DIVE magazine reports of a dive centre in the northern Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh receiving a Defenders of the Sea 2007 award by the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA). HEPCA presented the award to the Red Sea Diving College in recognition of its marine environmental work, which in 2007 included the creation of artificial reefs, underwater clean-ups and the rescue and rehabilitation of a hawksbill turtle.
Mark Fraenkel, spokesperson for Red Sea Diving College has reportedly said that the environmental work of the dive centre will continue throughout 2008, and that there are plans to launch some environmental initiatives within the Russian diving community. He also told DIVE that there are plans being developed to begin a coral re-grafting project under the direction of Dr Mohammed Salem, chief marine biologist of Ras Mohammed National Park.
