Find the SUBEX Easter Egg 2012!

Headoffice, March 28. 2012

Dear SUBEX Website User: We hide three SUBEX easter eggs on the 80 SUBEX pages www.subex.org. Seek and find one and you will be a happy winner of our easter surprise 2012. Being part of the game is easy: Find the picture of one of the three eggs which looks like the big egg on the left hand side. Attention: This big egg on the left hand side is not one of the three eggs! Klick on the picture, write in the E-Mail your full name and be part of the lottery. Only clicks on the eggs count on easter sunday and easter monday, April 8. + 9.

We will inform on the webpage about the lucky winners. Have fun with the game and enjoy easter 2012 with your family, your friends, your diving buddies or maybe while diving in your holidays!

Your SUBEX Team! 

---

BOOT 2012 - Retrospection to a successful event and the work of a grandiose fair team

Headoffice, Febuary 2012

After all of the Subex staff had arrived, we - full of rosy expectations - were heading for diving sports hall N°3. How does the workplace for nine days look like? Everybody was impressed by the clearly, vividly and informatively arranged stand. At the second stand big pictures - one of model Vreni and one of model longnose hawkfish - decorated as well the meters high walls. The fair team consisted of: Alex, Ayman, Chris, Doris, Johann, Piesi, Steffi, Steffeli, and Verena.  At the SUBEX stand the guests were informed about the SUBEX features SUBEX air28, no stupid limits, Welcome Dive, One for Four, the member system, FEEL THE DIVE and FUN diver. On Sunday, Wednesday at the stand party and Saturday there was a highlight for the visitors: SUBEX rocked together with the Blues Brothers. With their moves and their rhythms the excellent singer Harald and the ex base manager Michael (Latschi) Latschenberger of EL Quseir made the hall shake, rattle and roll. Thanks to the preparation, the idea of the Blues Brothers’ gig and the presentation of the SUBEX features and first of all thanks to the grandiose team BOOT 2012 was a complete success. Both SUBEX stands were permanently enjoying visitors, all presents were handed over and the mood for diving in the beautiful host country Egypt had been reawaken in a lot of people. Now, all the bookings will follow soon - hopefully!

---

SUBEX FORMS AND SETS NEW STANDARDS!

Head Office,  January 5, 2012

SUBEX stands for unlimited fun and adventure in diving, especially in the development of environmental protection; that’s why they promote SUBEX air28, dive times as long as air allows, and diving depths of 40 meters for the experts.
SUBEX is represented by two stands at the 2012 Dusseldorf BOOT show from January 21-29. 2012

SUBEX is setting new standards! At its booth 3F59 at the 2012 BOOT show, SUBEX will uniquely present "NO STUPID LIMITS." With blues and bouncing knees, with hats and sunglasses. Yeah, right! As legendary as the Blues Brothers are in the movie industry, so is SUBEX in the diving industry So, not only will theoretical issues be discussed, but there will also be lots of partying! On stage, at the SUBEX party on Wednesday , and more.

We look forward to seeing every member and new diver in Düsseldorf from January 21 - 29 2012!

---

SUBEX Diving Center Marsa Imbarak Update

SUBEX Headoffice, October, 16th. 2011

Getting ready in Marsa Alam: The SUBEX Diving Center is staffed since September, 1st. 2011, is getting equiped and arranged. The base manager is Doris Kupferschmied which managed the SUBEX Diving Center in El Quseir until August 2011. With her is Guide Boleka who knows the place like the back of his hand and Mohamed who is responsible for the technic, for the compressor and all work around the center.

The first happy divers visited the great bay and experienced the world under water - this with the support of SUBEX El Quseir diving center.

You can do a reservation for SUBEX Marsa Imbarak here. Or just ask us if you have questions.

---

Subex Sharm El Sheikh is 20 years!

On September 5, 2011, SUBEX Sharm El Sheikh celebrates its 20th anniversary!

