
If youre eating fish, besides its taste, you

are probably doing so to take advantage
of their beneficial omega-3 fats. But what
exactly are they?
Omega3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids because humans cannot make
them; therefore, they must be obtained
through diet or supplementation. They
offer numerous health benefits for
everyone, as well as a variety of performance-enhancing effects, such as increasing
muscle growth and improving strength and
physical performance. They can also reduce
The best sources of omega-3 fats come from your diet
Be cautious when selecting tuna steak!
exercise-induced muscle damage and

delayed-onset muscle soreness, combat the
negative immune effects of intensive training, strengthen bones, improve heart and
lung function, and enhance cognitive functioning.Omega-3 fatty acids are important
for brain development of the in-utero and
growing child. Higher IQs in children have
been linked to higher amounts of omega-3
fatty acids consumed during their mothers
pregnancy.
There are three types of omega-3 fats.
Marine animals such as fish and krill provide
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are mostly
promoted for their protective effects on your
heart. Flaxseed, chia, walnuts, virgin olive
oil, avocados and a few other foods, on the
other hand, offer alpha-linoleic acid (ALA).
Most of the health benefits linked to
omega-3 fats are linked to the animal-based
EPA and DHA, not the plant-based ALA.
Furthermore, ALA is converted into EPA
and DHA in your body at a very low ratio.
What this means is that even if you consume
large amounts of ALA, your body can convert only a relatively small amount into EPA
and DHA, and only when there are sufficient
enzymes.
Ideally, you want to include both an animal and a plant-based form in your diet.
When it comes to choosing between the
animal-based omega-3 options, the primary
options are fish oil, cod liver oil or krill oil.
Why is mercury a major

threat when eating fish?
If youre not careful, the toxic effects from

the pollutants in the fish will outweigh the
benefits of the omega-3 fats.
Before scientists became aware of the
toxic effects of mercury (it poisons the
kidneys and nervous system), this seemingly
Alaskan salmon is one one the heathier

salmon options you should look for
magical metal was widely used in medicine,

cosmetics, and different industries. Even
small amounts of mercury can interfere
with brain development, making exposure
particularly risky for children younger than
six and women in their childbearing years.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
estimates that more than 75,000 babies are
born each year with a greater risk of learning
disabilities because of their mothers mercury exposure.
Eating contaminated fish is the number
one cause of mercury exposure in America.
Mercury is spewed into the air from coalburning power plants and factories. That
pollution can travel halfway around the
world and then settle into lakes, rivers, and
oceans, where it is absorbed or ingested
by small organisms before working its way
up the food chain. Big predatory fish, like
sharks or tuna, can have especially high concentrations in their bodies. The larger a fish
is, the longer it has lived and the more time
it has had to bioaccumulate toxins like mercury from the ocean.You cant see, smell, or
taste mercury contamination in fish. Cooking
has no effect on it, and you cant avoid it by
cutting off the skin or other parts of the fish.
Fish to avoid
Tuna is the most common source of mercury

exposure. If you or your kids regularly eat
canned tuna, stick to light or skipjack tuna,
and limit it to less than two servings a week.
The rules change when it comes to albacore tuna. Children should avoid that fish
altogether, and women of childbearing age
should stick to no more than four ounces
per week.
The contamination may be even worse in
restaurants. The reason for this is because
restaurants tend to favour certain species
of tuna, such as bluefinakami and bigeye
tuna, which have significantly higher levels
of mercury than bluefin and yellowfin tuna.
Unfortunately, mercury tends to accumulate
to a greater degree in muscle than in fat,
rendering these highly prized, leaner species
of tuna more susceptible to high contamination. As for canned tuna, albacore has been
found to contain about three times more
mercury than light chunk tuna.
Bluefin tun can easily reach around 150kgs in weight!
Unregulated fish farms harm marine ecosytems
Other few key species to avoid: King

mackerel, merlin, shark, swordfish, tilefish.
Industrial farming
Industrial fish farming, or aquaculture, is the

fastest growing form of food production in
the world. About half of the worlds seafood
comes from fish farms, including in the US,
and this is expected to increase. At first
glance, farmed fish may seem like a good
idea to help protect wild seafood populations from overfishing.In reality, however,
the industry is plagued with many of the
same problems surrounding land-based
concentrated animal feeding operations
(CAFOs), including pollution, disease, and
inferior nutritional quality.Many farmed fish
are fed genetically modified (GM) corn and
soy, which is a completely unnatural diet for
marine life. Others are fed fishmeal, which
is known to accumulate industrial chemicals
like PCBs and dioxins.
Fish waste and uneaten feed litter the sea
floor beneath these farms, generating bacteria that consume oxygen vital to shellfish
and other bottom-dwelling sea creatures.
Farmed fish waste promotes algae growth
that harms the waters oxygen content, posing risks to coral reefs and other aquatic life.
Farmed Fish May Contain

Fewer Healthy Fats
Fish in the wild, especially oily fish such as

salmon, are a rich source of omega-3 fats.
But levels of critical omega-3 fats may be
reduced by about 50 percent in farmed
salmon, compared to wild salmon, due to
increasing amounts of grain feed.That being
said, farmed salmon are much fattier overall
than wild salmon with much higher omega-6
fats (unfavourable pro-inflammatory fats, if
the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio exceeds 1:1).
Farmed tilapia and farmed catfish also
have much lower concentrations of omega3s and very high ratios of omega-6 fats to
omega-3 fats.
years.Additionally, the bioaccumulation

of toxins is also reduced by the fact that it
doesnt feed on other, already contaminated
species.
A general guideline is that the closer to
the bottom of the food chain the fish is, the
less contamination it will have accumulated,
so other safer choices include smaller fish
like sardines, anchovies, and herring. Sardines, in particular, are one of the most concentrated sources of omega-3 fats, with one
serving containing more than 50 percent of
your recommended daily value.They also
contain a wealth of other nutrients, from vitamin B12 and selenium to protein, calcium,
and choline, making them one of the best
dietary sources of animal-based omega-3s.
Krill oil and why my family loves it
There is a smarter and superior choice when

it comes to Omega-3 supplements.Most
fish oil supplements are highly perishable
due to the lack of antioxidants. When fish oil
turns rancid inside your body, it leads to free
radical formation.However, there is a much
smarter choice available!
Krill oil comes from krill, a tiny shrimp-like
creature that lives in the pristine waters of
Antarctica. Krill feed on plankton floating
on the oceans surface.Krill oil contains high
amounts of beneficial omega-3 fats EPA and
DHA. But what sets it apart from fish oil is
that its omega-3 fats are in a much more
absorbable form thats ready to be used by
your body.
Heres another reason to choose krill oil:
its rich in antioxidants, meaning it will not
become rancid inside your body and will not
lead to free radical formation. One of the
most powerful antioxidants in krill oil is astaxanthin, a unique marine-source flavonoid
that bonds with EPA and DHA, making them
more bioavailable. Also, because krill is at
the bottom of the food chain, it does not
What Are the Best Fish to Eat?
Among the safest in terms of contamination,

and the highest in healthy omega-3 fat, is
wild-caught Alaskan and sockeye salmon.
Neither is allowed to be farmed, and are
therefore always wild-caught. The risk of
sockeye accumulating high amounts of mercury and other toxins is reduced because of
its short life cycle, which is only about three
accumulate mercury, unlike large fish

species. There is also no danger of over
harvesting krill, since Krill is actually the
largest biomass on Earth, so there is a very
large stock of renewable krill for both natural
predators and humans.
My family loves Krill oil from Dr. Mercola,
because they allow you to track where the
krill oil came from in the Antarctic Ocean, as
each batch of krill is carefully monitored all
the way through, from catch to sale.
Krill is a tiny crustacean living

in pristine waters of Antarctica
My favourite Krill oil enriched with evening

primrose oil for women from Dr. Mercola
Tips
Avoid any large or farmed fish altogether

Consume fish with a handful of chlorella
tablets. The chlorella is a potent mercury
binder and if taken with the fish it will help
bind the mercury before you are able to
absorb it, so it can be safely excreted in your
stool.
Obtain the perfect balance by including
fresh fish several times a week, include sea
vegetables like kelp, use flaxseed or walnut
oil as salad dressings and opt for grass-fed
animal products over grain-fed products.
Ivana has been living in the UAE for
16 years. She is a qualified Health Coach
and member of the American
Association of Drugless Practitioners.
Her passions are nutrition, organic
gardening, healthy cooking and
homemade organic skin care. She runs
weekly workshops on the above topics.
For more information, visit her Facebook
page, Health Powerhouse.
OUTDOORUAE
37
Teaching you to dive amongst 65,000 marine animals

Dive in the world famous
Ambassador Lagoon
Always wanted to experience Scuba

diving? Atlantis Dive Discovery is designed
specifically for non-certified divers. Learn
basic diving skills and then meet our sharks,
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For certified divers, delight in the rare
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sea creatures and marvel at the artefacts the
ancient Atlanteans left behind in the Atlantis
Dive Explorer single tank dive.
The Atlantis Predator Dive promises the
experience of a lifetime. Descend into the
world famous Ambassador Lagoon for the
unique opportunity to hand-feed up to 14
different species of sharks and rays amongst
65,000 marine animals.
Get PADI Certified at Atlantis
Atlantis offers PADI courses for all ages.

Younger divers can partake in the PADI
Bubble Maker or PADI seal team courses.
If you want your PADI certification, you can
do the two day Scuba Diver course, which
is a stepping stone into the Open Water
program. If you are already Scuba certified,
you can opt for the four day PADI Open
Water course.
Shark Night Dive
Do you have what it takes to explore the

38
OUTDOORUAE
depths of the Aquaventure Shark Lagoon

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are in their most active state, making this a
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you explore the depths of the shark lagoon
alongside our expert Atlantis divers, and
dozens of Sharks and Rays.
+971 4 4261040
www.aquaventurewaterpark.com
Dive Listings 2016

For the June issue of OutdoorUAE, weve put together a comprehensive list of diving centres
and shops based in the UAE and beyond for you to look at.
Dive into adventure with

Al Boom Diving, the U.A.E.s
number 1 diving and watersports
specialist.
Come and experience the stunning
coral reefs in Fujairah, which are teeming
with exotic reef fish. You may even be
lucky enough to spot a majestic whale
shark cruise by. It will take your breath
away. Diving is a great family activity
and its surprisingly good value. Two full
equipment dives in Fujairah cost just AED
400. Children as young as 10 can learn to
scuba dive, with PADI Junior Open Water
Courses from AED 2,350.
Visit our Reef Balls Conservation Project
in Al Aqah, a unique ecosystem which
acts as a catalyst, attracting a myriad
of marine life. You can see lion fish,
our resident family of turtles, and even
dainty seahorses. It has been scientifically
proven that artificial reefs attract 20 times
the fish stocks of natural reefs, and our
Reef Balls Project is no exception. You will

be amazed at the abundance of life in this
microcosm of the Indian Ocean.
Celebrate Discovery Channels Shark
Week in the spectacular Dubai Aquarium
and Underwater Zoo in the first week of
July. We can guarantee that you will get
up close and personal with the worlds
ultimate predators. Dive into the depths of
the 10-million litre tank and experience the
thrill of a lifetime with the largest collection
of Sand Tiger sharks in the world. Shark
Dives for certified divers cost just AED 750.
Non-certified divers can Discover Scuba for
AED 1,150. You dont have to be a diver
Scuba Marine is the authorised dealer

of Scubapro in the entire UAE. As
the frontline dealers of several other
renowned international brands, we
initially focus on identifying the
requirements of the current diving
market and then confidently move
on to launching reliable marketing
products and services which would
100% satisfy the present market requirements. We also provide after sale
product support, spare parts and many
other various forms of services to our
customers.
THE dive centre & THE dive centre,

Sandy Beach, are PADI 5 * Instructor
Development Centre, PADI Tec Centre
and PADI Free Diving Centres. Located
in Dubai, Dubai International Marine
Club, and also in Fujairah, Sandy Beach
Hotel and Resort. A family orientated
business, where we pride ourselves on
the quality of the training and service
that we provide. Teaching the full range
of PADI Courses from Discover Scuba
Diving to becoming a PADI Instructor,
and for many going onto to become
PADI Tec divers.
+971 2 6446211
scubamarine.ae
THE dive centre, Dubai

+971 55 9985806
The dive centre, Sandy Beach Fujairah +971 9 2445050 or 52 5821215
www.thedivecentre.ae
to experience the Dubai Aquarium and

Underwater Zoo. You can snorkel in the
safety of our cage for AED 350, and do a
Shark Walker for AED 590.
Good news for Students aged
10-18 years! During the Holy Month of
Ramadan, we are offering a two for one
deal on all aquatic experiences in the
Dubai Aquarium.
At Al Boom Diving, we have everything
you need to explore the magical waters
of the U.A.E.
+971 4 3422993
www.alboomdiving.com
BARRACUDA DIVING CENTER was

established on January 10, 2010.
Recognized by PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructor), Barracuda Diving Center offers a full range of
Padi Courses and its currently located
in Fujairah International Marine Club,
UAE. A perfect ambiance to learn and
experience scuba diving or any water
recreational activities and adventures.
Charters Offered:
Diving trips
Equipment rental
Equipment sell
Boat trip
Dhow Cruise
Fishing trips (trawling and bottom fishing)
Diving Courses
Snorkeling trip
+971 5 03266224 or 092225580

[email protected]
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39
Dive Listings 2016

Enjoy summer trips with Al Marsa Travel!

Escape the heat to find the perfect
summer excursion with Al Marsa Travel,
taking you to Musandam on their
exquisite dhows. Musandam-based
diving and cruises specialist Al Marsa
Travel offers a host of services to help
guide visitors through some of Omans
most spectacular reefs and rock
formations, to find a huge selection of
marine life spread over more than twodozen unique dive sites. For summer
2016, Al Marsais offering discounted
prices on their chartered trips.
DIVE ZONE has been delighting

Certified divers with personal and
knowledgeable fun dives around the
UAE. Diving is a great life experience,
and there is no better place to learn to
dive than with DIVE ZONE. We offer
good deals on courses, from simple
try dives to certification level.
+971 9 3981233
www.divezone.co
[email protected]
UAE: +971 50 4824490

Oman: +968 2 6836550
www.almarsamusandam.com
[email protected]
Gulf Marine Sports is one of the oldest

diving related shops in the UAE, having been established in 1998 in Abu
Dhabi. We offer an extensive range of
diving and spearfishing equipment,
and are considered a one stop shop
for all under water gear.
In addition, GMS is a PADI & EFR
center, PADI Swim School Instructor
Center, and Life Guard Training Center.
We provide tanks testing, equipment
service, tank rental, tank filling, PADI
materials, as well as scuba equipment
and spearfishing gear.
+971 2 6710017
www.gulfmarinesports.com
[email protected]
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Dive into the waters of Dubai, Oman

and beyond to discover a whole other
world of sunken shipwrecks and exotic
sea creatures.From scuba diving for
beginners, right the way through to
courses forprofessional dive instructors, The PavilionDive Centre at
Jumeirah Beach Hotel has the expertise to make sure your experience is
everything you hoped.The Pavilion
Dive Centre is the PADI(Professional
Association of DivingInstructors) 5 Star
Career Development Centre in the
United Arab Emirates.
+971 4 4068828
[email protected]
Poseidon Dive Center is a PADI 5 star

IDC Dive Center, which offers a full
range of PADI courses, whether you
want to TRY scuba diving for the first
time, LEARN to become a certified
diver or UPGRADE your diving level.
Certified divers are welcomed to enjoy
our local supervised guided fun dives.
Visit us and you will recognise why we
are ranked excellent on Trip Advisor.
Your journey to the underwater world
starts here.
+974 66 084040
www.pdcqatar.com
[email protected]
Doha, Qatar
Scuba Shade Diving is a full-service

diving center and scuba equipment
retailer, providing complete services to
all divers in the UAE. We are operating in Dubai, Fujairah and Musandam.
Over many years of doing what we
love, weve built a uniquely equipped
and trustworthy high level of service
from our instructors and professional
team. We are running special offers for
a limited time until the end of July
- with discounts of up to 40% on our
PADI courses.
+971 4 3713369
+971 56 2000427
www.scubashade.com
[email protected]
Dive Listings 2016

