William Sawalha - Jordanian Partner
William is the owner and general manager of both Sea Star Water Sports and Above and Below Adventures. Switching from engineering to tourism in 1977 and falling in love with scuba diving in 1988, William has over 40 years of experience in the tourist trade. Part of William's charm is his constant appreciation and acknowledgment of his team of professionals, who have contributed to the success of his operation. Sea Star Dive Center and its sister company Above and Below Adventures serve and support a large number of visitors to Aqaba and Jordan, offering every possible touristic service available in the area from accommodation and tours to snorkeling and diving. Our team will meet you at any entry point to Jordan with a warm 'Ahlan Wa Sahlan', the traditional welcoming expression for friends, travelers, visitors and divers alike. When we say 'Ahlan Wa Sahlan' we mean it, and are proud to introduce you to our renowned Jordanian hospitality.
Moufid Baqain Jordanian Managing Director
Moufid has been working together with Mr. William for over 30 years, and became the head of the Above and Below Travel Agency in 2005. Moufid is a master of operations and your contact person during your stay in Jordan. For every request, from a change in itinerary to the smallest detail of your stay, Moufid is always there with his willing, caring manner and his special smile.
Ilan Vered – Managing Director
Ilan Vered, also affectionately known as our "solid rock", is a highly experienced travel agent who runs the correspondence and reservation systems. Part of his expertise is maintaining professional and consistent communication between all our partners, regarding every client, reservation and request, making sure that the most complicated demands look easy and run smoothly. As part of our back-office personnel, you probably won't meet Ilan in the field, however his influence can be felt in every component of our organization.
David Vered – CEO of Red Sea Triangle
David is a Master Scuba Dive Instructor who has travelled the Red Sea's most remote locations from the east coast of Sinai to the most remote reefs of Sudan. In 1991, he discovered the shipwreck of the Thistlegorm that has become the most famous dive site is Egypt. David is also the initiator of the Red Sea Triangle concept, he started his long career guiding visitors to these areas back in 1986. With years of experience and the cooperation of his friends across the borders, David has always been able to add that extra personal touch and special care over and above the basic itinerary. So, after guiding thousands of tourists and sea lovers, watching countless sunsets, sitting around numerous camp fires, and being exposed to the elements on warm days and cold nights, David finally realized that the strongest value of a tour, besides your visual and auditory experiences, is remembering how you felt. Therefore, following these words of wisdom, it is our goal to make you feel.
Umbarak Hemid Sobieh
Umbarak Hemid Sobieh, or better known as 'Umbi', with his warm personality and hospitable nature, is our Bedouin partner in Sinai. Umbi is not only your host along the coast of Eastern Sinai, but is also the proud owner of two beautiful resorts in Dahab and Sharem el Sheikh. In his early days, while herding goats and camels, Umbi used his wisdom and understanding to see the great potential of this beautiful land for travelers, snorkelers and scuba divers alike. So, in 1987, together with his young Israeli dive instructor, David Vered, Umbi established a base for divers and travelers in a magical, isolated bay called Sharks Bay. Over the years, this small enterprise developed into one of the leading operations in the area with its two resorts, dive boats and liveaboards, and has become one of our core locations for tours, cruises and attractions all over Sinai. Umbi and his team are always there to greet our guests with a warm smile, hot traditional tea and spicy desert stories.
Ehab Salem - Our Egyptian Coordinator
Ehab is our magician! With his gentle personality and contagious smile, he fulfills our guests' every request and desire in a safe and well-organized manner. As part of his role in our organization, Ehab takes care of transfers, accommodation, desert tours, visits to Egypt's great monuments, tours to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, as well as Nile river cruises and domestic air tickets.
Sameh Agha- Egyptian Partner
Sameh is the president of "South Sinai Travel" tour company, and have been in the industry for more than 35 years. He was born in Alexandria, graduated from University of Ain Shams faculty of Engineering, computer science department. After working for few years in the field of Computer Science, he discovered he need to find somewhere different. He got a chance to shift his carrier to Tourism and since then have been enjoying his work. Through his long working years in tourism, He carried several responsibilities from being airport representative up to being the president of the company. South Sinai Travel was established with the first tourist operational base in Sharm El Shiekh in 1982, when Sharm El Sheikh was still a relatively undeveloped spot in the Sinai Peninsula. Since then, South Sinai Travel has grown to have operational offices throughout Egypt.