He is very knowledgeable and passionate about his local environment and with over 30 years of diving experience was the perfect person to get the low-down from. He provided us with a really good incite into local marine issues and the challenges they face on a daily basis.

HEPCA formed in 1991 because at the end of 1980's start 1990's the diving industry started to boom. Only four dive centres were running at the time (now 250). Fishing boats became dive boats which used old fishing anchoring methods, known locally as "Bischlela" which were damaging the coral. As more and more dive boats went into business this was causing havoc to the coral reefs and more and more coral was being damaged.

So the local dive centres got together to establish an organization to try and protect the local coral reefs, and to find suitable anchoring systems that could be installed at dive sites. They discovered the “Manta Ray System”

The dive centres wanted to make the installing of these moorings a legal process, so they decided to establish an NGO. They have installed around 1000 moorings to date and provide dive centres with training in how these mooring systems work and why it is important to use them as opposed to dropping the anchor. USaid provided 2.5million pounds to establish this as only 10-15 % of financial support comes from members, with the rest coming from foundations and businesses.

Up to 80% of the dive industry, who use HEPCA moorings, aren’t members of HEPCA and are able to use these moorings free of charge. Work is being done, via the use of international media to pressure dive / snorkeling centres to be members so these moorings can be maintained. The issue with non-HEPCA members is that they aren't receiving information on coral and coastal management and aren’t supporting the maintenance of the moorings. The Lack of education on coastal management and appreciation of the local marine environment is an issue that HEPCA is experiencing on a daily basis.

HEPCA is currently in court with the Tourist Ministry and the Environmental Ministry to ensure they recognize and protect marine life and won’t allow public land for commercial development and land filling.

The Egyptian Tourist Development Authority (TDA) wanted to sell Gifton Island (off the coast of Hurghada) to private investors to develop a tourism paradise. HEPCA put immense pressure on TDA via Local and International media which resulted in TDA declaring the island a national park.

Today, HEPCA continue their work in preserving the coral reefs and educating local dive boat operators and the general public on how we can all Defend Our Oceans