Scubatec Diving Center L.L.C is a 5

Star IDC Center Licensed by PADI.
Based in Dubai and established in
1993, it is the number one training
center for scuba diving with the largest
collection of diving equipment and
products, making it the complete solution for diving related services in the
UAE. We are well known as one of the
friendliest and busiest dive centers.
Our team of dedicated and professional instructors will ensure that you
gain all the knowledge and experience
required to be safe scuba diver.
+971 55 1546477
[email protected]
Al Mahara Diving Center is a bespoke

PADI5 star Instructor Development
Dive Centerand Watersports Center
based in Abu Dhabi. Were passionate about what we do andready to
take you to see the world in adifferent
light. We offer a wide range of marine
activities inthe safest manner including scuba diving, kayaking, swimming,
traditional pearldiving and marine
heritage courses. What are you waiting
for? Book now!
+971 50 1118125
www.divemahara.com
[email protected]
Seahawk Water Sports is a PADI

certified center, associated with
professional instructors teaching PADI
courses from beginner to professional
levels. We offer the ultimate diving
adventure exploring unique sites and
learning more about the diverse local aquatic life. We organize exciting
dive trips on the East and West coast
of the region. Get a lifetime diving
certification and join us in exploring
the wonders of Abu Dhabi and nearby
destinations.
Tel: (+971) 2 6736688
www.sea-hawk.ae
Facebook: shwsports
Instagram: seahawk_ad
Emirates Divers Centre is a leading

Marine Leisure & Diving Services
Centre in Abu Dhabi. The centre is
registered with PADI and certified as
compliant with the ISO. We offer a
complete range of PADI training courses, from the Bubble Maker Course up
to qualified instructor courses. With
additional courses such as Wreck
Diving, Night Diving and Underwater
Photography, we are able to train in
all aspects related to scuba diving. We
organise diving and snorkelling trips in
Abu Dhabi, as well as overnight Musandam trips in Oman every month.
+971 2 6974347
www.edc-ad.ae
[email protected] | [email protected]
7 Seas Divers is the UAEs oldest dive

center, having been established since
1994. It is located in the heart of
Khorfakkan City, on the East Coast of
the United Arab Emirates. Our friendly
and knowledgeable staff provide
excellent service to all customers and
are dedicated to making sure that you
enjoy the whole experience with us.
We are a registered PADI Dive Resort
and are committed to preserving and
protecting the marine environment
and promoting marine conservation by
ensuring that all divers follow safe and
standard diving practices.
+971 9 2387400 | 56 8924403
+971 50 8359757 | 55 6901690
www.7seasdivers.com
[email protected]
To all happy bubble makers, Adventure Divers operates diving and a

range of other water sports activities
in Dubai, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and,
of course, Fujairah. Diving in the UAE?
Well Fujairah is definitely the best
place, with its warm water, rich aquatic
life and good visibility. At Adventure
Divers we offer the full range of PADI
dive courses, whether you want to
further your dive education or try a
dive for the first time by joining the
Discover Scuba Diving course.
+971 50 1264284
www.adventuredivers.ae
[email protected]
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41
LOCATIONS
Family Camping
Adventure in Oman
Words + Photos By: Lisa Whyte
Did you ever go camping as a

child with your family? If so, youre
sure to recall the adventure of
cooking your evening meal over a
fire or gas stove, sleeping
outside, listening to the night
sounds through the thin walls of
your temporary house and being
close to nature.
Being British, I remember a lot of my
camping days being full of the meditative
sounds of rain on my tent. Mud and wellingtons featured a lot too, as I trudged my way
to the outside toilets and showers hoping
there would be hot water when I got there.
My South African husband remembers a
different version. Warm, musky evenings,
cooking over a braai (whats new?) and then
trying to decipher the night sounds with
your imagination going wild, convincing you
its the local lion.
Our daughter however, who is now eight
years old, will remember her desert camping
adventures in the Middle East; taking her
bath in a kitchen washing up bowl, digging
a hole to go to the toilet, climbing sand
dunes, basking in the hot sun and listening
to the ocean waves, or just the sound of
silence.
Wadi Shab
Oman is one of my favourite camping

locations, so here are some ideas to inspire
you to try this trip with your family.
rocks, which opens up into a huge cave and

waterfall. Its quite a spectacular ending to
what is an already breathtaking walk, and
its definitely worth the swim if you have the
energy.
Tip: Wear waterproof, stable shoes with a
grip and take a waterproof rucksack with
snacks and water.
Day 1
With the car packed and loaded to the brim,

we took the five hour journey to Muscat via
the Khatmat Malahah, Kalba border crossing. We had plans to camp the night at the
Oman Dive Centre, which looked idyllic
when we got there (a small, pretty bay with
shower and toilet access for a small fee),
but unfortunately this was closed for refurbishment, so we drove another 5km and
camped on Yiti beach. The barren, rough,
Hajar Mountains were the backdrop of a
long vanilla beach, overlooking the blue,
Indian Ocean it made a great camping
spot. We found a secluded area back from
the ocean, as it can get quite busy, and
camped in the bushes at the base of one of
the mountains. We packed our first nights
dinner in a cool box from Dubai: chicken
drum sticks over an open fire, with roasted
garlic and olive oil vegetables, also cooked
on foil over the fire.
Finns camping spot
We retraced our journey back 10km and

camped on the small but amazing cliffs of
Finns. Desolate and peaceful, this is a great
place to cast your fishing rod for a couple of
hours.
Tip: Always keep a head torch each, for use
at night
Tip: Dont forget the mosquito repellent.
Day 2
We planned to do the Wadi Shab hike, so

after a 1.5hr drive down the coast and a
stop at Lulu in Muscat beforehand to pick
up ice and that evenings dinner of sausages
and hotdog rolls, we arrived at around 11:00
a.m. It took four hours to complete the
round trip hike; our daughter is eight years
old, so families with older children could
potentially do it faster. On a scale of one to
ten, the hike is about a five, and involves
climbing boulders, crossing gentle waterfalls
and streams and walking on uneven paths.
The scenery is breathtaking. When you have
seen enough of huge, daunting mountains
either side of you, there are frequent idyllic
aqua green pools to jump in and cool off. At
the end of Wadi Shab, there is a 15-minute
swim to a small opening inbetween two
Bimmah Sink Hole
Day 3
The next morning, before we drove 1.5hrs

to Ras Al Jinz, making the short journey to
the Bimmah sinkhole. We spent some time
swimming in this geological hole that is said
to have formed as the limestone wore away
into a vacuum in the earth. Some people say
a large star falling from the sky hit the earth
and formed the hole; I like to believe the
latter!
In Ras Al Jinz we decided to camp at
Al Naseem campsite. Although they have
Historical Town of Sur
Day 4
Local fisherman in Ras Al Hadd
small, basic huts

with air-conditioning for 500AED
a night, they also
allow you to pitch
your tent and camp
on their land. They include dinner, breakfast, a turtle guide, toilets and showers for
300AED.
We decided to go out with a local fisherman in the afternoon to see if we could
add to dinner with a catch of fresh fish. We
arranged to meet him through the Manager
of Al-Naseem camp and met him at the
fishing port of Ras Al Hadd. We saw so
many turtles swimming in the ocean, popping their old heads up for air, just like they
are saying hello for a moment. Its so
quick that its hard to get a photo, but its a
beautiful experience nevertheless. Our fisherman really knew the waters and we caught
lots of small Sheri fish for dinner. Along
with our catch, Al-Naseem camp serve up a
dinner of chicken, salad, bread and dal. We
had an early night, as the next morning warranted a 4:00 a.m. start to see if we could
find any turtles.
We met the guide

at the Ras Al Jinz
Turtle Reserve
and started a long
hard hike across
the beach by
moonlight. The
guide ensured that
expectations were
set and that you
Baby turtle in Ras Al Jinz
may not see any
turtles". However,
luck was with us and as the sun peeped
up over the Indian Ocean, we watched a
Mama (or it could have been a Papa) turtle,
covering their eggs after laying up to 180 of
them, which was a mesmerising and relaxing
experience. The guide then spotted 4 baby
turtles that had hatched a little further down
the beach, and we watched them struggle
their way to the sea, for the start of their
own adventure.
Al Naseem camp sent us on our way with
a hearty breakfast of eggs, bread and dal
from the night before, as we backtracked to
Sur to discover this historical city. We spent
some time preparing for our camp that night
and bought some fresh fish, ice to keep it
chilled and vegetables for dinner. We then
did a spot of fishing from the beach shore,
with a wonderful view of the lighthouse,
decorative mosques and the old buildings of

Sur along the waterfront. We found a lovely
Arabic restaurant that served us freshly
baked, warm Arabic bread with rice and a
delicious chicken dish for lunch, which
we savoured along with some cool mint
lemonade, which was appreciated even
more with the prospect of the hot desert
ahead of us.
In the early afternoon, we set off on the
2hr journey inland from Sur to Wahiba
Sands. After an hour of driving, into view
came the mountains on our right and the
dunes on our left. Reaching over 100ft high,
the soft flour like, cool, orange sands of
Wahiba are welcoming but mysterious, vast
yet intimate. We nestled our tent at the base
of a dune and settled in for our last night of
cooking over a fire and star watching.
Tip: Wake up early and pack up your tent
before the hot sun gets to you.
Day 5
The two hour journey back to Muscat is pretty straightforward, yet it makes a long day to
add another five hours back to Dubai, so we
added a two-night, much appreciated stay
at a hotel onto the end of our trip.We also
played Michael Jacksons Greatest Hits
during the road trip, but, of course, these
two additions are totally optional.
Turtle covering eggs Ras Al Jinz
Wahiba Sands camping spot
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43
PRODUCTS
A ROUND-UP OF QUALITY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN THE UAE
2XU ICE X Compression Tights
Aqualyte Solution (25g Sachet)
Available at Go Sport and Adventure HQ stores
Available at Adventure HQ, The Cycle House, Trek Al Qudra

and Beyond Fitness in Meaisem City Centre
495 AED
This summer, stay cool with 2XUs ICE X Compression Tights

featuring PWX fabric combined with a cooling Jade embedded
yarn, helping combat the heat that can negatively affect your
performance.
Naturally cooling to the touch, ICE
X Compression will aid to reduce
surface skin temperature, while
powerful compression provides
support to entire leg muscles to help
prevent muscle soreness, fatigue and
long-term overuse injuries.
Boost your performance with Aqualyte - a rapid hydration,

ultra fast absorption solution and electrolyte supplement that
is used by top international rugby, cricket and hockey teams
worldwide.
This great tasting, highly effective solution is designed to prevent dehydration, heat illness and fatigue as well as improve
productivity. Available in a convenient 25g sachet that makes
600ml of hydration solution, it is a must-have training essential,
especially during these hot summer months, for all aspiring
athletes and fitness junkies.
Garment features include:

PWX ICE fabric for cooling effect
Compression support for greater
protection to abductor, glute, quad,
hamstring and calf muscles
Graduated compression
for improved blood circulation
3.5cm wide flat waistband with
drawstring
Flatlock comfort seams to reduce chafe
Moisture wicking fabric to keep you dry
Anti-bacterial to manage odour
UPF 50+ sun protection
Get your hands on this high performance hydration that comes

in two tasty flavours, orange and lemon, keeping you cool and
hydrated pre, during and post training.
Nathan Hydration Solutions
Polar Balance - Connected Smart Scale
From 65 AED
Available at Adventure HQ and Go Sport stores as well as

Beyond Fitness in Meaisem City Centre
Did you know that dehydration can cause injuries, hurt your
performance and affect your mood?
Hydration plays a vital role in your training programme and
affects race day performance. In order to fuel, perform and
recover efficiently, you need a hydration plan that includes
pre, during, and post-run solutions. Thats why Nathan makes
a full range of hydration products to cover any lifestyle, activity
or distance. Their hydration gear is designed to perform in all
conditions, every sip of the way. Whether you like to carry or
wear your hydration solution, be sure to check out the full line
of hydration packs, race vests, handhelds, belts, waist paks,
and bottles Nathan has to offer.
Dont let dehydration spoil your run. Fuel Smarter. Perform
Better. Recover Faster. HYDRATE!
#RunStronger #RunLonger
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5 AED
OUTDOORUAE
Special introductory offer: 650 AED, includes a free

Polar Loop 1 activity tracker (in black and while stocks last)
Available at Virgin and Jumbo
Electronics - The Dubai Mall and Mall
of the Emirates and Beyond Fitness
in Meaisem City Centre
Polar Balance is more than a smart
scale. Hook it up with a Polar activity
tracker and the free Polar Flow health
and fitness app and make it simple to
manage what you eat and how you
exercise. It is a whole service to help make your weight
management journey a happy and successful one.
Features include:
ADVANCED ACTIVITY GOAL: Provides a personalised daily activity goal to

help you reach your goal weight, automatically updated and displayed on the
wrist unit.
DESIGNED BEAUTIFULLY: Designed with everyday use in mind, the large
display ensures that the digits are easily readable. With its beautiful splash-proof
glass design, it will look good in your home, and help keep you motivated for a
long time to come.
MULTIPLE USERS: Weighs the whole family. The scale can be used by up to 10
different people.
WEIGHT TREND: Follow your weight trends via the Polar Flow web service and
app. Learn how your weight changes over time, and how your everyday actions
and habits affect it.
BODY MASS INDEX: Follow your body mass index (BMI) in the Polar Flow
app. See your progress and get the motivation you need to effectively manage
your weight.
WIRELESS SYNC: Polar Balance scale connects wirelessly to your Polar device
or mobile app with Bluetooth Smart.
T R&I E D
TESTED
ODUC
THIS PR
OV
T IS APPR
TDOO
ED BY OU
RUAE
2XU Active
Maternity
Tights
Words by: Samantha Cadwallader
Photos by: Claire Harris, REP
Combining the best of its

world-leading compression
technology, 2XU have launched
a new Active Maternity range
designed to provide support,
flexibility and protection
to help women remain
active, strong and
comfortable during and
post pregnancy. We enlisted the help of three
expecting mums, as well
as midwife and personal
trainer Zoe Cresswell,
to put them to the test.
Specially designed to
provide extra support to areas
subject to strain, including the
lower back and pelvic floor
muscles, 2XUs range of shorts,
full length and three quarter
length compression tights will
help women stay active, to
best prepare their body for labour, birth and
recovery. They also assist in reducing swelling
during pregnancy, helping to boost energy
and reduce overall discomfort.
Digital Project Manager Hannah Gilburt,
32, who enjoys CrossFit and Pilates, found
the tights surprisingly comfortable and
perfect for a 60-minute workout. My legs
and hips actually felt supported. Its quite

difficult to find proper pregnancy fitness gear
and its nice not to have to constantly pull up
my trousers. They keep everything in place,
she said.
Maureen Bismack, 30, an Assistant
Psychologist who does boxing, Muay Thai,
kettlebells and weight training, highly
recommends keeping fit when pregnant
as despite the numerous health benefits
associated with exercising,
it also helps her control
her stress levels. Plus, she
found it an excellent
opportunity to create a
support network, while
promoting a healthy
lifestyle for her children.
During the activity
session it was the 2XU
fabric that really stood out
for her. These tights were
very comfortable and
allowed me to move
successfully without any
difficulty. They look
amazing and do wonders
with your shape. As a
result, you feel better
about yourself and have
more confidence. Although they are pricey,
the tights are worth it! Maureen concluded.
Unlike Hannah and Maureen, Yoga
Instructor and Event Manager MJ, 33, had
never heard of 2XU. After having loved the
initial 2XU tights experience, referring to
them as a second skin, she wore them for
a hot yoga session. I did not feel restricted
at all in any movements. They felt light even
with all the sweat, and I did not feel like I
was overheating even though I had the long
tights on, she said.
While all our ladies raved about the
2XU active maternity tights and would
definitely recommend them to other
expecting mums, two of them found the
waistband a little high and just rolled it
down for a more comfortable fit. Everyone
agreed that they looked and felt great and
offered support, with everything held in
place when exercising. Now MJ cant wait to
get her hands on the post-natal range!
Dos and Donts from Midwife

and Personal Trainer Zoe Cresswell
Do: Ensure your fitness instructor knows you

are pregnant and is trained to coach you
during your pregnancy. Also, discuss your
exercise regime with your doctor.
Do: Listen to your body and dont exercise

to exhaustion.
Do: Drink plenty of water.
Do: Stop all contact sports.
Do: Ensure that you are still able to hold a
conversation while exercising. This ensures
that you are not pushing yourself too hard.
Do: Stop typical abdominal exercises and
seek advice from a pregnancy fitness
specialist or physiotherapist about how
to maintain a strong core.
Do: Wear two sports bras if you find your
breasts are becoming uncomfortable while
you are working out.
Do: Ensure you are eating a well-balanced
diet and are consuming a sufficient amount
of calories.
Do: Avoid activities that involve quick
changes of direction, jumping or jarring
movements that may strain your joints and
cause injury.
Do: Keep your fitness instructor informed
of any changes that occur during your
pregnancy.
Do: Enjoy yourself! Starting good habits now
is a great time to build towards a healthier
future.
Dont: Stop exercising when you find out you
are pregnant.
Dont: Lay on your back after 14 weeks or
earlier if it makes you feel lightheaded.
Dont: Exercise if you are experiencing any of
the following: uterine contractions, reduced
fetal movement, dizziness or feeling faint,
bleeding, chest pain, muscle weakness,
calf pain or swelling, headache, increased
shortness of breath.
The 2XU Active Maternity range

is available from Go Sport stores and
Beyond Fitness at City Centre Meaisem,
near Sports City. Starting from 575 AED,
the range includes pre- and post-natal
active wear.
PRODUCTS
Yamaha Molecule Tube (3 person)
Part# SBT-43873-72-14
3,195 AED | Was: 4,195 AED
Available only at Al Yousuf Motors across the UAE
Specification:
The Yamaha Molecule incorporates HO Sphere Technology,
which reduces the drag typical of larger towables. The spheres
are arrayed at the corners and suspend the main deck,
resulting in less surface area contacting the water, which
means that the large Molecule is more lively.
Features:
Neoprene padding increases comfort.
Boston valve for easy inflation/deflation.
Quick-tow attachment.
Inflated measurement: 113 x 97
Accommodates up to 3 riders.
Jobe Sports Ruthless

