NEWSLETTER 3

RSTP IS NOW ON FACEBOOK!
Most of you might have received by now an invitation from the Red Sea Turtle Project on Facebook. We have realised that on our website there isn't a tool to send us your pictures or videos of turtles. So, we thought that the best solution for this would be to open a Facebook account for those of you that have photos or videos of turtles taken during your holiday in Sharm El Sheikh and would like to share them with us. We will use these to try and identify individuals within species, and to create a library of images and footage. Also, you will immediately get recognition for your picture or video. What we ask of you is to put the following information in the caption when you upload the picture or video:

•Your Name

•Date (of photo / video)

•Time

•Dive Site

•Depth

Using Facebook we will be able to reach everyone that joins with news bulletins as quickly as possible. Moreover, this will be an opportunity to make the Red Sea Turtle Project known to as many people as possible. Spread the word to your friends! So for all of you that want to join in..... WELCOME!!!

The address for the Red Sea Turtle Project on Facebook is http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7183135881

UPDATE ON DAVE'S NECROPSY.
We have been receiving a few emails on the subject and we realise that we haven't yet divulged the results of Dave's necropsy. We apologise for this, we know how popular Dave was and how everyone is really keen to know what happened. Let me tell you that we share your expectation as well, but we are also waiting for a reply on this matter. Dr. Patrick Olbrechts is closely working with the Ras Mohamed National Park on the issue and, from what he told us, there are still some exams to be performed before releasing the final report. Patrick assured us that he is doing his best to have everything finished as soon as possible. From our side, we are regularly keeping in touch with Patrick to make sure we give him all the help needed, and the report is issued as quickly as possible.

PADI SEA TURTLE AWARENESS SPECIALTY AVAILABLE ONLINE!
We have now launched the PADI Sea Turtle Awareness Specialty. This is a PADI Distinctive Specialty that Marco has written and taught for a couple of years. The specialty is now available online on this website for divers and non-divers. In fact, this is a dry specialty and anyone who is interested in sea turtles can obtain this PADI certification in a simple and fun way. The price of the Specialty is 60 Euros and it includes the digital manual, knowledge review and pic. Please see the new section Education on the website for more details.

BECOME SEA TURTLE AWARENESS SPECIALTY INSTRUCTOR!
For those instructors that want to teach this specialty, Marco also runs a PADI Sea Turtle Awareness Specialty Instructor course. For the moment this course is available only in Sharm El Sheikh. The course costs 50 Euros and it includes the manual and the Instructor Specialty Outline. It does not include the PADI Instructor Specialty application fee for method 1. This could be a very easy and fun specialty to teach in the same area where the Red Sea Turtle Project operates and can be beneficial to Instructors and Dive Centres! If you are interested please send us an email

CHECK THE MAPS!
Check here for the updated maps.

GET INVOLVED!
Your help so far has been amazing and we thank you very much for it. Here are a few things you can do to get involved in the project:

•Report any turtle sighting whether online or on paper. You can download the report form from the website.

•Report any big animal sighting whether online or on paper. You can download the report form from the website.

•Submit any picture or video of sea turtles via email. We will use these to identify individuals and we will give you credit for your pictures or videos.

•Send us your comments, feedback and suggestions on how to improve our project.

•If you would like to join the Red Sea Turtle Project, please send us your logo together with your ideas on your involvement: sightings report, weblink exchange, pictures and video sharing, or simply to receive the newsletter.