My Journey – 20 Years in Diving, 10 Years of Circle Divers
My Journey – 20 Years in Diving, 10 Years of Circle Divers
My name is Abdelsalam Awad, and my diving journey began in
Alexandria in 2004.
Early Days
Between 2005 and 2006, I earned my CMAS Three-Star Diver
certification, and in 2007 I moved to Sharm El Sheikh to turn my passion into a
profession. It was one of the biggest decisions of my life.
In 2008, I became a PADI Divemaster, followed by my PADI
Open Water Scuba Instructor certification in 2010. Wanting to continue
developing myself professionally, I completed my SSI Instructor Crossover in
2013.
Everything changed in 2015.
After the tragic Russian aircraft disaster, tourism in
Sharm El Sheikh collapsed. The future of the diving industry became uncertain,
and many businesses struggled to survive. With great sadness, the dive centre
where I had worked for many years announced that it would close in March 2016.
Like many others, I had a choice.
I could leave Sharm El Sheikh and start a new life
somewhere else, or I could stay and fight for the place I loved.
I believed in Sharm El Sheikh.
I believed in the Red Sea.
I believed in diving.
So I decided to take the biggest risk of my life and start
my own dive centre.
2016 The Birth of Circle Divers
In the beginning, I loaded scuba tanks into the back of my
little VW Beetle, affectionately named Herbie. Despite the flight ban, there
were still guests who desperately wanted to dive in Sharm, so I drove them by
land to Ras Mohamed National Park.
In November 2016, Circle Divers found its home at the
Badawia Hotel, where we are still proudly based today. Herbie is still parked
there today as a reminder of where this journey began. (Some of those early
guests are still frequently diving with us too!)
Many friends supported me from the very beginning. They
believed in my dream and admired what they saw as a brave decision during one
of the most difficult periods the Egyptian diving industry had ever
experienced.
Starting a company was exciting—but it was also incredibly
challenging.
I had no previous experience owning or managing a business.
Every day became a lesson. I had to learn about leadership, finance, marketing,
customer service, operations, and how to build a team while keeping our guests
safe and happy.
There were many moments when giving up would have been
easier.
Instead, we kept moving forward.
2018 Circle’s First International Dive Show
In 2018, we reached another important milestone by
exhibiting at our first international dive show. It was our first step towards
introducing Circle Divers to the international diving community and building
our reputation beyond Egypt. That same year, I also completed my IAC Instructor
Crossover, continuing my commitment to professional development and providing
the highest standards of diver education.
2019 Our Second Dive Centre in Dahab Opens
In 2019, we expanded by opening Circle Divers Dahab,
bringing our passion for diving to another incredible destination in the Red
Sea.
Then came another major challenge.
COVID-19 brought global tourism to a standstill. Once
again, our industry faced uncertainty, but we refused to give up. We adapted,
stayed positive, and continued believing in our future.
Just as the world began to recover, regional instability
created fresh challenges for tourism in 2023. Once again, we chose to move
forward rather than look back.
Our belief in the future was rewarded.
We proudly welcomed our first boat, Eagle Ray, followed in
2025 by our second vessel, Dive Runner. These were not just boats—they were
symbols of how far we had come and reminders that perseverance creates
opportunities.
Circle Divers Today
In 2026, we celebrate two important milestones:
10 years of Circle Divers
20 years as a professional diving instructor and dive
industry professional
Looking back, I realise that Circle Divers has never been
just a dive centre.
It is a story.
A story about believing when others doubted.
A story about never giving up.
A story about taking risks when success was far from
guaranteed.
A story built by incredible people—our staff, our guests,
our friends, our partners, and everyone who has been part of this journey.
Every diver who has trusted us, every instructor who has
worked with us, every member of our team, and every friend who supported us has
helped write this story.
For that, I am deeply grateful.
The first ten years have been an incredible adventure.
But I truly believe the next ten years will be even better.
Our vision remains the same as it was on the first day we
opened our doors:
To create unforgettable diving experiences, build lifelong
friendships, inspire people to explore the underwater world safely, and become
one of the most respected diving companies in the Red Sea.
This is only the beginning.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible
journey.
See you underwater.
Abdelsalam Awad
Founder & Managing Director