Waverunner/Jetski Helmet
Part# 370015001 | Sizes: MD-XL
395 AED | Was: 550 AED
Lets Ride PWC
Available only at Al Yousuf Motors across the UAE
Specification:
The updated Ruthless full-face helmet offers professional
protection for Jet Ski and Personal Water Craft (PWC) riders
Features:
Made of high-quality polycarbonate for maximum protection
against high impacts
E-certification (This helmet is not officially certified
as a water sports helmet)
Comfortable soft
inner lining
Fit pads
Adjustable chin strap
with double D-ring lock
system
Adjustable sun visor
Includes soft protection
bag for storage
* Offer is valid till 30th June 2016
MK25 EVO / A700

Carbon Black Tech
4,150 AED
Available at all Scuba Marine Dealers
The premium high-performance MK25 EVO/CARBON BLACK
TECH is not only the best-breathing reg in SCUBAPROs line,
its also the leader in advanced design and materials and the
toughest in terms of high-tech durability.
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OUTDOORUAE
Suunto D6i Novo Stone

3,300 AED
Available at all Suunto authorised dealers in the UAE & GCC

A robust dive computer with a 3D compass,
wireless air integration and a steel casing
Features:
Steel case and sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating
Full continuous decompression algorithm - Suunto RGBM
Gas-switching between up to three gases
Five modes: air, nitrox, gauge, free and off
Innovative apnea timer, and a timer in air/nitrox modes
Integrated tilt-compensated 3D digital
compass
Updateable firmware
Optional wireless air integration
current cylinder
pressure, remaining air time
Built-in dive planner
Detailed graphical logs and
dive data on your PC/Mac
using Suunto DM5 software
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Polaris RZR Racer ATV tour with mxDubai

Words + Photos by: Daniel Birkhofer
If youve been living in the UAE for

a few years, youll certainly get to a
stage when you feel bored, having
seemingly done all there is on offer.
If you are new or are here for a visit,
you may be on the hunt for the best
experiences you can get. So for all
of you I have something new that
involves adrenaline and a big smile
on your face guarantee.
I have been off-roading and dune bashing a lot. However, after 10 years in Dubai,
I rarely get excited about heading for the
dunes. Dont get me wrong, I still enjoy it
and its great fun, but enjoying something
and getting excited about something are two
different things. So when I knew Id be trying
out the Polaris RZR racer tours from mxDubai,
I was keen to have some fun in the desert, but
my excitement was limited. I have previously
driven some rented ATVs, from those places
at the side of the road. I thought, ATV - the
box is checked already. How wrong I was.
Polaris builds top models which of course
are also the most
expensive ones. Most
other rental places just
get low end or entry
level ATVs, so this is the
first big difference to
mxDubai. An important
detail is also the safety
gear. Some outlets dont
even provide helmets,
but most of them give
you a very cheap helmet. I want to stress the
importance of safety since all desert activities
come with a risk that you cannot exclude but
can however minimise. If you get no or poor
equipment, it might be wise not to choose
that company. mxDubai has only high quality
and professional equipment. Also the other
places are just rental outlets and not tour operators, whereas mxDubai offers guided tours,
which is a completely different story. There is
no one with a stop watch checking your time
by the minute. mxDubai offers an experience,
not a vehicle rental.
So these are all good facts. But the big
question: is it fun? As mentioned before, I was
not excited. I went to the briefing and instructions Safety is important for MX Dubai and
every ride starts with a briefing of safety rules
and detailed instructions how to drive and

what to avoid. The ATVs are equipped with
6-point racing seat belts for the highest safety
standards and the team makes sure, you are
strapped in properly since most clients are
not familiar with professional racing seat belts
which have a different locking mechanism.
The feeling was like being in a race car, and
slowly I could feel something in my stomach. There was a small tickle. We started the
engines and went through the gate of the
farm, and I pushed the accelerator. Now I
could feel it. It was not the roaring engine,
it was my body vibrating, and I got goose
bumps. I was excited and adrenaline started
rushing through my veins within seconds. No
one could see it because of my helmet, but I
had a big smile on my face. This was new and
different. The Polaris is made for this; incredible acceleration on the sand
and an amazing suspension.
We took the same track I took
to reach the farm off-road
through the dunes. Since
it was a desert track, it was
super bumpy in the car and I
was driving maybe 30-40kmh.
With the Polaris, I could
reach 60-70kmh on the sand.
Driving in 4WD, the ATV was
stable and very manoeuvrable. I have driven
a lot in the sand with cars and also ATVs and
quad bikes, so I have a feeling for the sand.
I recommend that anyone going for the first
time takes it easy and slowly. Anyhow, your
instructor will adjust to your level whether
youre a beginner or a pro, and will set the
pace. I have to admit, the Polaris are so fast
on the sand that you have to be very careful,
as you can quickly enter into a tunnel vision
and not recognise what is happening around
you. Since the engines are roaring, you will
not hear a thing. Keeping an overview can be
quite hard,as the racing seat belts strap you
so tight in the seat that you can hardly look
back over your shoulder.
One more very important aspect is that
you can do these tours in summer. When we
arrived at 4:00 p.m. it was 40C, but getting

ready was the hottest part of the tour because
as soon as you move, you have the wind
cooling you and there was no point during the
extended tour of 4 hours when I felt too hot.
All ATVs have LED lights, so you can drive in
the dark, which is an amazing experience in
itself.
After four hours I still had not had enough,
even though I ate a lot of dust. Finally, I had
found something which excited me again.
When I got home, I messaged photos to my
two brothers in my home country and told
them whats waiting for them on their next
visits. Entertaining family and friends can be a
challenge if you have visitors coming regularly,
so now you know what you can offer them
next time.
Of course one thing everyone wants to
know is how much it costs. Since there are
different tours, I cannot give a price, but the
price value is much better than if you opt for
the rental places on the road. If you calculate
the price per hour, mxDubai is much cheaper
and you get a real experience for a few hundred dirhams. Since the ATVs are two seaters,
you can even take someone with you and
share the ride.
mxDubai provides off-road motorbike
rental, buggy rental, quad bikes
rental and Jet Skis for rent in Dubai.
For more info you can visit mxDubai.com
or contact them at +971 55 209 0832
or [email protected]
Arabic Edition
The prestigious Lum-Tec
M53 comes with a wide range of
features, which as well as a
bespoke style certainly rounds up
a very exotic look. Not only this,
but the M53 can also be used
outdoors with its luminous dials.
For a limited time only, get the
Lum-Tec M53 with an Arabic dial,
perfect for exploring the great
deserts of the UAE.
Specifications:
44mm width excluding crown
24mm lug width
14.5mm thick
Weight on leather strap 150g/5.3 oz.
Solid CuSn8 bronze case and crown
Brushed finish
Sapphire crystal with double side clear
anti-reflective coating
Screw lock crown with double diamond
sealing system
Threaded stainless steel caseback with
sapphire window
300 meters/990 ft. water resistance
2 straps included:
Brown leather strap. 24/22 size
Custom molded anti-static rubber strap.
24/22 size
Extra springbars included for fitting other
straps
Precision tuned all Japan made Sii NH35J
automatic movement with hacking feature.
One year limited warranty
Limited numbered series of 300
Free lifetime timing adjustments
Available at
Instagram: @almekshah
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
almekshah
Mobile: +971 55 8008829
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Suunto Zoop Novo
An easy-to-use, nitrox-capable dive computer for recreational divers

Words By: Jake Lyle
Long before space travel,

the ocean was the first hostile environment that we humans ventured
into. As far back as the late 17th
century, we strapped on helmets
and headed under the ocean.
This unprecedented exploration
however would not have been
possible without the equipment
that allowed us to breathe
underwater and keep us safe. Its
equipment like the Suunto Zoop
Novo that makes diving the fun,
exciting and safe sport that it is.
The Suunto Zoop Novo
dive computer is a perfect
example of a dive watch
that will enhance your time
underwater and make your
whole diving experience
safer, and more enjoyable. The Zoop Novo has
a simple and user-friendly
interface with well laid out
indicators and measurements. The large screen
displays bold figures, allowing the details
to be read easily at a quick glance, which is
perfect for if you want to pay close attention
to the underwater world around you, rather
than having to focus closely on the details of
your computer. The navigation of the watch is
simple and easy, again allowing for efficiency,
letting you concentrate on your dive, rather
than the screen on your wrist. The simple
interface and easy navigation makes the
computer perfect for an entry level diver, and
the more advanced features allow you to progress as a diver without needing to upgrade
computers.
The watch has four different modes, as well
as an off mode. The first is air mode. This is
the default setting for a normal dive with normal air. Within this mode, as well as the rest,
there is a range of settings included that you
can adjust to enhance your dive: personal/
altitude adjustment, depth alarm, dive time

alarm, sample rate and deep stop rate. These
are optional features that can be turned on or
off depending on your preference.
The second mode is nitrox mode. This
allows the computer to incorporate its
algorithm into the enriched air mixture that
youre breathing. Here, you can enter in the
oxygen percentage in the settings anywhere
from 21% to 50%, and partial pressures from
17.4 psi 23.2 psi will be displayed. Once the
settings from your enriched air have been
entered, the computer will calculate your
maximum operating depth.
In gauge mode, the third mode, the watch
will display only depth and time, whereas the
fourth mode is free mode, which is a unique
feature that many dive watches do not possess. This mode is perfect for both snorkelling
and freediving, as it will display information on your dive without penalising you for
ascending too quickly and it
will not record decompression
information.
Another unique feature of
the watch is the ability to make
adjustments to your personal
situation. This feature makes
your dives safer by reducing the likelihood of being
susceptible to Decompression
sickness. If you were either in
a location that would increase
this likelihood, for example a high altitude
location, this could be recorded into the computer and the calculations would be adjusted
accordingly and it would tell you the safest
length and depth of your dive. Similarly, if
you were in a certain physical state that also
could increase the likelihood of decompression sickness, for example: fatigue, dehydration, over exertion or a lack of physical fitness
this too could be recorded in the computer
and the calculations would be altered. This is
a fantastic and unique feature that brings a
whole new dimension to diving safety.
The Zoop will automatically record your
dive history, including every last detail. The
capacity of the watch is roughly 140 hours,
so it will certainly take a while to fill up the
memory. If storage on the watch isnt quite
enough for more frequent divers, the Zoop is
PC compatible, and you can upload your dive
history onto a PC or Mac with the USB kit.

With the help of the Suunto Zoop Novo,
safety stops and deep stops have become
easy. For any dive below 10 meters, the
watch will immediately display safety stop
information, which will either include an optional stop or a mandatory stop. The recommended safety stop should be for 3 minutes
at a depth anywhere between 3-6 meters. But
instead of having to hold onto the anchor line
to make sure youre at the right depth, having
the Zoop tell you will make it much easier.
If activated, a deep stop will be displayed
on the screen for any dive below 20 meters,
which makes for good diving practice.
Although one of the draws of this dive
watch is its simplicity, it is however lacking a
few advanced features that would allow it to
be perfect for dive instructors as well as beginners. The watch does not have the option
for air integration. This means that it does
not have a feature that allows you to measure
the amount of air you have left in your tank.
Instead, this will need to be done through an
additional external pressure gauge, in order
to monitor your supply. This feature is more
prominent in higher range dive computers,
which increases the ease and efficiency of
dives.
Overall, the Suunto Zoop Novo dive watch
is a fantastic watch that can serve the purposes of a range of different levels of divers
from beginner to advanced. It has a number
of unique and useful features that arent
present in many other dive computers out
there including its free diving mode and the
option to make personal and altitudinal adjustments. Its a modern and innovative dive
computer, but at the same time it is easy to
learn how to use and it wont take long to get
your head around it. Although the simplicity
of the watch sacrifices a few advanced features, it is nonetheless still a viable option for
a diverse range of divers, so if youre in the
market for your first dive computer or youre
simply looking around for an update, I highly
recommend it.
The Suunto Zoop Novo is available
in all Suunto authorised dealers
in the UAE & GCC for only 1,100 AED.
For more info you can visit www.suunto.com
PRODUCTS
SIC Recon 9.9 TW
SIC Adjustable Glide Paddle
Available exclusively at GO Sport
Features:
This fun-shaped, surf-style board,
receives amazing reviews every time
someone takes it into the line-up.
Whether paddling through the shore
break, standing outside waiting for your
wave or dropping in, the Recon 9.9
does it with style and ease.
It performs well down the line on
smaller waves due to its full nose and
turns well on mid to large size waves as
a result of its squash tail.
This is a perfect all-round surfboard
for light-to-mid-weight surfers.
Perfect all round SUP.
At home in the surf or on the lake.
Extremely strong and responsive.
The adjustable glide is the perfect entry-level

paddle for everyone from a small child to a tall adult.
It has a strong but light fiberglass shaft for a good
look and feel and a fibreglass blade and handle for
maximum durability and low cost. This is the perfect
paddle for your friends to try SUP.
SIC Air-Glide X-12.6
YAK Kallista Life Jacket
Features:
Inflatable
This touring / fitness / race board is
perfect for family fun, fitness and for
competing in the 126 inflatable race
class. The X-12.6 Air-Glide is the stiffest
board in its class at 20 PSI.
While this board is a great recreational
fun board, it is also the fastest race board
in its class.
The low drag fin makes this board fast.
The board is kitted with all the standard
accessories offered in the SIC Air-Glide series perhaps most importantly is the dual
action, high pressure pump.
SUP designed for racing
Quick set-up and breakdown
The front zipped Kallista provides everything the keen

recreational paddler needs.
4,365 AED/QAR
4,725 AED
50
OUTDOORUAE
835 AED/QAR
Features:
Perfect entry level paddle
Adjustable length
Strong fiberglass construction
295 AED/QAR
Features:
Slim line
High mobility cut
Wealth of pockets and attachment points
Reflective detailing
Suitable for Kayaking
and Stand-Up Paddle boarding
and any other watersports.
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This May we had the chance to

follow the path of Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab army, marching
to Aqaba through the picturesque
Wadi Rum and passing the famous
seven pillars of wisdom.
Wadi Rum, 1916
Emir Faisal and T.E. Lawrence in a Model T
One hundred years ago in todays Jordan,