The second SUBEX dive center in the Red Sea was SUBEX Sharm and opened six years after the "mother" dive center in Hurghada. They welcomed avid divers and snorkelers and brought them to the best diving and snorkeling sites around Sharm El Sheikh.
When the SUBEX dive center in Sharm was still in its infancy, it looked quite different: Na'ama Bay was largely undeveloped and we took a jeep to explore the dive sites. Today, twenty years later, SUBEX dive center is represented in Sharm at three different locations, and guests are accommodated with comfortable mini buses to the diving excursions. Boat dives from the dive center boat "Beirut" are very popular. The daily rotation of dive sites includes the famous Ras Mohamed National Park, the popular Straits of Tiran and cozy local dive spots. The program is rounded out with special trips to the legendary wreck of the SS Thistlegorm, the famous Blue Hole, and the spectacular Canyon (both in Dahab). One of the most sought-after special trips is a visit to Ras Mohamed National Park from the shore as part of the "Ras Mohamed Relaxing Day". Pioneer spirit and joy for the underwater world led to the success of the company and laid the foundation for their other dive centers in El Quseir, Marsa Alam and Dahab.

We, the employees of SUBEX Sharm, want to take advantage of this special day to take a look back and dive with the guests as it was when it all began ...

Every certified diver who is checked in for at least a week, on this special day, receives a FEEL THE Dive for free.

What is FEEL THE DIVE? The finest way to dive in the truest sense, "first hand" experience: Only with swimwear, and even better just with a Lycra top, and fitted with with a backplate for a 12 L tank, a first and second stage, accompanied by a FEEL THE Dive Guide for the dive experience! Free from restrictive neoprene, octopus, BC, and dive computer, the dive is enjoyed up to a depth of twelve meters.

We are delighted to celebrate this day with you and the diving experience in its purest form!

Your SUBEX SSH team

---

Base manager Changements in El Quseir

Headoffice, 17. Juli 2011

The SUBEX Radisson Blu Resort in El Quseir is changing leadership, but by no means will there be unfamiliar faces: Old and proven SUBEX –trusted Stephanie (Steph) Mannhardt and Stefan (Piesi) Piesker will take over the reins as dive center manager couple from September 1, 2011. Doris Kupferschmied will build and lead the new SUBEX dive center in Marsa Alam.

After a half year of project work for SUBEX, Steph and Piesi dive back into management in with guest service and everyday business operations. Piesi has been with SUBEX since 2005 and most recently led the SUBEX team in El Quseir, El Quadim Bay for two years. He is looking forward now to the very new, old job. He brings 18 years experience as an instructor and instructor trainer. His partner Steph began her first diving business career in 2008 as a counter/Reservations employee, and then took over project management duties for SUBEX El Quadim Bay and all five SUBEX dive centers on the Red Sea. The project work continues, and only better prepares her for dive center manager tasks. The couple brings joy to the job, providing extensive knowledge and experience to the known and new SUBEX guests as their main goals.

Simone Siegenthaler and Doris Kupferschmied, the female leaders since opening the dive center in April 2010, both will change internally in the company. For their involvement in the construction phrase, the company gives a big thank you. They pass on a very well-running dive operation and happy guests.

---

opening soon - New SUBEX Diving Center Basis: Marsa Imbarak

SUBEX Headoffice, July, 3rd. 2011

Dear SUBEX members, divers, snorkelers and water sports fans: we are pleased to announce that SUBEX will soon open a new dive center close to the beautiful bay of Marsa Imbarak (formerly Marsa Mubarak), 76 km south of El Quseir and 8 km south of the Marsa Alam airport in the south of the Red Sea. The dive center is located on the sprawling, fish-filled bay and is connected to a brand-new 4-star hotel, which is currently busy working towards the upcoming opening.

SUBEX divers will have plenty of new reefs to discover: both flat and sandy bottom for training and courses, as well as the bay and outer reefs where the advanced learners and professionals can find enough to explore. Even snorkelers and swimmers are well served in this approximately 800 meter wide, pristine bay. The natural, incredibly long, fine sand beach invites long walks. The dive site will begin directly on the north side of the bay - accessible via a jetty. Nevertheless, Zodiac and minibuses are also available to complete the diversity that the many reefs along the bay and coastline have to offer.

