Mark had told me that I needed to be at the dive club by eight o'clock so I had to skip breakfast. Of course when I got there nothing was going on and I sat around. After 20 minutes of waiting I decided to try to find a phone to call the Iranian embassy - that way I could at least start making plans. I looked around for Mark but couldn't find him so I left word and set out. I failed to find a working phone - all the pay phones get turned off during off hours, and none of the telecommunications centers open until afternoon. When I got back to the dive center ten minutes after leaving Mark was annoyed and tried to lecture me, luckily I was not in the mood and told him so.
The dive went well, but it was with the same annoying French guys from yesterday's morning dive. At least I didn't see either of them damaging coral this time, but they were still all over the place and completely ignoring the group. Luckily I was guiding and Mark was following up the group - so he had to try and herd them together.
During my lunch break I called the Iranian embassy in Cairo to ask about my visa. They still hadn't heard back from Tehran. When I asked when they were likely to get my application back they said they didn't know, they might never hear back. So l decided to give up on going to Iran. After a big lunch at the pizzeria I tried to call Emirates again to see if I could change my flight but even the phone numbers off their web page have changed. I ended up leaving my tickets with the hotel clerk who promised to try to get through.
In the afternoon went with Mark and his group to Umm Sid for the second dive. I guided again and it went pretty well. Eve the French guy behaved themselves well!
In the evening went back to the hotel and found everything take care of. So I'm not going to Iran, but now I have another week to spend in Egypt. That means I can relax a little with the rush to finish my course, and I'll have time to dive on the wreck of The Thistlegorm in Sharm.
To celebrate I had two beers at the pool bar. Stacy went to "girls night" at one of the instructors houses so I went to the Internet then to a long Dinner at the Sharks Club. It was actually very nice to be o my own. I'd forgive how easy it is to meet people when you are on your own - so I got to talk to lots of people.