T.E. Lawrence led a grueling, two-month
march through a desert many believed to be
impassable to capture the Red Sea city of
Aqaba. Even then, Ford vehicles navigated
the desert terrain. Archive footage shows
Lawrence driving a Ford Model T throughout the region.
Fast forward one century, and we are retracing the steps of the march of Aqaba with
the all new Ford Edge, to establish whether
Fords slogan - Build Tough - applies also
in todays age and to a cross-over SUV.
The original crossover utility vehicle from
Ford is loaded with more technology, higher
levels of craftsmanship and greatly improved
vehicle dynamics. The 2016 Ford Edge is a
better vehicle by every measure.
Central to the
improved driving
dynamics is an
entirely new body
structure and redesigned suspension front and
rear developed
specifically to
better isolate road
imperfections and
to absorb noise
without compromising handling.On the long

stretch of highway with many bumps and
humps, we had a smooth ride with no rattling noises. Even off-road, the suspension
proved to be capable of handling rocks and
soft dunes.
Edge represents the first Ford vehicle to
feature standard EcoBoost power, meaning
you get more horse power and torque out
of a smaller engine, which saves fuel and is
in turn better for the environment, as well
as saving you money at the petrol station.
We were driving the 2.7-liter EcoBoost
with approximately 340 PS and 542 Nm of
torque, which provided enough power to
tackle even big dunes. We were impressed
as at first glance the Edge does not look as
though it is capable of driving in the dunes.
Not many people will push the car that far,
but it shows that you dont have to be afraid
to go off the road to the beach or desert
BBQs.
The 2016 Edge will be a technology
leader for Ford, with a suite of standard and
available technologies designed to improve
the driving experience and the level of
occupant comfort. Key technology features

include: adaptive cruise control and collision
warning, Blind Spot Information System,
Cameras, cross-traffic alert, enhanced active
park assist, forward and reverse sensing
systems, hands-free liftgate, heated and
cooled seats, table, lane-keeping system,
side parking sensors, SYNC with MyFord
Touch, auto-park brake and much more.
Overall, we were impressed with the all
new Ford Edge, not only for the comfortable
and very quiet ride on the road, but also for
the fun it can provide off-road. What took
T.E Lawrence months, we did in style and
comfort in one day. Jordan is an incredibly
picturesque, safe and historic country to visit
and to explore by car, especially if you also
have the chance to leave the paved roads
and go on an adventure.
For more details on the new range of
SUV and 4x4 models by Ford, visit your
local dealer or www.me.ford.com
Keo Power Pedals
Brought to you by:
WHY LOOK:
> Reliable power measurement: for accurate training

> ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart compatibility
> Used by pros and researchers
> An upgradeable system
> A LOOK pedal, the brand's knowledge and experience
> Quick installation and only 150g added
> Lightest power pedal on the market
FORCE / POWER / CADENCE

Force:
the instantaneous thrust
applied by the leg
to the pedal expressed
in Newtons (N)
KEO PEDAL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

USE
COMPETITION
BODY
INJECTION-MOULDED CARBON
MEASUREMENT
CADENCE, POWER, FORCE
SPINDLE
STAINLESS STEEL,17-4PH
THREAD
9/16X20
BEARINGS
2 BALL BEARINGS, 1 NEEDLE BEARING
PLATFORM HEIGHT
17.5 MM
Q-FACTOR
55 +0.6 MM
MULTITENSOR
10 10 18
CLEATS
GREY KEO GRIP CLEATS
ANGULAR
MOVEMENT
Oo, 4.5o OR 9o DEPENDING ON CLEAT TYPE

(BLACK, GREY OR RED)
PEDAL WEIGHT
170 G
COLOUR
BLACK
WATERPROOFING
1PX7*
ACCESSORIES
ONE PAIR OF GREY KEO GRIP CLEATS

HARDWARE
WARRANTY
2 YEARS
DUAL MODE RADIO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

WAIGHT
29 G
BATTERY TYPE
USB RECHARGEABLE
BATTERY LIFE
200H
WATERPROOFING
1PX7*
Total weight: 398 g per pair of pedals with radios

52
OUTDOORUAE
Power:
force x cadence
The power developed by
the cyclist is expressed in
Watts (W)
Cadence:
the athlete's pedalling rate,
expressed in revolutions
per minute (RPM)
For more info, please call or email:

+971 4 3697441 | [email protected]
Address: Revolution Cycles Dubai, Shop 5, Apex Atrium,
Motor City, Dubai, UAE
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A WaveRunner
for World Champions
A review of the 2016 Yamaha FZR from Al Yousuf Motors

Words By: Daniel Birkhofer
Photos By: Nela Macovei
It was a hot May morning at

Dubais Jumeirah Beach, where I
was waiting to get a WaveRunner
introduction by a professional. It did
not take long before I could see a
small dot on the horizon which was
approaching at speed.
Water was splashing and the big white
wake behind the WaveRunner was clearly
visible as it headed straight for us. Shortly
before reaching the dedicated water sports
area on the beach, the driver showed his
skills and did some sharp high speed turns
in front of us, followed by jumps over the
waves. It was obvious that these tricks were
executed by a pro, who turned out to be no
other than Ali Mohammed Yousuf Al Lanjawi.
If you are looking for speed and an adrenaline rush on the water, the 2016 Yamaha
FZR should be your first choice. Yamaha
claims the FZR is race ready and this promise
is delivered. With its lightweight hull and as
the biggest in its class, the FZR has incredible acceleration and speed on the water.
The heart of the FZR is the intercooled and
supercharged 4-cylinder 1812cc, 4-stroke,
Super Vortex High Output Yamaha Marine
Engine, which delivers its power to the water
through a 160mm pump with a large 85mm
exit diameter.
Ali gave me a quick run through of the
FZR as well as some driving tips, highlighting
the importance of using the kill-switch and
wearing a lifejacket and a helmet before
getting on the water. He also pointed out

that if you get a new WaveRunner, it has
to be registered and licensed with the RTA
before you can enjoy the Arabian Gulf. The
FZR is certainly the right choice for a beginner, but should be handled with care until
you gain safe driving skills. One thing is for
certain: with an FZR you shouldnt need to
look for any upgrade.
Drivers should be aware of the immense
power that they are unleashing when they
push the throttle. In ideal water conditions,
the FZR can take as little as 1.5 seconds to
get from 0-to-50 km/h, and has top speeds
of up to 120km/h. The hull handles this
speed and power precisely and accurately,
cutting through the water like a sharp
Samurai sword despite its weight of
approximately 400kg.
To have full control of this powerful watercraft or to cruise in comfort, the telescopic
handle bar can be adjusted in height to perfectly fit the pilot. Pro racers actually stand
most of the time to be able to handle the
WaveRunner at high speeds and to navigate
sharp turns.
With the aim of performance, the FZR
does not have all the options offered by
other Yamaha WaveRunners, such as RiDE
- Yamahas dual-throttle control system that
enhances reversing. But there are some useful features, like the flip-down re-boarding
step at the back and storage compartments
for soft drinks as well as a water tight storage
box under the seat for a towel or valuables.
It has manual reverse and a quick shift trim.
The FZR seats two people, so you can

share the adrenaline rush and joy of a ride
with friends or family. With 250 HP, the FZR
is also strong enough to tow inflatables for
even more water fun. It's easy to see why
professionals like Ali Al Lanjawi trust the FZR
WaveRunner to represent the UAE at international competitions. I had a lot of fun on
the water and there was certainly adrenaline
rushing through my veins, even though my
driving was far below the speed and skills
of Ali. A big thank you to Ali for sharing his
experience and knowledge with us and we
wish him the best for his competitions in
Europe, where he is representing the UAE
and Al Yousuf Motors.
For more details visit Al Yousuf

Showrooms across the UAE or visit
www.aym.ae.
OUR EXPERTS
Awesome to see water and greenery in the summertime
The famous jebel akhdar terraces
Jebel Akhdar in the Summer

Words + Photos by: Marina Bruce
Summer weather is well

and truly with us in the Gulf and
camping, whether it be beach or
desert, can get a little too hot. So
whats an adventurer to do? Our
answer for the past two summers
was tohead for the hills, or should
I say, the Omani mountain, Jebel
Akhdar.
It is less than a five hour drive from
Dubai/Abu Dhabi, making it a great destination for a weekend escape if you can
free yourself from the shackles of work
mid-afternoon on a Thursday. To get there,
firstly make your way to the Mezyad/Hafeet
Border crossing in Al Ain, and once clear of
that it should take you around 3 hours to
reach Nizwa, onetime capital of Oman and
today the location of a huge Lulu Supermarket, which is your last chance to stock
up on food and camping accessories before
heading up the green mountain.
The road from Nizwa to the top of Jebel
Akhdar is tarred and crash barriers line the
drops all the way, but only 4 wheel drive
vehicles are allowed to drive on it. Drivers
encounter a police checkpoint (where they
must register) early on the route, and it is
at this point that 2WD vehicles are turned
back. As you would expect, the road itself
climbs and winds its way through some jaw
dropping terrain, and there are parking
Road has safety features built in
The whole area is a nature reserve
areas at the most spectacular viewpoints.

It is important to make sure that your
cars cooling system is in tip top condition,
as the constant climbs require consistently
high revs and its not unusual to see one or
two broken down cars near the top.
On our very first visit to Jebel Akhdar we
came across a scenic park and we have
returned to camp here each year. Situated at an altitude of 2300 metres, it is a
massive area which gives room for a few
Many easy rocky tracks
groups to camp yet still retain privacy; head

to the back of the site and do a little rock
crawling along some very faint tracks to
get away from everyone else. High up and
away from large towns, on a clear night
you can see thousands of stars appear in an
inky black sky and if you time your visit to
coincide with the Perseid meteor shower in
August then you are in for a treat!
So, apart from late night sky watching,
whats to do when you get there? First
Frog in a falaj
Massive amounts of fruit are grown here
thing, park somewhere scenic, step out

of your car, and appreciate how cool it is!
While we are sweltering in 45-50C temperatures in the UAE, the mercury barely
rises above 30C on the green mountain,
and with temperatures of around 12-15C
overnight youll want a campfire and will
probably need to wear a jacket while you
are sitting there enjoying it! You will unfortunately find lots of mosquitos in the area
so dont forget to pack a good insect repellent, ideally containing DEET.
If you are a cyclist, then take your bike as
there are many roads and tracks to explore.
If like me you are a casual walker, then there
are several villages and oases to wander
round and explore; there are also some
treks over mountains and through wadis for
those who are seeking more challenging
walks.
My favourite walk is around the village
of Al Ayn which is perched atop a cliff
overlooking the famous Jebel Akhdar terraces. Cut into the hill many moons ago,
Walking along a falaj wall
Villagers grow their crops where they can
the villagers grow a diverse range of crops;

Omani rosewater is famous throughout the
region and it is in these terraces that the
roses grow in early spring, ready for a May/
June harvest. Fruit and vegetables can also
be found both on the terraces and in small
oases such as the one beyond the village
of Saiq; this is my second favourite walk in
the area and you can see pomegranates,
sweetcorn and apricots as well as a host of
other produce competing for space in the
small fruit farms. Add a few sleepy cats,
a variety of birds and the odd amphibian
and you have the perfect setting for some
nature photography.
The offroad driver is well catered for too,
with many mountain roads and tracks to explore. These can be found on the free map
that is available at the border. Some tracks
are very challenging to drive and most
are not for the vertiginous, however if you
make the effort to get far off the beaten
track you will be rewarded with the sight
of old houses built into hillsides, ancient
villages in seemingly inhospitable territory

and some amazing views.
If camping is not your thing, then you
could consider hotel accommodation;
there are a few hotels of different grades to
choose from and you can find them all listed
on booking.com. Spread your budget a
little further by choosing to camp but eating out at a hotel the terraces at both the
Sahab and the Alalia enjoy stunning views.
Now, what about Ramadan, I hear you
ask? Neil and I visited there mid-Ramadan
in July 2014 and we have to report that it
was almost deserted! It is unlikely that hotels will be serving food during the day, but
if you self-cater there are many secluded
places to sit and eat your snacks, well away
from those who are fasting.
If you would like my route file you will find
it, as well as the co-ordinates of services
and other interesting places by logging
onto this blogpost - http://thedesertdiva.
com/2014/07/13/jebel-akhdar-in-thesummer/
View of Al Ayn Village
OUTDOORUAE
55
OUR EXPERTS
Women
n Wheels
Lessons from Pro Cycling

Words by: Helle Bachofen von Echt
Photos by: Annette McCusker
Dont you just love kicking back

on the couch and watching Tour
de France or other road cycling
events? It is just so easy, always
a pleasure and quite often also
exhilarating to watch those pro
riders conquer mountains and
pushing their max power in the final
sprint! But in reality, most people
dont know, and they will never
know, what it really takes to be
a pro cyclist.
Last November, I was given an incredible opportunity to race with a Canadian
pro team in California as their guest rider.
My training with the team coach between
November and April consisted of structured
intervals to improve my anaerobic capacity.
Then, last month I jumped on one of the
worlds longest flights from Dubai to Los
Angeles to join Canadian Pro team SAS-Macogep-Mazda-Acquisiofor eight stage races
in California. I left the UAE with a mixed bag
of butterflies, self-doubt, excitement and

nerves. I knew that for me personally it was
going to be the toughest race experience
in my short 2.5 years of competitive cycling;
but apart from that I didnt really know what
to expect, and I arrived in California with an
open mind and a desire to learn as much as
possible.
The events I had been invited to participate in were the San Dimas three day stage
race, and the famous and longest continuous running stage race in American professional racing, the Redlands Bicycle Classics.
This is a five day stage race, attracting top
US pro teams and riders such as 2x Olympic
gold medallist, 43 year old Kristin Armstrong, and one of the worlds best female
climbers, Mara Abbott, who is currently
contracted to world team Wiggle High5.The
races included rider categories of Pro, Cat
1 and Cat 2, and most riders were racing as
part of a team.
Lesson #1 Physical Strength
These women are incredibly strong; and by

that I am talking about actual power output
measured in watts. To give you just a small
idea of the strength difference between
myself, a UAE Elite female rider, and the
women at these races; during an uphill indi-
vidual time trial, I set a new personal record

for 20 minutes max power output, and at
64kg I placed 78th of 81 riders in total. This
was an individual effort directly measured
in power to weight ratio and it gave me an
incredible introduction to the strength levels
that were going to be required in this form
of racing.
Lesson #2 Skills
Strength is important, because without

strength it is not possible to race in a bunch
with these athletes. However, I quickly learnt
that being skilled at bike racing is equally as
important to being physically strong.
Positioning skills
In a field of 80+ strong female riders all
fighting to position themselves towards the
front of the peloton, it takes quite some
skill and confidence to manoeuvre oneself around the tight field. Moreover, itcan
be a matter of make-or-break.Riders who
can position themselves well by sitting on
a strong wheel, sheltering from the wind
and placingthemselves near the front, can
save a lot of energy. They will be at less
risk of suddenly finding themselves in a
position behind a rider gap that they need
to close,and ultimately they will save their
energy for later situations whenthey need to
use their strength.
Bike handling skills
Equally, sitting in a tight and fast peloton
on often technical routes with narrow roads,
uneven road surfaces, cones, bends and
sharp corners, requires vital bike handling
and control skills. Riders have to be alert at
all times and ready to act quickly if another
rider gets too close or if an obstaclesuddenly appears. Choosing the correct line, speed
and distance to other riders through corners
is another required skill. Finally, handling
and controlling the bike and body position
while moving around a fast moving peloton
is a skill that needs to be developed through
practice. Braking, balancing and powering
up again close to other riders are skills that
every rider will use numerous times during
a race.
Anticipation and making micro-decisions
In California we raced on much more technical, undulating and hilly terrains than our
average races in the Middle East. In such
terrains it is important to look forward and

anticipate how the group is likely to move. If
a move comes as a surprise and ones reaction is too slow, it can cost a lot of energy
to fight back into the group. These little anticipated decisions along the way can save a
rider valuable energy.
Touching other riders
This is something that cannot be avoided in
a tight and fast peloton with riders constantly surging towards the front. It is very
important to be strong and confident on
the bike and be able to take a touch, hit or
push without losing control of the bike. Core
control and good balance is needed to hold
the position when being touched and it is
important to find this control immediately as
any sudden moves can result in hitting other
riders and potentially cause a crash.
Lesson #3 Mental Toughness
Bike racing at this level is tough for all riders