With a lot of fun and excitement everything is still being built, hammered, planned, and bought. Finally, SUBEX divers and snorkellers in Marsa Imbarak can expect the usual standards.

You can now look forward to more information and reports about all the construction progress, the details of the hotel, for bookings and information about the bay. Just give us a little time!

Your SUBEX Team of Dahab, Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, El Quseir and now also Marsa Imbarak

---

Change of management at the base in Sharm el-Sheikh

Sharm el Sheikh, beginning of June 2011

Back to the roots. That is how the recruitment of the base’s management duo, Simone Siegenthaler and Hannes Pribil, can best be summed up. For both started out as diving professionals years ago, working at and with SUBEX, Hannes in 2003 and Simone in 2006.

Each of them spent several years working for SUBEX in Sharm el-Sheikh as dive guides and diving instructors, and now, after a break, are returning to their diving roots.

Last year Simone and Doris Kupferschmied successfully opened and ran the SUBEX base at the Radisson in El Quseir. Her life partner Hannes, ran a small resort with 70 rooms in El Quseir. So both are extremely well qualified for their new task and are looking forward tremendously to taking up their new duties in Sharm on 1 August 2011.

We wish them and the whole team in Sharm el-Sheikh every success.

Gil Finckler, who successfully ran our base in Sharm for two (not always easy) years, has decided to take on some fresh challenges, selling, running and leading special programs in the Sinai. We would like to thank him for all he achieved as base manager and wish him a happy and prosperous future with his new activities.

---

PriZe Drawing Guest Comments 2010

SUBEX Headoffice, May, 11th 2011

Finally it was time again, and in SUBEX headquarters we drew the winners of the guests comments lottery. Under the watchful eyes of our CEO Johann, 17 six-dive packages were pulled by three good fairies Caro, Steffi and Verena. Of course, all the lucky winners will be personally notified in the coming days and informed of their win. 

 

 

 

And the happy winners are the following:

 

Elisabeth P. from Innsbruck - AT
Ute K. from Minden - DE
Corinne E. from Schindellegi – CH
Roland R. from Frittlingen – DE
Hannah K. from Lübeck – DE
Fritz R. from Ochsenfurt – DE
Igor M. from Duisburg – DE
Jochen Q. from Speyer – DE
Erika W. from Uppsala – SE
Frank R. from Regensburg – DE
Michael M. from Zürich – CH
Bernhard S. from Pförring – DE
Slavko S. from Sechein – DE
Karl – Heinz B. from Riedenburg – DE
Matthias B. from Vöhringen – DE
Christian B. from Mainz – DE
Andreas R. from Bettlach – CH

Congratulations to all the winners, and we hope you enjoy your dive package of 6 dives!

The SUBEX dive centers already look forward to welcoming the winners to the SUBEX dive center of their choice. 

 

 

All non-winners can be sure of this: For 2011, the guest comments will again be collected diligently by 17 SUBEX members, and rewarded with a surprise dive package.

 

It is always worth it to dive with SUBEX, and to report your opinion!

The facts

We hereby wish to inform you that our operation of the dive center at the facilities of the Mövenpick Resort in El Quseir shall cease as from 1 March 2011.

The owners of the hotel and therefore also our contracting partner, Kingdom Hotel Investment (KHI), based in Dubai, which is also a shareholder in Serena Beach Hotels (SAE) based in Cairo, and the management company representing our contracting partner the Mövenpick Resort El Quseir, run by Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, have decided that they no longer wish to work together with SUBEX Red Sea Diving Centers, listed in the Cairo Trade Register under Sub-Egypt L.L.C. since April 1989. In so doing, they are denying us the contractually agreed right to apply for a further, 10-year extension of the term of the contract.

The Serena Beach Hotel was sold to its present owners, the KHI hotel group, a few years ago. The contract with us that was taken over at the time was and remains a nuisance to the present owners and Mövenpick’s current management.

On repeated occasions, the owners and the managers of the Mövenpick Resort declined to take up our offers to try and reach an amicable out-of-court settlement. Indeed, they have done so right up until this very day. Now the matter will have to be decided in court.

