In Development…

At Spot we are continuously working behind the scenes to improve our site and the services we offer.

Currently in development are a number of projects that we intend to launch over the next weeks and months.

New look survey – we want to gauge your opinion on everything we do and perhaps bring your attention to services you didn’t know we provided! Our short general survey will help us shape the site and constantly improve the things that could work better for you.

Improved booking request form – requesting and receiving specific, targeted information will ensure that we can provide immediate and bespoke quotes when you are looking for accommodation and diving offers all along the Red Sea coast. The more information you give us, the more appropriate our response can be.

Classified Events – We’ve been working with local businesses to establish a firm ground for our Newsletter based events. In addition to the regular Events Planner in our printed Classified magazine, we are developing a broader coverage of local nightlife, community and charity events. If you’re involved in something you want to promote locally, Spot is still the best place to do it!

For more information on any of the projects mentioned here, please contact us here.

Ruth – Spot Local

Sara Campbell back in action

	"I began to understand what my unique strengths are as a freediver"

36-year-old British World Champion freediver Sara Campbell, who set three World Records last year, is launching her own coaching programme, Discover your Depths. Sara's progress from beginner to triple World Record holder was done in just nine months, and she now would like to share the secret of her success with the rest of the freediving world.

Sara said: "It all happened so quickly, that when I was asked how I achieved those three World Records, I wasn't exactly sure. Time out last year, and some very difficult dives shortly after my mum died, made things much clearer for me, and I began to understand what my unique strengths are as a freediver. My progress was down to a combination of my physiology, and advanced meditation and pranayama practice. I feel strongly that fear and lack of self-belief holds a lot of very promising freedivers back".

Sara has said that "Discover your Depths" is about developing each freediver's self-confidence, helping them understand their own potential through controlling their minds and of course advanced equalisation and deeper diving techniques." The course combines daily yoga and meditation, discussions and plenty of practical training at the Blue Hole in Dahab, Egypt.

Sara combines yoga and meditation practice in the course syllabus, together with freedive training. She is limiting the group sizes to a maximum of four people, and accommodation is in the luxury Villa Isis, which she built herself last year. Guests wanting to do more than one week can extend their stay in the villa, and rent diving equipment from Sara to practice the techniques they've learned. There is a prerequisite that Divers must have a sound knowledge of freediving, in line with an AIDA *** qualification or similar.

Egyptian pyramids may rise above global recession

	Our drop will not be as big as originally anticipated

When tourism officials met at the start of the year to discuss the impact of the global financial crisis on Egypt's tourism industry, the prognosis looked bleak. But now, three months into 2009, a better picture is emerging - and some experts believe the battened-down sector can weather the storm.

"Everyone has taken up defensive positions by letting staff go and lowering prices," said Mohammad Talaat, a Cairo-based travel consultant. "Tourism is definitely down. If the recession is short we will manage the losses, but if it lasts too long we could all be out of jobs." Tourism is crucial to the health of the Egyptian economy, accounting for about 7 percent of GDP and providing employment to 12.6 percent of the workforce. The sector experienced strong growth in 2008 with a record 12.8 billion tourist arrivals, a 15 percent increase over the previous year. As the financial meltdown weakened the economies and devalued the currencies of Egypt's top inbound tourist markets - Russia, Britain, Germany and Italy - many feared the boom would soon turn to a bust.

"We were really worried," said Ahmad al-Nahas, chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Federation (ETF), an umbrella organization representing thousands of local tourism companies. "But it looks like our drop will not be as big as originally anticipated. We looked at the revenue figures between January and March and they're down only about 12 percent below last year, which was an exceptional year." Hardest hit have been the Red Sea resort cities Hurghada and Sharm El- Sheikh, where hotels reported occupancy rates down by up to 40 percent in recent months, though improving in March. Hotels have reduced room rates or added pricing incentives, such as long-stay guests receive extra nights free. Many have also laid off temporary workers, who make up more than a quarter of the workforce.

Read more

Sports Headlines

World football …

World Cup chase back on across Europe

Auxerre's 'Mr Goal' proud of Poland recall

Fellaini enjoying the sweet life in England

Del Bosque warns of Spanish overconfidence

The best of the rest …

F1 - Button on pole for stunning Brawn

Cricket – Kiwis keep India under pressure

Cycling - Armitstead wins silver after fall

Golf - Harrington laments missed chances

When - 30 March to 4 April 2009

Where - Sindbad Beach Resort – The Promenade on Esplanada

The world’s top male and female squash players will descend on the beautiful Red Sea coast for the annual Hurghada International Squash Tournament, which takes place from March 28th to April 4th.

With thousands of dollars of prize money on offer this event sees action of the highest calibre with the upper echelons of the game.

Assuming they safely navigate the first round in Cairo, the world’s top four men will be heading to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada at the end of March.

Last year’s finalists Ramy Ashour and Amr Shabana find themselves in the same half this time, with Karim Darwish and Gregory Gaultier expected to battle it out for a place in the final from the top half of the draw.

In the women’s event, defending champion Omneya Abdel Kawy is seeded three behind Rachel Grinham and Jenny Duncalf, but the Egyptian favourite beat them both on the way to claiming the title last year, sot the crowd will be hoping for a repeat performance and another Egyptian double.

Mens Draw

Womens Draw

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Loction: Down Town, Next to Arena Inn Hotel
When: Sunday & Tuesday @ 7:00pm, Thursday @ 7:00pm & 9:00 pm
Entry: free

Week 1 ( 1st - 05th of March )	Week 2 ( 8th - 12th of March )
Week 3 ( 15th - 19th of March )	Week 4 ( 22nd - 26th of March )
Week 5 ( 29th of March - 02nd of April )

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