suffering is part of the sport. It all comes
down to who has the best ability to master
their pain and fatigue. For many riders there
comes a time or a situation during a race
where muscle fatigue or breathing difficulty
becomes unbearable. The riders who succeed are the ones who have the mental and
physical ability to push through this fatigue
over and over. And often enough it is only a
matter of seconds rather than minutes where
the deeper levels are required to secure
animproved position in the field.
Lesson #4 Team Spirit
In any sport, a teamworks towards the same

goal. However in cycling this goal might
change from day to day. Sometimes riders
have to sacrifice themselves for the success of other team riders or the success of
the team. Every day new tactics are made
according to the race profile, the ability of
individual riders, the overall rankings and
the anticipation of how other teams willapproach the race.Most importantly, all riders
and team staff are excited to be part of the
team, excited to be competing andwholeheartedly embraceeach challenge however
tough it may be. Everyone is on the same
page with training, recovery and nutrition
and everyone has their own story as to how
they reached pro level. Some have more
experience than others, but ultimately

everyone has exceptional drive, bags of
determination and a real desire to succeed
for themselves and for the team. It was
truly inspiring, but also very easy to spend
24/7 with these people as everybody was
supportive of each others differentabilities
within the unity of working towards the same
goal.
and to represent female cyclists from this

region. It will take time, effort and support
and it will be a developing process, but it is
possible.
If you are interested in womens professional cycling, the most important stage race
in the Womens World Tour, the 27th edition
of the Giro Rosa runs from 1st till 10th July
2016.
How can we improve our female

cyclists and lift the competitive level
in the Middle East?
Based on this US pro cycling experience,

which was only a snapshot into the world of
Pro female cycling, these are some of the
points I believe are necessary to develop
competitive female cyclists in our region:
Time - We need time. Cycling is still relatively new in the Middle East and although
cycling is booming and more people are
taking up cycling, we still need time to allow
for initiatives to be implemented and formore people, includingyouths and females,
to be attracted into the sport.
Youth Development Programmes - It
takes years of practise and experience to
become a top performing athlete and it is
necessary to create a structured, safe and
supportive environment for youths, with the
right tools and practices in place to help
young people to progress and advance in
the sport.
Increase the number of competitions Practising provides experience. We need to
practise to gain confidence, tostrengthen
the teams and riders and allow for different tactics to be tried and tested. For every
competition there is something new to learn
for all. Competitions including individual
time trials, criterions and circuit races can be
organised at low cost.
Build our first female continental team
- It will take time to develop the riders and
the success of the team, but we have to start
somewhere. It will require financial support
and sponsors to enable the team to travel
outside the Middle East to gain experience
Helle Bachofen von Echt is a

Dubai-based sponsored Elite Road
Cyclist competing in both local and
international events. When she is not
training, she is helping others achieve
their health and fitness goals by running her own personal training services
as well as giving indoor cycling classes.
Helle loves travelling with her bike
and you can follow her adventures and
racing on Instagram
@thegirlwhocyclesinthedesert.
OUTDOORUAE
57
OUR EXPERTS
One of the kayaks I am looking at, the RTM Tempo. It's a modified version of the legendary Ocean Kayaks Scupper Pro
Wanted:
Words + Photos by: Kit Belen
Living in a place as dynamic

as Dubai, where access to fishing
technology is also growing at a fast
pace, we tend to acquire things
that we dont really need or use.
Speaking as a self confessed tackle
hoarder, I can tell you that from my experience over the years, my gear collection has
grown to rival the stuff I have back home
in the Philippines. The biggest problem
is storage; I have access to more storage
back home than I do here in Dubai. This is
always an issue especially when you deal
with something as big as a kayak.
After playing around with a few kayaks,
including the best kayak Hobie has to offer,
I was convinced that the next watercraft I
would buy would be a boat with the portability of the kayak, but one with a motor.
This led me to the Portabote.
Redbird is great, it's just that there
are too many parts to deal with
58
OUTDOORUAE
It worked exactly how I wanted it to,

however, it was still too cumbersome. There
are lots of parts to assemble, and its very
heavy, making a one man launch a mission
on its own. Add to that the addition of a
motor that gives you range and gets you
there faster, but is another heavy object to
carry back to the trailer and load - something you dont look forward to when you
are tired.
This year, I have opted to make things
simple and go back to a paddle kayak.
Most of the spots I want to fish are not that
far, but you do need a boat to get there. A
paddle kayak gets you there and gets you
fishing fast. I have yet to choose one and
will write about my choice down the line
explaining why I chose it. I can say, however, that after trying out a few kayaks I know
exactly what I am looking for and Im basing my decision on which brand and model
to go with. The search is halfway done with
a couple of models from different manufacturers filling up the list.
Fishing doesnt have to be complicated,
and I remember with the paddle kayaks,
I just used to unload the kayak from the
roof rack (no trailers!), strap on the seat,
put my rods in the rod holders, put in the
crate with the extra fishing tackle and away
I went the whole operation took less than
10 minutes! With Redbird (Hobie Mirage
Adventure Island) it takes me an average of
25 minutes to get things going.My fishing
buddies would be halfway to the fishing
spot by the time I was done. Granted, with
Redbird I got to the spot first, especially
with a good wind blowing, but it still meant
that I would have to spend a bit more time
disassembling when the trip was done.
Having all the gear doesnt mean you catch
bigger fish, it just means you have a lot of
gear. This also means that you are limiting
yourself by having too many attachments
Days gone by - fishing was simple

with just plain paddle kayaks
to get into places that you would otherwise

feel comfortable getting inside of with a
simple kayak rig.
So hopefully in the next article, I will be
able to show you what I went with and why
it will be a very interesting year ahead.
Tight lines,
Kit
I had a few choices before, but am

looking forward to starting afresh
Our fishing pro who shares

his experiences and
expertise with OutdoorUAE
through his regular column.
[email protected]
PEOPLE
Age: 30
Nationality: Lebanese
Occupation: Freelancer,
Experiential Marketing & Events
Interview by: Bandana Jain
What kind of outdoor

activities are you into?
Hiking, trekking, mountaineering, rock climbing, caving, canyoneering and diving.
How many years you have been trekking, and what inspired you to start?
I have trekked my entire life. It was a lifestyle

I grew up with, having lived in the mountains.
The curiosity to explore my surroundings
came naturally to me, and it was here I found
my true calling.
Which treks have you undertaken

in the UAE and Oman?
I do not usually follow known tracks, as I like

to explore the unbeaten path. Most of the
hiking that I have done is in areas that are
unknown to many. However, I have done the
famous Stairway to Heaven in the UAE, Jabal
Shams and Jabal Akhdar, amongst others.
How is trekking different in this part

of the world compared to your treks
elsewhere?
Well, the terrain in this region is generallyrougher and harder, due to the nature of the
rock type and formation, and of course the
weather plays a major element to distinguish
this region from other places around the
world.
I stress the weather because it is often
taken lightly by many outdoor goers. People
should be prepared by taking enough water
and also by avoiding trekking in the rain.
Once you have lived in this region for a certain amount of time, it becomes a no brainer
to stay hydrated, but that is not the only risk
we face. The risk of rain, which causes flash
floods and also rock-falls, can put any hiker,
regardless of their experience level, into a
serious situation.
What level of difficulties have you

encountered when trekking?
Labeling treks is subjective to each trekkers

experience and approach. I have done treks
that required climbing skills, whilst others
are very exposed and someare rather steep.
Each one of these treks requires a different
type of preparation; some require technical
preparation, while others require a high level
of fitness and some demand the right mentality. Some treks, of course, are simply a walk in
the mountains
What has been your favourite/most

memorable trek to date?
Stairway to Heaven is my favorite route in the

UAE and JabalKawr is my favorite route in
Oman.
Canyoning is another outdoor sport

that you practice. Where have you
been canyoning in the UAE and
Oman?
There are a few non-technical canyons in UAE

that I have been to, such asHatta Pools and
WadiShawka. I have also ventured into a few
dozen canyons in Oman, such as the famous
Snake Gorge (known as Snake Canyon),
WadiShaab, the Long WadiTiwi Canyon and
many others.
What kind of physical training do you

do in preparation for your treks?
Running helps a lot, and so does stair climbing in the high rises of Dubai. In order to train
harder, I often wear a weighted vest during
my runs or stair climbs. Ialso do some crossfit.
Do you think that there are any

specific skills required for trekking?
If yes, what are these?
Navigation: This is one of the most important skills, which I believe everyone should
know.
Basic first aid skills: These come in handy
especially when you are far from any medical
help.
Knowing what to pack and what to carry:
The weight of your bag is very important. So
one must know which essentials to pack.
Choosing the right clothes and shoes to
wear: This is a factor that plays an important
role. Choosing the wrong shoes might result
in damage to your feet.
Understanding the terrain and the weather

changes.
Efficiency in maximising each step to exhaust less energy for endurance purposes.
Basic survival skills: These will involve how
to make a shelter in case of rain or in case
you are forced to camp overnight.
Risk assessment and analysis of an unexpected situation that has gone wrong: And
of course, knowing how to get out of it with
minimum damage. This is why people should
never underestimate the outdoors and always
be with experienced trekkers.
Any tips for fellow trekkers?
Know your limits and dont challenge Mother

Nature. Be safe out there and respect your
surroundings. Enjoy the great outdoors and
make sure to keep them clean.
Are you preparing for any treks

in the near future?
I am training for my next challenge, where

I will be part of a global expedition exploring the deepest cave of the world. The cave,
named Krubera, is located in Abkhazia on a
mountain called Arabika Massif in Georgia. It
is the deepest explored cave in the world, to
date. The lowest point of Krubera is located
2,196m deep into the earths surface and it
stretches over 16km. These 16km are a mix
of descents, ascents, narrow passages, tiny
holes and sumps of water.
Any memorable incidents

from your treks or hikes?
A lot! I will share the one relevant to this

region, so that others can benefit from my
experience. I got heat-stroke on one of the
mountains in Oman during my second day
of hiking. I had water with me, but my body
kept rejecting the fluids. I remember the
struggle getting back to safety was one of my
biggest challenges, in which I almost gave
up multiple times. However, I kept pushing
one leg in front of the other until I reached
safety, thanks to my friends who kept pushing
me forward.The lesson is that no matter what
your level of experience is and no matter how
prepared you are, things can quickly escalate due to elements that are beyond your
control.
OUTDOORUAE
59
THE
OFF-ROADERS
corner
Geraint's
Defender 110
Double Cab
Name: Geraint A Jones
Nationality: British
Occupation: Group Dynamic Positioning Director / Senior Principal
Engineer at Aqualis Offshore Marine
Consulting LLC, Abu Dhabi
Ride: Land Rover Defender 110
Double Cab (2013)
In 2013, Geraint
Jones's dream
of owning a Land
Rover Defender
finally came true.
Read on to discover the modifications he has made,
and to find out his
future plans for the vehicle.
Tell us a little background
story about the car...
I have wanted to own a Land Rover Defender

for over 30 years, and in 2013 I was finally in
a position where I could purchase one, and
as such decided it had to be a new one. So in
July I took delivery of a Land Rover Defender
110 Double Cab with the 2.2 TDCi engine.
Although it was a bog standard vehicle, it did
not remain that way for long, and all of the
modifications have been done with a view to
the vehicle eventually ending up back in the
UK and used for green laning, camping and
touring the UK, Europe and North Africa. It is
still a work in progress
Could you tell us about the

modifications that have been made,
performance and cosmetic wise?
So far the modifications are as
follows:
Front Runner roof rack

LED light bars mounted under the roof rack
Full support frame over the pick up bed and
back to the chassis to support the clam shell
tent, fabricated by Saluki Motorsports, Dubai.
Pick up bed completely covered in
Rhino Liner for protection and fitted
with an aluminium lockable lid for
security reasons, again fabricated by
Saluki Motorsports, Dubai
Front Runner draw system fitted to the
pick up bed complete with 4 Cub storage boxes for all camping and recovery
gear
Built in Black Max III air compressor installed

in the pick up bed above the drivers side
wheel arch
Built in water pump installed in the pick up
bed above the drivers side wheel arch
Two 20 litre Sceptre jerry cans for carrying
water
Two 20 litre Sceptre jerry cans for carrying
spare diesel (giving the vehicle a range of
about 800km)
Britpart swing away spare wheel carry which
allowed the relocation of the spare wheel out
of the pick up bed, freeing up storage space
Britpart tubular winch bumper complete
with swivel recovery points and Hi Lift jacking
points
Britpart raised Air Intake
Warn XE9000 winch complete with plasma
winch rope
Bling My Truck awning
Front Runner wing mounted table
LED lights all round (indicators, side lights,
brake lights, reverse light and fog light)
Tune My Defender NAS rear bumper
complete with Hi Lift jacking points
Front Runner Hi Lift jack mounts on swing
away spare wheel carrier
Dual battery system with split charging and
Exide yellow top batteries
Garmin Monterra GPS for off road
navigation
iPad mini running Motion X HD for on and
off road navigation
Huawei mobile WIFI hotspot with external
antenna
ICOM dual band (VHF/UHF) radio
Five 12 voltpower outlets permanently
supplied from second battery
4 USB outlets permanently supplied
from second battery
500Watt inverter permanently
supplied form second battery
Do you have something that

you would consider to be a
special feature of your car?
The idea has been to keep all of the modifications as subtle as possible, and not to change
the original classic Defender looks. I also did
not want to make modifications for the sake of
it, so everything that has been done has been
done for a purpose and with a use in mind.
Nothing on the vehicle is forthe bling effect

only; its a working vehicle after all.
What were your other options

before you bought this car?
If I hadnt bought a Defender then I would still

have bought a Land Rover, but probably an
LR4. Being a die hard Green Oval fan,
no other alternative would have been
considered!
How do you spend time with the car?
The vehicle is used for all sorts of activities

such as camping, sweep team trailer duties for
the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, post marshal
duties for the Emirates Desert Championship,
kayaking, cycling, support vehicle for hiking
and camping with the Abu Dhabi Scouts,
support platform for photography, beach trips
and the school run (although it tends to stand
out a bit in the school car park!).
How often do you use your car?
The vehicle is my daily driver as well as all of

the above. As my job takes me all over the
UAE, based on the present mileage it has
been averaging about 2100km a month and
returning about 550km to a tank of fuel (about
7km per litre).
Modifications to come in the next

twelve months are as follows:
Replacement of all springs with standard

Land Rover Springs and also adding helper
springs from a Defender 130 to the rear
springs to aid with load carrying capabilities
Replacement of the shock absorbers with a
twin set up on each corner, to keep the shocks
cooler when being subjected to harsh terrain
Upgrade of the intercooler to a bigger
Alisport one
Upgrade of the turbocharger to a hybrid one
Remapping of the ECU by Bowler in the UK
Remodelling of the pick up bed / draw
layout for camping to allow the fridge to be
relocated from the cabin to the pickup bed
Fitting of an Exmoor Trim canvas cover over
the pick up bed
What 4x4 do you dream of owning?
I have the 4x4 I have always dreamt of owning. But if I had to choose another one then it
would be a Land Rover 101 Forward Control.
The trouble is, the fuel economy on them is
appauling!
Want your 4X4 to be the next feature?
Its all simple! Just send us an email
at [email protected] with the
subject Off-Roaders Corner and you
and your car might just be the next one
on this page!
Burpees 2
Diving
Words By: Nicky Holland
Photos By: Keith Perea
Ever wanted to explore parts of the

world that many people just dont get to
see? Try diving. When the sun is shining
and the water gets warmer, take to the
sea to explore the ocean. Diving is a great
way to see nature on the sea bed and
swim with creatures that you never even
knew existed.
For all aspects of diving, you need to be
fit, which is a different type of fit to running
a marathon. The main way to do this is to
go swimming and get used to the water.
However, if you cant swim, then the gym is
a good place to start. I have chosen a series
of exercises to help your general health and
fitness, to enable you to dive. Remember,
the better your body canutilise oxygen, the
better your body will be at making oxygen
last and dealing with muscle fatigue.
Burpees 3
3) Lat Pull down
To strengthen the big muscles in the back,

such as the Latissimus Dorsi and Rhomboids,
try the Lat Pull down. These muscles work
to help you swim and tread water. Select a
weight that you can lift for approximately 10
reps. Adjust the pads so that your knees fit
under them then take hold of the bar with
an over hand grip. Slide your knees under
the pads and bring the bar down towards
your chest. Always keep the bar infront of
you so that you can see the movement and
avoid straining your neck. Try to do 10 reps
for three sets.
Burpees 1
Plank leg lift
5) Burpees vs Plank single leg lift
4) Core Plantar Flexion

