The Sinai Peninsula

One of the most special places to see in Egpyt is the 7,000 year old Coral Reef at Dahab on the Sinai Peninsula. The reef literally hugs the beach and is home to a wonderful array of species including almost impossibly shaped Pipefish, Puffer fish, Butterfly & Angel Fish in pairs and shoals of tiny Golden fish, blue fish.. among a dazzling array of hard and soft corals.

35mm Film

This was one of those rare opportunities to use 35mm film with camera in a waterproof case. The film produces a rich dreamy blue, grainy texture underwater and I wasn't sure there would be anything to see until the prints came back from the lab as the light is absorbed quickly at a couple of metres.

A trip to the Blue Hole

Facilitated by an epic Quadbike journey across the Sinai Desert, through enormous sand dunes then past resting camel trains along a thin shingle beach. Once we arrived we changed into our wetsuits and headed out through a small gap in the beach side of the reef. There were plenty of Freedivers with their incredibly long fins and futuristic looking diving goggles. We skirted around the edge taking in the coral. We were accompanied by some large Puffer Fish who peered down into the deep watching, mesmerised as scuba divers bubbles gently rose from the darkness. I knew the Hole was a dangerous place. Many divers have died at the bottom of the hole trying to reach the open sea. It was a bit spooky and eventually we got cold and returned to the dive shack for hot apple tea and some warm snacks.

info below from wikipedia "The Blue Hole is a diving location on east Sinai, a few kilometres north of Dahab, Egypt on the coast of the Red Sea. The Blue Hole is a submarine sinkhole, around 94 m (300 feet) deep. There is a shallow opening around 6 m deep, known as the saddle", opening out to the sea, and a 26 m long tunnel, known as "the arch", whose top is at a depth of 56 m (184 feet). The hole and the surrounding area have an abundance of coral and reef fish. The Blue Hole is a hot spot for freediving because of the depth directly accessible from shore and the lack of current."

Puffer Fish watches Scuba Diver's bubbles from the bottom of the Blue Hole

Underwater Coral Garden in shallow seas

Fish Congregate in Search of a Tasty Treat...In this case a pocket full of bread

Isolated Column of Coral like a miniature underwater Island

Reef Reflection on the Undersurface of a Wave

Swimming with the Fishes