We can provide no further information while the respective legal proceedings are under way.

We deeply regret that legal action initiated by the current owners is now ending a long-standing collaboration that for 17 years was profitable for both the Mövenpick Resort and SUBEX - THE ART OF DIVING for no good reason.

Right up until today, we have taken great pains to ensure that the showcase local reef, the El Quadim fringing reef, sets new reef protection standards. Our practice of guiding a maximum of 4 people and our self-imposed limit on guest numbers at the popular dive base were exemplary, innovative and the topic of lively debate in the sector. The training we offered novice divers in ecology and about the reef as an ecosystem, and projects like the El Quseir Charter, documentaries made by Der Spiegel, ZDF and WDR, the practical measures taken to save water, and our collaboration with marine biologists all bear witness to a sensible, responsible, not purely commercial dive operation that is designed to protect the environment on a sustainable basis.

Our guests and partners

Any guests who have already made bookings or reservations with us beyond 1 March 2011 will be contacted by us in person. Naturally they will be offered alternative dive holidays with us of the quality to which they have grown accustomed.

Divers will be able to rebook for SUBEX - THE ART OF DIVING holidays at the company’s bases in Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab and Hurghada. In addition, we will be happy to pass on bookings to SUBEX DC Radisson, a base that is owned by the SUBEX registered trust and run independently of SUBEX - THE ART OF DIVING bases. The company in question adopts a similar philosophy to that implemented at SUBEX - THE ART OF DIVING bases and works to the customary Swiss quality and service standards.

We would invite anyone with open questions or requiring further information to contact our head office in Hurghada or our information center for Europe in Switzerland.

All the relevant business partners, tour operators, and travel agents will be briefed in full about the facts and given information about alternative diving holidays with us.

Our own personal view

We look back proudly on 17 successful years, on a unique product crafted by harmonious cooperation all that time ago between the then far-sighted people at Mövenpick and equally shaped by our philosophy and our passionate interest in the marine environment. We are leaving behind and ecologically intact coral reef.

We would like to pay respectful tribute to our personnel who, over many years, have enthusiastically and energetically offered guests visiting a top-notch service. We owe them our immeasurable thanks!

We also owe a debt of gratitude to our SUBEX members, the silver and gold members for faithfully sticking with us for all these years.

We are confident of being able to continue to offer all our guests visiting the Red Sea a wonderful diving holiday in the future.

So we look forward to seeing you again soon!

Johann Vifian
Director & Associate
Hurghada, 26 February 2011 (english since 1 March 2011)

Egypt, January 3, 2011
 
After 11 years of reliable, continuous cooperation, the faithful old home page was replaced with a new one: It should be visually beautiful, as well as clearer. We wanted to provide more available details for our guests and users of the site. More space for Stories, News, Messages, for weekly thoughts with the View through the Mask, place for Underwater Galleries, Dive Site Maps, Pictures of our Dive Centers--the new site should provide all of these, and a portion of it should be interactive.

Therefore, our programmer Pius worked for months with the marketing department of SUBEX, and piece by piece the SUBEX website took on a new form. Then, when the test phase was complete, it was declared on June 16, 2010, "Please switch off the old home page and upload the new one,“ knowing well that in the next few weeks, the little errors which had been overlooked despite careful accuracy and proofreading, must be gradually corrected.
 
And we had great help: We called the consumers to our website to inform us of their opinions, and to enlighten us about the performance of functions and any slight errors. We wanted to know what our guests like, what appeals to them, and where we can still make improvements.
As a reward, we were giving away 3 x 2 10 dive packages to the respondents.

We ended the test phase as planned, after a good half year, in December 2010, and took stock: We received a total of 24 reviews. Starting from the hint that a link was not yet working correctly, to page-long suggestions, like how to rank the home page better on Google, or how to visually simplify the site. In collaboration with the users of the site, we can constantly improve. For example, a Skip Intro button has been added, we have expanded the photo galleries, and videos are now linked to youtube.
 
Thanks to all who participated: Mission accomplished!