1) Core bag lunge
For swimming and diving you need strong

legs as they are used to propel you through
the water. This exercise works one leg at a
time. The easier option is to perform a body
weight lunge, with no resistance. Once you
feel this is comfortable, the harder option
is to use some weighted resistance. I have
used a core bag here but you can also use
a barbell. Start standing with both feet
together. Step one leg back and make sure
your front leg thigh and back leg shin are
parallel to the floor. Whilst keeping your
balance in the lunge stance, bend your back
knee and lower it to the floor. Push through
the heel of your front foot and return to the
lunge stance position. Repeat this for 10-15
reps on each leg and do this for three sets.
Imagine the swimming movement you need

to kick your feet. When you are underwater, the flick of the ankle joint from Dorsi to
Plantar flexion is enough to help you glide
though the water. For this exercise, lie down
on your front. Relax your upper body as it
is just the legs that are working. It is really
important to keep both legs straight and
point your toes. This will contract the Gastronemius, also known as your calf muscle.
Flick your feet up and down in a straight leg
kicking motion. This will help you strengthen
your legs for when you are in the water and
kick against resistance. Go as fast as you can
with good form for 30 seconds. Repeat this
for three sets.
The last exercise consists of two exercises

back to back. The first is a burpee. From a
standing position, jump down into a push
up position, lower your chest to the floor,
then push up, bend the knees and jump
back to standing. Once you have done 10
reps of burpees, then you need to go into
the second exercise which is a plank. The
beginner option is to hold the plank, with
your bum down and back straight, with both
feet on the floor. The more advanced option
is to lift one leg up into plantar flexion. This
small adjustment will challenge your balance
and work your core muscles harder as you
try to hold that flat plank position. Work for
30 seconds and build up. If you are lifting
one leg, then start 15 seconds lift for each
side. Overall complete three sets.
Divers need a good VO2 Max so that
their lung capacity is big enough to retain
oxygen with a low amount of breaths. The
best way to practice this would be to swim
in the water and gradually dive to certain
depths. However,these exercises will help
you control your heart rate, your breathing
and overall body strength, so that you are
conditioned for diving, before you even set
foot in the water.
2) Medicine ball push up
This is an advanced form of a push up. It will

strengthen your chest and arms, mainly the
Pectoralis Major and Triceps. Performing this
exercise on a medicine ball will add instability and challenge you to maintain your
balance throughout the movement. You
may find you have one side stronger than
the other, but it is important to complete
the same amount of reps on each side. Start
with one hand on the medicine ball and in
the push up position. Lower your chest towards the floor, whilst keeping your hand on
the ball. Aim for 10 reps on each side and
complete three sets.
Nicky Holland
Fitness Manager
Fitness First Beach Park Plaza
TIPS & TRICKS
Educat ion
Words + Photos by: Haydon Kerr
With Thursday 5th May being

a school holiday for Al Isra W'al
Miraj, the long weekend saw a
group of young adventurers from
Deira International School tackle a
few more of the cool things to do
around the UAE.
A three day Adventure Programme was
put together for students to participate in
a range of activities that catered for various
abilities and skill levels. Professional instructors from the North Star Adventure Centre
were employed to assist with supervision for
the duration of the programme. Their staff
are highly qualified and have a lot of experience when dealing with school groups. DIS
have been using their adventure camps and
staff for the past 11 years, and they make
things super safe, fun and easy for teachers
when taking learning beyond the classroom.
Day 1 of our Adventure Programme
included a full day of activities at the Umm
Al Quwain Marine Club. Our large group
was divided into fourteams for the different
activities which included kayaking, giant
foosball, zip line and banana boat rides, with
a yummy lunch in between! Upon arrival
at the Marine Club we were greeted with
a briefing and escorted to our designated
area to keep our bags and gear under their
huge beachfront barasti. The weather was
perfect and the students were ready to get

going! Kayakers spent time learning the
basics of paddling before getting into their
kayaks and navigating the beautifully calm
waters off the beach. Playing games like tag
and water polo really helped the students
to become proficient paddlers before they
moved on to their next activity; the banana
boat ride. Those riding the inflatable banana
towed behind the Marine Club boat came
back with nothing less than a HUGE smile
and plenty of belly laughs!
One of the other star attractions of the
Umm Al Quwain Marine Club is the adrenaline fueled zip line where all are encouraged
to give it a go. From around 12 meters high,
children are placed in a harness and then
fly down the line before throwing a ball into
one of the goals for team points. Adding
just a little bit of competition in to this challenge really helped to get the whole group
cheering each other on and created a great
atmosphere. Rounding off the activities on
Day one was Giant Foosball. Taking the
popular table top game and making it life
sized was a lot of fun.
Day twowas packed with more adventures
and the morning session was spent at Jump
Boxx in Uptown Mirdif. A special programme was set up to cater for our group
and the staff were fantastic at keeping up
the challenge and pace to ensure that there
was plenty of non-stop activity. Many adults

would have a certain envy of the lack of fear
some kids have when flinging themselves
up into the air with such casualness. Our
afternoon sessions were spent back at DIS
where we had a Bubble Soccer tournament
and pool party. We are lucky to have such
facilities to be able to offer these types of
indoor and outdoor activities as well as having a management team that supports and
encourages kids to get involved with these
sorts of outdoor education programmes.
Day three was a fun filled time at Dreamland Aqua Park. Often with fewer crowds
and no long linesfor the rides, our group
maximized the time to race, splash and play
on all of the attractions the park has to offer.
Along with the rides and pools at Dreamland, there are also a number of animals to
visit at the park. On days when teachers and
parents arent supervising groups of kids,
theres also the added bonus of having a
swim up bar available.
The success of any sort of camp or trip
undertaken by kids is always measured by
the sort of feedback provided by the kids
themselves, and their parents. Judging by
the positive reactions from this Long Weekend Programme, this wont be our last and
we will continue to find more adventures
around the UAE to hopefully inspire others
to get out amongst it and have a lot of fun!
Watch this space for more adventures and
places to check out..
UAE DIRECTORY
General Sports
Equipment Megastores
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center,

Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE,
+971 43466824; The Beach on JBR, Dubai:
+971 44304419; Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi:
+971 24456995, www.adventurehq.ae
Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre,
+971 42839392, www.decathlon.com
Go Sport, The Dubai Mall: +971 43253595;
Abu Dhabi Mall: +971 26454595; Bawabat Al
Sharq Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 25868240; Yas
Mall: +971 25650812; MOE: +971 4395 8951,
www.go-sport.com
Peiniger BMT Est., CBD, Khalifa Street,
Yateem Optician Bldg., Abu Dhabi, UAE,
+971 26262332, www.peiniger.org
Sun and Sand Sports, most shopping
centres, +971 43599905; Online store: +971
43149001; Retail store: +971 43504400,
http://en-ae.sssports.com
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Alpha Tours, P.O. Box 25718, 27th Floor,

Burlington Tower, Business Bay, Dubai,
+971 47019111, www.alphatoursdubai.com
Dadabhai Travel, SR 1&2, GF, Gulf Towers,
Oud Metha Rd. Dubai, +971 43885566,
www.dadabhaitravel.ae
Desert Rangers, P.O. Box 33501, Dubai
UAE, +971 44569944 or 507035111
www.desertrangers.com
Desert Road Tourism, Office 503, 5th Flr.,
Al Khor Plaza, Dubai, +971 42959429,
www.desertroadtours.com
Dreamdays, First Floor Rm. 107 Ibn Battuta
Gate (Offices) Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai
+971 44329392 or 44329393,
www.dreamdays.ae
Dream Explorer LLC, JLT, Dubai,
P.O. Box 214576, +971 44563390
www.dreamexplorerdubai.com
Dubai Relax Travel, P.O. Box 37459,
National Towers: Churchill Tower Suite #614,
Business Bay, Dubai, +971 528996307,
www.dubairelaxtours.com
Explorer Tours, Umm Ramool, Dubai,
+971 42861991, www.explorertours.ae
Gulf for Good, P.O. Box 506006, 1/F, Building
4, Dubai International Humanitarian City,
Dubai, +971 43680222, www.gulf4good.org
Gulf Ventures, Dnata Travel Centre,
+971 44045880, www.gulfventures.com
MMI Travel LLC, Mezzanine Floor, Dnata
Travel Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 4 4045999,
www.theemiratesgroup.com
Net Group, Dubai and Abu Dhabi,
+971 26794656, www.netgroupauh.com
Oasis Palm Dubai, P.O. Box 181258 Dubai,
Office 404, Royal Plaza Building
Al Rigga Street, +971 42628889 or
42686826, www.opdubai.com
Rahhalah, Shata Tower 27th Floor, Office
No. 2711, Media City, Dubai, +971 44472166,
www.rahhalah.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Fishing, Camping, Kayaking,
& Adventure Club, +971 5 04920860,
[email protected]
Air
Balloon Adventures Emirates, Office 123

Oasis Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43884044, www.ballooning.ae
Dubai Paragliders, +971 552120155 or
552250193, www.microaviation.org
Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah,
+971 72446416 or 555531318,
www.jac-uae.net
Seawings, Dubai,+971 48070708,
www.seawings.ae
Skydive Dubai, The Palm: Al Seyahi St,
Dubai Marina, +971 43778888,
www.skydivedubai.ae
Boating & Sailing
Manufacturer
Al Fajer Marine, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43235181, www.alfajermarine.com
Al Jeer Marina, RAK border Musandam,
+971 72682333 or 504873185,
www.aljeerport.ae
Al Shaali Marine, Ajman, +971 67436443,
www.alshaalimarine.com
Al Yousuf Industrial, LLC,
+971 4 3474111, www.aym.ae,

[email protected]
Elite Pearl Charter, P.O. Box 214173,
Saeed Tower 1, office #3102,
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43889666,
www.elitepearlcharter.com
Gulf Craft, P.O. Box 666, Sheikh Khalifa Bin
Zayed Street, Ajman, +971 67406060,
www.gulfcraftinc.com
Distributors and Dealers
Art Marine LLC, Al Quoz Industrial Area,
Sheikh Zayed Road, 3rd Interchange
+971 43388955, www.artmarine.ae or
www.artmarinechandlery.com
Azure Marine Dubai, +971 4 3706886,
www.azuremarine.net
Luxury Sea Boats, Showroom #8, The Curve
Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 4 3284629, www.luxuryseaboats.com
Macky Marine LLC, Box 37594, Ground
Floor, Marina Yatch Club, Office # 5, Dubai
Marina, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 505518317,
www.mackymarine.com
Nautilus Yachts, Sharjah, +971 553419494
or 503419494, www.nautilusyachts.com
The Boat House, P.O. Box 71628,
Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43405152,
www.theboathouse.ae
UAEBoats4Sale, Dubai Marina,
+971 42932465, 567001801,
www.uaeboats4sale.com
Western Marine, P.O. Box 52938, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Knotika Marine Mall, Dubai,
+971 44327870
Equipment
Ali Khalifah Moh Al Fuqaei, Ground Floor,
Tara Hotel Building, Abdul Nasser Square
Street, Dubai, +971 42263220
Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43468000,
www.masaoodmarine.com
Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11,
The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43808616 or 553899995,
www.bluewatersmarine.com
Extreme Marine, Dubai Marina Branch,
+971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com
Japan Marine / D1 Marine,
WS # 110, Dubai Maritime City,
+971 4 4426395 or 55 1666035,
www.japanmarine.co
Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Al Quoz,
Dubai, www.rinehemiratesme.com,
+971 43391512
Repairs and Maintenance
Extreme Marine, Jebel Ali Branch, Jebel Ali,
Industrial Area, P.O. Box 97705, Dubai,
+971 48830777, www.extrememarine-me.com
Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1,
Al Quoz, +971 43391512,
SNS Marine, Dubai Creek & Yacht Club,
Dubai, +971 501405058, www.snsmarine.ae
The Boat House, P.O. Box 71628, Al Quoz,
Dubai, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae
Cruise Operators
Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26665491
Al Marsa Travel & Tourism,
P.O. Box 32261, Sharjah, UAE, +971
65441232; Dibba, Musandam, Oman,
+968 26836550
Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite
the British Embassy, +971 48145553
Bristol Middle East, Marina Heights Tower,
Dubai Marina Marina Walk,Dubai,
+971 4368 2480, www.bristol-middleeast.com
Captain Tonys, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu
Dhabi, +971 26507175, www.captaintonys.ae
Delma Industrial Supply and Marine
Services, Al Bateen Jetty, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26668153, www.delmamarine.net
Eden Yachting, Dubai Marina,
+971 43282930, 50 3716377,
www.edenyachting.com
Emirates Yatching, P.O. Box 8380, Dubai,
+971 42826683
El Mundo, Dubai, +971 505517406,
www.elmundodubai.com
Four Star Travels and Tourism, Dubai,
+971 561012599, www.4startravels.com
4 Yatch Chartering LLC, Toll Free: 800
YACHT (92248), Office #4, Dubai Marina
Yatch Club, Dubai, www.4yachtchartering.ae
Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa,
Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Ghantoot Marina & Resort, Abu Dhabi,
+971 529933153, www.ghantootmarina.com
Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai,
+971 48706668, www.happydaysdubai.com
LY Catamaran, Bur Dubai, +971 566506683,
www.lycatamaran.com
Marine Concept, P.O. Box 282586, Office
611, Al Barsha Business Centre, Dubai,
+971 43958022, 559603030
www.marine-charter-concept.com
Nautica1992, Habtoor Grand Beach Resort
& Spa, Autograph Collection, Dubai Marina,
+971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae
Noukhada Adventure Company - P.O. Box
73373, C/O Ali & Sons Real Estate LLC,
Plot No. 29, Abu Dhabi Al Ain Rd, Um Al
Nar, Abu Dhabi, UAE - +971 25581889
www.noukhada.ae
RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City
Hilton Marina, +971 72066410, 504912696,
507682345
Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats
Rental, Dubai Marina, +971 42951011
Smoke Dragon of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi
International Marine & Sports Club,
+971 507011958 or 504546617
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084
The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111,
www.the-club.com
The Yellow Boats LLC, Dubai Marina Walk
opposite Spinneys, Intercontinental Hotel
Marina, 800892, www.theyellowboats.com
Marinas
Abu Dhabi International Marine
Sports Club, Abu Dhabi, Breakwater,
+971 26815566, www.adimsc.com
Abu Dhabi Marina, Abu Dhabi,
Tourist Club Area, +971 26440300
Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam
+971 72682333 or 504873185,
www.aljeerport.ae
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al
Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42394760 or 42959477,
www.cruiseindubai.com
Dubai Creek Marina, Deira, Dubai,
+971 43801234, www.dubaigolf.com
Dubai International Marine Sports Club,
Dubai Marina, +971 43995777, www.dimc.ae
Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai,
+971 43627900,
www.dubaimarinayachtclub.com
Dubai Maritime City Harbour Marina,
Dubai, +971 43455545
Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Dubai,
+971 43941669, www.dosc.ae
Emirates Palace Marina, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26907725
Fujairah International Marine Club,
Fujairah, +971 92221166, www.fimc.ae
Intercontinental Abu Dhabi Marina,
Al Bateen, Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26666888, www.intercontinental.com
Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Marina,
Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 48145555
www.jebelali-international.com
Pavilion Marina, Dubai,
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +971 44068800
Umm Al Quwaim Marine Sports Club,

Umm Al Quwaim, +971 67666644,
www.uaqmarineclub.com
Dragon Boat Groups
Dubai Dawn Patrol Dragon Boating,
Dubai, +971 508795645,
www.facebook.com/DubaiDawnPatrol
Dubai Diggers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
pier next to 360, Dubai, +971 501547175,
www.dubai-diggers.com
UAE Dragon Boat Association,
+971 507634008, www.dubaidragonboat.com
Camping & Hiking
Equipment
Blingmytruck.com, +971 505548255,
www.blingmytruck.com
Gulf Camping, Dubai, UAE, +971 551222252
or 502550666, www.gulfcamping.com
Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall,
Abu Dhabi,+971 24437802
Tresspass, 2nd floor above ice rink,
The Dubai Mall, +971 43398801
Urban Peak, PO Box 9587, Office 502E,
Ibn Battuta Gate Offices, Dubai,
+971 44548805, www.urbanpeak.com
Tour Operators
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai,
+971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43926463,
www.adventure.ae
Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza 503,
Dubai, +971 42959428, www.arabiatours.com
Libra Travel & Tourism LLC, +971
43397700, www.facebook.com/
LibraTravelDubai
Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,
+971 506595536, www.mountainhighme.com
Sheesa Beach, Musandam, Dibba,
+971 50336046, www.sheesabeach.com
Caving
Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,

+971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com
Climbing
Equipment
Adventure HQ, Sheikh Zayed Rd.,
Dubai Times Square Center, toll free:
800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Street 13A
1, Al Safa 1, Dubai, +971 43466558,
www.barracudadubai.com
Global Climbing Trading LLC,
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
+971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com
Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi
+971 24437802, www.jack-wolfskin.com
Services
Absolute Adventure, Dubai,
+971 43926463, www.adventure.ae
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square
Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free:
Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 28137444, www.alshaheenme.com
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209,
www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World
Trade Centre, +971 43065061,
www.climbingdubai.com
E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +971 43697817,
www.esportsuae.com
The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111,
www.the-club.com
Information
UAE Climbing, +971 506456491,
www.uaeclimbing.com
Mountain Biking & Cycling
Equipment/Dealers
Bikers JLT, Unit H6, Cluster H,
Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, UAE,
+971 526221888
Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg.,
Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415,
Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif
Mall, Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor,
C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24455838, www.funridesports.com
Micahs Bike Shop, Warehouse No.4
6th St. Al Quoz 3, Dubai, +971 43805228
Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1,
+971 43255705, www.probike.ae
Rage Shop, Al Ghurair Centre: +971 4294
8634; MOE: +971 43413388; Al Wahda
Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 24437617, Dubai
Mall: +971 44341549, www.rage-shop.com
OUTDOORUAE
63

Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex
Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +971 43697441,
www.rcdxb.com
Ride Bike Shop, Sheikh Zayed Road:
+971 43395602; Mirdif City Centre: +971
42840038; Al Seef Village Mall, Abu Dhabi:
+971 26337172, www.ridebikeshop.com
Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, + 971 43388644 or 43391333
Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26222525,
www.tamreensports.com
The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai,
+971 505528872 or 44256555,
www.thecyclehub.com
Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam,
Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +971 48327377;
Shop #5, Reemas Building
Al Quoz 1, Exit 46/47, Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai, +971 43211132
www.trekbikes.ae
Trikke UPT, P.O. Box 53527, Dubai,
+ 971 43434499; P.O. Box 33869, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26333377, www.trikkeme.net
Wolfis Bike Shop, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43394453, www.wbs.ae
Operator
+971 43926463, www.adventure.ae,
[email protected]
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Tri Club,
www.abudhabitriclub.com
Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome
www.cyclechallenge.ae
Dubai Roadsters, +971 43394453,
www.dubairoadsters.com
Diving
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai,
+971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Dubai, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Blue Waters Marine, +971 43808616,
Dubai, www.bluewatersmarine.com
Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com
Premiers for Equipment, Sheikh Zayed
1st. Road, Abu Dhabi, +971 26665226,
www.premiers-uae.com
Dive Shop.ae, Building #123, Street 26,
Area 369, Al Quoz Industrial Area 4, Dubai,
+971 43414940, www.diveshop.ae
Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com
Diving Centres
Al Boom Diving (equipment),
Dubai, Al Wasl Rd, +971 43422993,
www.alboomdiving.com
Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam,
+971 72682333, www.aljeerport.ae
Al Mahara Dive Center, near Muroor St.
across from main bus terminal,
64
OUTDOORUAE
+971 26437377, [email protected],

www.divemahara.com
Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al
Khaimah, +971 72226628 or 502428128
www.arabiandiver.com
Arabian Divers and Sportfishing
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Coastal Technical Divers,
[email protected],
www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com
Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City,
Dubai, +971 44308246,
www.diveindubai.com
Desert Islands, Sir Bani Yas Island,
Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 28015454,
www.divemahara.com
Divers Down, +971 559888687, Dubai;
Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel Resort & Spa,
+971 92370299, www.diversdownuae.com
Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi,
near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444,
www.edc-ad.ae
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
Fujairah, +971 506130486
[email protected],
www.freedivinguae.com
Freestyle Divers, Al Corniche Street, Dibba,
Fujairah, +971 504514259,
www.freestyledivers.me
Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa - Al Aqah
Beach, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort,
Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000,
www.lemeridien-alaqah.com
Neptune Diving, +971 504347902,
www.neptunedivingcentre.com
Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment),
Dubai, +971 44068828
Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com
Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922,
www.scubauae.com
7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan,
+971 92387400, www.7seasdivers.com
Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah,
+971 506683430, www.bsac406.com
Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam,
Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
Clubs
Atlantis Underwater Photography Club,
Dubai, +971 44263000
Desert Sports Diving Club, Dubai,
www.desertsportsdivingclub.net
Emirates Diving Association, Diving
Village, Al Shindagha, Dubai,
+971 43939390, www.emiratesdiving.com
Filipino SCUBA Divers Club (FSDC),
Dubai, UAE, +971 566952421,
www.facebook.com/FSDCuae
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
Fujairah, [email protected],
www.freedivinguae.com
Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah,
+971 507840830, www.bsac406.com
Fishing & Kayaking
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai,
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Dubai, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Rd, +971 43390000, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai,
Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558,
www.barracudadubai.com
Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11,
The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43808616 or 553899995,
www.bluewatersmarine.com
Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798
or 44538386,
[email protected]
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre,
+971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com
Operators
+971 43926463, www.adventure.ae

800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai
+971 43467751, www.800sport.ae
Flip Flop Arabia, +971 556881793,
501084010, www.flipfloparabia.com
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai
Highbury Trading FZE LLC, P.O. Box
16111, RAK Free Trade Zone Authority, Ras
Al Khaima, +971 526799506,
www.highburytrade.com
Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24437802
Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735,
www.kitesurfsup.com
Picnico General Trading, near Sharaf DG
Metro Station, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43951113
Portable Shade UAE, Jebel Ali, Dubai,
UAE, +971 508897125,
www.portable-shade.net
Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar
Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42896001 or 42896002,
[email protected], www.sportinlife.ae
Tresspass, The Dubai Mall
2nd floor above ice rink, +971 43398801
Horse Riding
Al Boom Diving, Le Meridien Al Aqah

Beach Resort, Fujairah, +971 43422993
Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al
Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72432274,
www.alhamramarina.com
Al Mahara Dive Center,
Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971 501118125,
www.divemahara.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road,
Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42394760 or 42959477,
www.cruiseindubai.com
Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing
(Al Wasl Passenger Yachts
and Boats Rental LLC),
Airport Road, Al Owais Building, Dubai,
+971 42394761, www.cruiseindubai.com
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, +971
506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209,
www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Barracuda Diving Centre, Fujairah
International Marine Club, +971 503366224
Belevari Marine, Abu Dhabi, +971 26594144
Captain Tonys, Yas Marina, Yas Island,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26507175,
www.captaintonys.ae
Fun Beach Water Sports, Dubai,
+971 507050433 or 506947764,
www.seaworlddsf.com
Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai,
+971 48706668, 503960202,
www.happydaysdubai.com
Hiltonia Beach Club, Hilton Abu Dhabi
Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +971 26811900
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort,
Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000,
www.lemeridien-alaqah.com
Nautica 1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Noukhada Adventure Company,
Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25581889, www.noukhada.ae
Ocean Active, +971 504592259,
www.oceanactive.com
Soolyman Sport Fishing, Umm Suquiem,
Fishing Port No. 2, Jumeirah Beach, +971
508866227, 508866228 or 503402379,
www.soolymansportfishing.com
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084, www.summertimemarine.com
Xclusive Yachts, Dubai, Dubai Marina,
+971 44327233, www.xclusiveyachts.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Camping, Fishing & Kayaking
Club, [email protected]
Dubai Surfski & Kayak Club, Kitesurfers
Beach, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai,
+971 554986280, www.dskc.hu
General Sports Equipment

Distributors
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square

Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Toll free:
Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Equipment
Al Asifa Horse Equestrian Equipment
& Requisites Trading
P.O. Box 77282, AL Khawanij 1st , Dubai,
+971 554733110, www.asifa.ae
Black Horse LLC, Baniyas West,
Near Empost Abu Dhabhi, +971 25866205,
www.blackhorseuae.com
Bonjour Equestrian Supplies,
Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Kho, Dubai,
UAE, +971 42896001, +971 42896002,
[email protected],
www.bonjourequestrian.com
Cavalos Equine Care and Supplies,
16th Street, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi,
+917 22222433, www.cavalosuae.com
Emirta Horse Requirement Centre,
Sheik Zayed Rd., Dubai, +971 43437475,
www.emirtahorse.com
Equestrian Clubs/Centres
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif,
Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500,
www.adec-web.com
Al Ahli Riding School, Al Amman Street,
Dubai-Sharjah Rd., +971 42988408,
www.alahliclub.info
Al Forsan International Sports Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555,
www.alforsan.com
Al Jiyad Stables, Behind Dubai
International Endurance City, Dubai,
+971 505995866,
[email protected], www.aljiyad.com
Al Sahra Desert Resort Equestrian
Centre, Dubai, +971 44274055,
[email protected]
Desert Equestrian Club, Mirdif, Dubai,
+971 503099770 or 501978888
Desert Palm Riding School, Near Al Awir
Road (going to Hatta-Oman), Dubai,
+971 43238010, www.dubaipoloclub.com
Dubai Polo Academy, Dubai,
+971 508879847, www.dubaipoloacademy.com
Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai,
Arabian Ranches, +971 43618111,
www.poloclubdubai.com
Emirates Equestrian Centre, Dubai,
+971 505587656,
www.emiratesequestriancentre.com
Ghantoot Polo & Racing Club, Exit 399,
Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25629050, www.grpc.ae
Golden Stables Equestrian Club,
Al Khawaneej, Dubai, (Nouri)
+971 555528182
Hoofbeatz, located just inside the Dubai
Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai,
+971 569424551, www.hoofbeatz.com
Mushrif Equestrian and Polo Club,
Mushrif Park, Al Khawaneej Road, Dubai,
+971 42571256, www.mushrifec.com
Rahal Ranch, Al Wathba Racing Area,
Abu Dhabi, +971 565066741,
www.rahalranch.com
Riding for the Disabled, Dubai,
[email protected], www.rdad.ae,
Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club,
Sharjah, Al Dhaid Road,
+971 65311188, www.serc.ae
Racecourses
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif,
Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500,
www.adec-web.com
Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Exit 399,
Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25629050, www.grpc.ae

Jebel Ali Racecourse, off the main Abu
Dhabi - Dubai Highway (Sheikh Zayed road)
beside the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai,
+971 43474914
Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse,
Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai,
+971 43270000, www.meydan.ae
Sharjah Racecourse, Al Dhaid Road,
Sharjah, +971 65311155, www.serc.ae
Jet Ski
Dealers
Al Masaood Marine, Dubai,

Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai,
+971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Japan Marine General Trading,
Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai,
+971 44426395, [email protected],
www.japanmarine.co
Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange 4,
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
Direct: +971 45019442, 45019412
or 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com
Book Your Test Drive
Call : 055-2385880
Motocross & ATVs
Dealers
Al Badayer Rental (Rental),
Dubai-Hatta Road, +971 68861161 or
507842020, www.albadayerrental.com
Al Shaali Moto, Ras Al Khor,
+971 43200009, www.alshaalimoto.com
Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Golden Desert Motorcycles,
P.O. Box 47912, E-44 Hatta road, Al Badayer
Madam, Sharjah, +971 529484616
or 505 033 800
Just Gas It, Hatta Rd., Al Aweer, Dubai,
UAE, +971 559031664, www.JustGasIt.net
KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42,
+971 43468999, www.ktm.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange 4, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai, Direct: +971 45019442,
45019412 or 43419341,
www.libertykawasaki.com
Motoventure, Hobbies Club, Al Awir,
Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 555437392,
www.motoventure.net
mxDubai, Al Ain Road Dubai, +971 55
2090832, www.mxdubai.com
Polaris UAE (atvs), Ras Al Khor, Nad al
Hamar Road, Al Ghandi Complex, Dubai,
+971 42896100, M4, Sector 13,
10th Street, Mussafah Industrial, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26441478, www.polarisuae.com
Sebsports, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1
Dubai, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com
Equipment
Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental),
Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43395608,
Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area
3, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com
2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.2xwheeler.com
Motorcycling

Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Rd.,
Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Ducati, Al Salam Street, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24918593, www.ducati.ae
Duseja General Trading Co. LLC,
Warehouse No: B3, Alquoz Ind Area #3,
Umm Suqeim Road next to Max Garage
Diagonally opposite Lulu Hypermarket Al
Barsha, +971 43476712,
www.dusejamoto.com
Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10,
Abu Dhabi, +971 25540667,
[email protected],
www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange4, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai, Direct: +971 45019442,
45019412 or 43419341,
www.libertykawasaki.com
Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex,
Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor,
+971 42896100, www.polarisuae.com
Tristar Motorcycles, Al Awir Road,
Nr Oman Transport, +971 43330659,
www.tristaruae.com
Workshops and Services
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555,
www.alforsan.com
Dubai Autodrome, Dubai,
+971 43678700,www.dubaiautodrome.com
Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain,
+971 67681166
2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.alainraceway.com
|
|
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi,

800 YAS (927) or +971 26599800,
www.yasmarinacircuit.com
Off-Road
Dealers
Bling My Truck,
+971 503634839 or 505548255,
[email protected],
4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai,
+971 43384866, www.4x4motors.com
Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 800 5423789,
www.libertyautos.com
Repairs and Services
AAA Service Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE,
+971 4 2858989, www.aaadubai.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,
www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2,
Dubai, UAE, +971 43469600,
www.mebarauto.com
Off Road Zone, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43392449, www.offroad-zone.com
Saluki Motorsport, Dubai, +971 43476939
www.salukimotorsport.com
Equipment
Advanced Expedition Vehicles,
Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43307152,
www.aev.ae
Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Bling My Truck,
+971 503634839 or 505548255,
Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial,
Abu Dhabi, +971 569796524 or 506472447,
www.heartlanduae.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,

www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2,
Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600,
www.mebarauto.com
Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai-Hatta
Road, Dubai, +971 48321050,
Yellow Hat, Nad Al Hamar, and Times
Square Center, Dubai, +971 42898060,
www.yellowhat.ae
Tour Operators
Arabian Adventures, Dubai & Abu Dhabi,
+971 43034888,
www.arabian-adventures.com
Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza 503,
Dubai, +971 42959429,
www.desertroadtours.com
Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai,
+971 4 2628832 or 4 2686826,
www.opdubai.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Off- Road Club, www.ad4x4.com
ALMOST 4x4 Off-Road Club,
+971 507665522, www.almost4x4.com
Dubai Offroaders, www.dubaioffroaders.com
JEEP Wrangler JK Fun Club,
[email protected],
www.jk-funclub.com
ME 4X4, www.me4x4.com
Running
Clubs
ABRasAC, Dubai, www.abrasac.org
Abu Dhabi Tri Club, Abu Dhabi,
www.abudhabitriclub.org
Abu Dhabi Striders,
[email protected],
www.abudhabistriders.com
Al Ain Road Runners, Abu Dhabi,
+971 504188978,
[email protected]
Mirdif Milers, Dubai, www.mirdifmilers.info
Dubai Creek Striders
www.dubaicreekstriders.org
Stand up Paddling, Kite &