On January 3, then, good fairy Verena drew three winners out of of the 24 respondents:
Member Harald Ecker West is delighted to make his wife Elke and daughter Annika divers in 2011 with a SUBEX holiday. Actually, the vacation plans for this year were different. By winning, however, the wishes of the family have spontaneously "moved" back to El Quseir ... Shortly after the new site was uploaded, Harald pointed out that the link to El Quseir Charter did not work. Thank you and congratulations!

It’s lovely, too, that Goldmember Beate Seiler, who loves the underwater world, and especially the snails of the El Quadim Bay as a photographer, was pulled by Verena as the third winner. In her e-mail, Beate expressed that some of the selected photos were in need of improvement. Since the tip in July 2010, we have tripled the number of images in our galleries, and doubled the number in the texts. We also thank Beate for the comment and the link to her own really well done pictures. Congratulations!

25th anniversary of SUBEX in Hurghada

They all came, and from everywhere: Egyptian employees, as well as Europeans, the Jeep drivers, the boat captains, the dive center managers, the office mice, the tank fillers, the guides, the counter staff, the project officer, the instructor and management—by plane from Dahab and Sharm el Sheikh, by bus from El Quseir, and by taxis and motorcycle from the head office in Hurghada. 120 men and women who work with SUBEX in the Red Sea left the guest operation be guest operation for two half-days while they celebrated—and in the right place!

For the 25th anniversary of SUBEX Hurghada, there were several festivities in 2010:
The Dive Center Manager and Head Office staff were allowed to join Verena und Johann Vifian on September 6, 1985, as they arrived in Hurghada, to just go out on that day and enjoy the celebration, which was more of a private nature, with good food.
On  December 26, 1985 the current manager and the personnel manager made the very first outing with guests to the offshore reefs in Hurghada. The 2nd Christmas Day, a quarter century ago, was also a wonderful time, and not too windy of a day, as Verena and Johann remember it.

The third and biggest event should take place on a date that is not already occupied by a holiday in SUBEX’s historic year of 2010—to be specific, on Decembet 11, 2010.
.

Th employees did not trickle in gradually. No. At the stroke of noon, 40 staff members from Sharm got off the plane and found their way to their hotels to make themselves fresh and pretty.  In the afternoon came the second round: With two large buses, a 70-strong team of men and women arrived from El Quseir. The combined Eco-bay and safari-trip power from the south went straight to the locations of the events.

For the mega SUBEX event, Bordiehns Restaurant was exactly the right choice of location. The traditional restaurant also celebrates its anniversary soon. For 20 years, the star chef Thomas has been conjuring delicious and unusual dishes for its guests in the city on the Red Sea. That evening he treated 120 SUBEX guests to Egyptian appetizers, soup, a choice of fish or meat with vegetables and rice, and strawberries and cream - or so plainly described by an amateur. A magician provoked stunned faces and loud laughter the entire evening.

There was not one particular highlight of the evening. There were two.
Before the main course, when the stomachs were no longer growling and the first drinks had everyone amused, Johann invited the guests on a journey. For each year since 1985, he emphasized the most striking, lasting memories and milestones of SUBEX: The first outing, with guests signing the contract, SUBEX registered as the first Egyptian diving company, setting the first buoy, the founding of the now largest non-governmental organization HEPCA Egypt, establishing the base in Sharm, which provides the way for the next anniversary in 2011, when she is 20 years old next summer, and and and ... Participant giggled, learned, laughed and remembered. Many SUBEX employees have been employed for 17 years and are loyal to the company. For these and the other busy bees, managing director and owner Johann and his wife Verena wanted to do something good with a very special gift—the second highlight.

What does a manager give to his staff on the anniversary of the establishment? Preferably something that is of lasting significance, something in line with the corporate philosophy, and something each employee can identify with.

 

The announcement of the gift was met with enthusiasm. Everyone wanted to sign first. Above all, the Egyptians were happy about the gift to continue giving.
Of course we will talk to you later this year about the visits of children to Hurghada!

It was nearly midnight when the rewarding night ended. Full and satisfied, the men and women left either by bus to El Quseir, or to their rented hotels.

 Everyone is looking forward to the 20-year anniversary of Sharm in 2011!