Surfing, Wakeboarding
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai,
Dubai, +971 43468000,
Kitesurf Dubai, Kitesurf Beach,
Umm Suqueim and Jumeirah 3
+971 505586190, www.kitesurfdubai.ae
Picnico, Al Fairdooni Building, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Near Sharaf DG Metro Station
and Mall of Emirates, +971 43951113
Surf Dubai, Umm Suqeim, Dubai,
+971 505043020, www.surfingdubai.com
Surf Shop Arabia, Building 1,
Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3,
Dubai, +971 564716180,
www.surfshoparabia.com
Surf School Arabia, +971 556010997,
www.surfschoolarabia.com
UAE Kite Surfing, +971 505626383,
www.ad-kitesurfing.net
Distributors
Kitepeople Kite & Surf Store,
International City, Dubai,
+971 504559098, www.kitepeople.ae
Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735,

www.kitesurfsup.com
Operators
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555,
www.alforsan.com
Dubai Kite Surf School, Umm Suqeim
Beach, Dubai, +971 504965107,
www.dubaikitesurfschool.com
Duco Maritime, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah
and Abu Dhabi, +971 508703427,
www.ducomaritime.com
Dukite, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqeim,
Dubai,+971 507586992, www.dukite.com
Kite Fly, Dubai, +971 502547440,
www.kitesurf.ae
Kitepro Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
and Al Dabbayyah, Abu Dhabi,
+971 505441494, www.kitepro.ae
Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Shamal Kite Surfing, Umm Suqueim
Dubai, +971 507689226,
www.shamalkitesurfing.com
Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
Surf School UAE, Umm Suqeim Beach
and Building 1, Al Manara Road (East),
Interchange 3, Dubai, +971 43791998,
www.surfschooluae.com
Watercooled, Jebel Ali Golf Resort and
Spa, Dubai, +971 48876771,
www.watercooleddubai.com
Water Cooled,
Watercooled Sports Services LLC,
Hilton Beach Club,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26395997,
www.watercooleduae.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle,
www.abudhabisup.com
UAE SUP and Surf Association, +971
26665588, www.ridersuae.com
Water Parks
Aquaventure Atlantis, Dubai, Palm

Jumeirah, +971 44260000, www.
atlantisthepalm.com
Dreamland Aqua Park,
Umm Al Quwain, Emirates Road,
+971 67681888,
www.dreamlanduae.com
Wadi Adventure, Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain,
+971 37818422,
www.wadiadventure.ae
Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai,
+971 43484444, www.wildwadi.com
Other leisure activities
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, P.O. Box 51234, Sas

Al Nakhl, Abu Dhabi, +971 28853555,
www.adgolfclub.com
Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah,
+971 67431122 or 44370505,
www.tamimistables.com
Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai,
+971 556101841,
www.blokartme.com
OUTDOORUAE
65
Childrens City, Creek Park Gate No.1,

Dubai, +971 43340808, www.childrencity.ae
Dolphin Bay Atlantis, Dubai,
+971 44262000, www.atlantisthepalm.com
Dubai Dolphinarium Dubai, Creek Park
Gate No. 1, +971 43369773,
www.dubaidolphinarium.ae
iFly Dubai, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre,
+971 42316292, www.iflyme.com
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi,
Saadiyat Island, +971 25578000, www.

sbgolfclub.ae
Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club,
Sharjah, +971 65487777,
www.golfandshootingshj.com
SkiDubai, Dubai, Mall of the Emirates,
+971 44094000, www.skidxb.com
Spacewalk Indoor Skydiving, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26577601
adcountryclub.com/spacewalk/aboutspacewalk/
Health, Safety & Training
Original Fitness Co., C6 Tower Al Bateen

Bainunah St, Abu Dhabi, +971 2406 9404;
P.O. Box 126469, Office 508 The Fairmont
Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43116571 www.originalfitnessco.com
Orthosports Medical Centre, 5B Street,
Jumeira Beach road, Dubai, 800 ORTHO
(67846), www.orthosp.com
The Physio Center, Suite 405, Building 49,
Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai,
+971 44370570, www.physiocentre.ae
OMAN DIRECTORY
Al Sawadi Beach Resort, P.O. Box 747,

Barka - Al Sawadi, Oman, +968 26795545,
www.alsawadibeach.info
Diving UAE & Oman, www.dive-uae-oman.com
Euro Divers CAYC Oman, Marina Bandar
Al Rhowda, P.O. Box 940, Muscat, Oman,
+968 97899094, www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Musandam, PO Box 498,
PC 811 Khasab, Musandam, Oman,
+968 99877957, www.musandam-diving.com
Global Scuba LLC, +968 24692346,
www.global-scuba.com
Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours,
P.O. Box 786, PC No. 811, Khasab,
Musandam, Sultanate of Oman,
+968 91713449, [email protected]
Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24534554, www.almoujmarina.com
Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box 65,
Madinat Qaboos, Muscat Oman,
+968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com
Nomad Ocean Adventures,
+968 26836069, Dibba, Oman; Fujairah,
+971 508918207, www.discovernomad.com
Diving Centres
Euro-divers Marina Bandar Al Rowdha,
P.O. Box 940, Postal Code 100 Muscat,
Sultanate of Oman, +968 98194444,
www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Zighy Bay, Oman,
Musandam, +968 26735555,
www.extradivers.info
Moonlight Dive Center, Near Grand Hyatt
Muscat, Shati Al Qurum, Oman,

+968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com
Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24284240, www.omandivecenter.com
Oman Dive Center Resort, P.O. Box 199,
Medinat Sultan Qaboos, Oman,
+968 24824240, www.omandivecenter.info
Omanta Scuba Diving Academy,
Al Kharjiya Street, Al Shati Area,
Muscat, Oman, +968 99777045,
www.omantascuba.com
Oxygen Diving and Adventures,
P.O. Box 1363 PC130 Alazaiba, Muscat,
Oman, +968 92537494 or 9723 2661,
www.o2diveoman.com
Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488,
www.scubaoman.com
Seaoman, P.O. Box 2394, RUWI PC 112,
Oman, +968 24181400, www.seaoman.com
Safari Desert Camp,

P.O. Box 117, Postal Code 421,
Bediyah, Ghabbi, Oman,
+968 99310108, www.safaridesert.com
Camping & Hiking

Tour Operators
Manufacturer
Saphire Marine, PO Box: 11,
Post Code 118, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24568887, 24566566, 24561619 or
24568881, www.sapphire-marine.com
Marinas
Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24737286 (ext 215),
www.marinaoman.net
Clubs
Horse Riding
Fishing & Kayaking
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Bike and Hike Oman, P.O. Box 833, Ruwi,

Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873,
www.bikeandhikeoman.com
Dolphin Qasab Tours, P.O. Box 123, P.C. 811,
Khasab City, Musandam, Oman,
+968 26730813, www.dolphinkhasabtours.com
Go Dive Oman, Marina Bander Al Rowdha
Dive Center, +968 9548 3813 or 98194444,
www.godiveoman.com
Khour Shem Tourism, Oman,
+968 91713449, www.khourshemtours.com
Nomad Tours, PO Box 583, Postal Code
100, Muscat, Oman, +968 95495240,
www.nomadtours.com
Oman Trekking Guides, PO Box 917,
NIZWA, Oman, +968 95741441,
http://omantrekkingguides.tumblr.com
Cruise Operators
Diving
Equipment
Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box 44, Dibba,
Sultanate of Oman, +968 26836550; UAE: +971
502124100, www.almarsamusandam.com
QATAR DIRECTORY
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Al Mulla Travels, P.O. Box 4147, Doha,

Qatar, +974 44413488,
[email protected]
Alpha Tours, P.O. Box 13530,
Doha, Qatar, +974 4344499,
[email protected]
Al QAYED Travel & Tours, PO Box: 158,
Doha, Qatar, +974 44072244,
www.alqayedtravel.com
Arabian Adventures, PO Box 4476, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44361461,
www.arabianadventureqatar.net
Black Pearls Tourism Services,
P.O. Box: 45677, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44357333
E2E Qatar Travel and Tours,
PO Box 23563, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44516688 or 444515995,
www.e2eqatar.com
Falcon Travels, PO Box 22031, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44354777,
www.falcontravelqatar.com
Gulf Adventures Tourism LLC, P.O. Box
18180, 29 Aspire Zone Street, Aspire Zone
Al Ryyan City, State of Qatar
Switchboard: +974 44221888,
www.gulf-adventures.com
Net Tours Qatar, P.O. Box 23080, Doha,
Qatar, +974 4310902, www.nettours.com.qa
Regency Travel & Tours, +974 44344444,
www.regencyholidays.com
Qatar Adventure, P.O. Box 13915,
Doha, Qatar, +974 55694561,
www.qataradventure.com
Qatar Inbound Tours, P.O. Box 21153,
+974 77451196, www.inboundtoursqatar.com
Qatar International Tours, P.O. Box 55733
Doha, Qatar, +974 44551141,
www.qittour.com
Qatar Ventures, Barwa Village Bulding #12
Shop #33, Doha, Qatar, +974 55776679,
www.qatar-ventures.com
Cycling, Running & Triathlon

Qatar Chain Reaction,
www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com
Qatar Sandstromers, +974 77775207
or 77776634, www.facebook.com/
QatarSandstormers
Velostar Doha, https://www.facebook.com/
groups/587539064642288/
Doha Bay Running Club,
www.dohabayrunningclub.com
TriClub Doha, www.triclubdoha.com
General Sports
Equipment Megastores
Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,

Qatar: +974 44822194; Villagio Mall,
Qatar: +974 44569143; Ezdan Mall, Qatar:
+974 44922827, The Pearl(Parcel 9) +974
40027513, Souq Jabor +974 44430322.
Office: +974 44417935,
www.galaxysportqatar.com
GO Sport Qatar, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,
+974 44631644; Villaggio Mall,
+974 44157463,
www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar
Sun & Sand Sports Qatar, City Centre Mall,
+974 44837007; Dar Al Salam Mall,
+974 44510179; Mustafawi Exhibition,
+974 44935183, en-ae.sssports.com
Boating & Sailing
Equipment
Regatta Sailing Academy, Katara Beach
+974 55503484
www.regattasailingacademy.com
Speed Marine, Speed Marine, Museum
Road, P.O. Box 9145 Doha, Qatar,
+974 44410109,
www.speedmarinegroup.com
Marinas
Four Seasons Marina, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44948899, www.mourjanmarinas.com
Lusail Marina, Lusail City, Qatar,
+974 55843282,
www.mourjan-lusailmarina.com
The PearlQatar Marinas, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44953894, www.ronauticame.com
Add your free listing to the

66
OUTDOORUAE
Safety Lessons
Marine Concept Yacht Charter
& Sea School, Rania Business Centre,
Dubai, +971 559603030,
www.marine-charter-concept.com
Sport and Health Centres
Bespoke Wellness, Dubai,
+971 553724670,
www.bespoke-wellness.com
Stand Up Paddeling, Kite

& Surfing, Wakeboarding
Equipment, Operators
Kiteboarding Oman, Sawadi Beach,
P.O. Box: 133, PC 118, Muscat, Oman, +968
96323524, www.kiteboarding-oman.com
Omans Kite Center, +968 94006007,
www.kitesurfing-lessons.com
Equestrian Clubs/Centres
Al Shaqab, P.O. Box 90055, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44546320, www.alshaqab.com
Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club,
Racing and Equestrian Club,
P.O. Box 7559, Doha, Qatar, +974 44197704,
www.qrec.gov.qa
Diving
Equipment/Centres
Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street
(near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar,
+974 44435626
Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua Club,
PO Box: 5048, Doha, Qatar,
+974 50483794, www.dohasubaquaclub.com
Extreme Adventure, P.O. Box 33002, Shop
3, 4 Ahmed Bin Ali Street (Bin Omran), Doha,
Qatar, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa
GoSport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,
Qatar: +974 44631644; Villagio Mall,
Qatar: +974 44517574,
www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar
Pearl Divers, P.O. Box 2489, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44449553, www.pearl-divers.org
Poseidon Dive Center, P.O. Box: 11538,
Ras Abu Abboud Street, Al Emadi Suites,
Showroom #2, Doha, Qatar
+974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com
Qatar Scuba Center, 187 Al Mansoura
Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66662277, www.qatarscubacenter.com
Q-Dive Marine Centre, Souq Al Najada cnr
of Grand Hamad and Ali bin Abdulla Street;
+974 55319507 or 4375065, www.qdive.net
World Marine Centre, PO Box 6944,
Doha, Qatar, +974 44360989,
www.worldmarinecenter.webs.com
Qatar Divers, Marriott Hotel Marina Near Old
Airport, Ras Abu Aboud Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 55246651, 40405156,
www.qatardivers.com
Qatar Marine, Go Sport City Center
West Bay, P.O. Box 16657, Doha,
+974 55319507, www.qatarmarine.net
Qatar Scuba Centre, 187 Al Mansoura
Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66662277 or 44422234,
www.qatarscubacenter.com
Caving
Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre,

Oman, +968 24543002,
www.holiday-in-oman.com
Oman World Tourism, Oman,
+968 24565288, www.omanworldtourism.com
Fishing & Kayaking
Equipment
AzZaha Tours, +968 99425461,
www.azzahatours.com
Water World Marine Oman,
P.O.Box76,Muscat,113,Sultanate
ofOman, +96824737438,
www.waterworldoman.com
Boating & Sailing
Equipment
Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting
Equipment, Souq Waqif, next
to the Falcon Souq, +974 70057489
Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment,
P.O. Box 6449, Old Salata, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44444238, [email protected]
Extreme Adventure, Shop 3,4
Ahmed Bin Ali Steet, Doha,
+974 44877884, www.extreme.qa
Fish World, P.O. Box 1975, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44340754
State of Qatar (QatarSub), Souq Waqif,
next to the Falcon Souq, +974 4431234,
www.stateofqatar.com
Operators
Paddle Qatar, +974 55490895,
www.paddleqatar.com
Stand Up Paddeling, Kite

& Surfing, Wakeboarding
Equipment, Operators
Fly-N-Ride, Ras abu Aboud, Doha,
+974 33117089,
Flo Kite School, Westbay, Doha,
+974 33155628, www.flokiteschool.com
Kitesurfing Qatar, +97430179108,
www.kitesurfingqatar.com
QSUP, Qanat Quartier, Costa Malaz,
The Pearl-Qc, Doha, Qatar, +974 66602830,
www.qsup.me
Cycling (Road & Off Road)
Bike Servicing, Equipment

Carbon Wheels Bike Shop,
Al Maha Center 10, Salwa Road, Doha,
+974 44419048,
www.facebook.com/CarbonWheelsQTR
Flash Bike Shop, Mesaeed New Souq,
Shop C.06, +974 6600 9116,
www.flashbikeshop.com
Skate Shack, Salwa Road, South Doha,
+974 44692532, www.skate-shack.com
Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,
+974 44822194; Villaggio Mall, +974 4456
9143; Ezdan Mall, +974 4492 2827,
www.galaxysportqatar.com
Sportswell, Salwa Road, South Doha,
+974 44151687
ONLINE DIRECTORY
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Dive centre roundup

EDA Digital Online 2016

The wonderful end to Wills journey

Saving UAE Dolphins

DIVE ATLANTIS, ATLANTIS THE PALM

BARRACUDA DIVING CENTER

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

JUNE 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Tel. 04-447 2030

2016 Outdoor UAE FZE

Ireneo Jung Francisco

Katherine Caedo Patangui

EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

Helle Bachofen Von Echt

The information contained is for general use only.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

JUNE 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

8 EDAS UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM COMPETITION

18 ACROSS ARABIAN SEAS: THE FINALE

18 ACROSS ARABIAN SEAS: THE FINALE

EVENT & ACTIVITY REPORTS

08 EDAS UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

JUNE 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

53 2016 YAMAHA FZR WAVERUNNER

54 JEBEL AKHDAR IN THE SUMMER - MARINA

61 DIVING FITNESS BY FITNESS FIRST

45 2XU ACTIVE MATERNITY TIGHTS

59 TOUFIC ABOUNADER: HIKING

54 JEBEL AKHDAR IN THE SUMMER - MARINA

61 DIVING FITNESS BY FITNESS FIRST

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

JUNE 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS

DUBAI SPORTS WORLD

STAIR CLIMB TRAINING

When: June 5th-August 27th

When: June 10th

The famous summer indoor training venue is back.

RUNMADAN CHALLENGE SEASON 4

30 days of running from one mosque to another

Free training hosted by Gulf for Good during the

When: June 6th

NAD AL SHEBA SPORTS

The annual NASS is back with its range

Take your training to the next level with more

SSCB CENTURY RIDES POWERED

180km, 161km or 100km. Which one is your kind

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

JUNE 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Shammas Mattil Kadampuzha

Camping in a Dark Part of the Desert South of Al Khatim

Al Ain - Tilapia Lake

DIGITAL ONLINE 2016

Words by: Emirates Diving Association

awareness towards environmental concerns

Now in its eighth year, Digital

Digital Online was established in 2009 by

EDA handed it over to their online audience

Digital Onlines 19 prize sponsors gave this