Sinai, Egypt

These pictures were take during a one week diving safari on the boat Sea Ray, which was located in the Marine Sports Club in Hurghada. The boat wasn't the newest one but okay. But the egyptian and the food were great. The boat had room for 16 people but we were only eight divers chartered by DiveZone. But the dive guide was not the best one. He lacked experience. It was his first tour and he was alone. The dive sites on the wrecks were good, the rest not very exciting.

Pyjama Nudibranch — Fig. 1: A Pyjama Nudibranch (Chromodoris magnifica). Dive #250: Shab Elayg, Egypt, Red Sea

Lemon Butterfly Fish — Fig. 2: Lemon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus). Dive #250: Shab Elayg, Egypt, Red Sea

Graceful Lizard Fish — Fig. 3: Graceful Lizardfish (Saurida gracilis). Dive #250: Shab Elayg, Egypt, Red Sea

Gorgeous Dart Fish — Fig. 4: This could be a gorgeous dartfish (Amblyeleotris wheeleri). It lives in a partnership together with a pistol crab. The crab digs the hole and because it can't see very well it holds contact with one of his antennas with the fish. The fish warns him from approaching enemies or photographers. Dive #250: Shab Elayg, Egypt, Red Sea

Diogenes Hermit Crab — Fig. 5: A Diogenes Hermit Crab (Dardanus diogenes) went out for a walk with his anemones on its house. Dive #251: Shab Elayg, Egypt, Red Sea

Hermit Crab — Fig. 6: A little hermit crab is digging in the sand for some food. Dive #251: Shab Elayg, Egypt, Red Sea

Moray eel and stone fish — Fig. 7: A moray eel has discovered a stone fish and tries to eat it ... or are they a couple and were trying to make little stone morays? I wantd to make a picture of the stone fish's face but the moray didn't let me get closer. Dive #251: Shab Elayg, Egypt, Red Sea

Pipe fish — Fig. 8: Close-up of a pipe fish eye. Dive #251: Shab Elayg, Egypt, Red Sea

Pipe fish — Fig. 9: Portrait of a pipe fish, unfortunately with a lot of backscatter. Dive #251: Shab Elayg, Egypt, Red Sea

Pascal with soft coral — Fig. 10: Pascal with soft coral. Dive #252: Siyul Kebira, Egypt, Red Sea

Stefan and Pascal — Fig. 11: Stefan and Pascal. Dive #252: Siyul Kebira, Egypt, Red Sea

Pascal and Andrea — Fig. 12: Pascal and Andrea — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot Housing, Hartenberger Flash, Siyul Elsogher, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Green Sea Turtle — Fig. 13: A sea turtle descending from the water surface. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot Housing, Hartenberger Flash, Siyul Elsogher, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Green Sea Turtle — Fig. 14: A sea turtle descending from the water surface. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot Housing, Hartenberger Flash, Siyul Elsogher, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Andrea and sea turtle — Fig. 15: Andrea and a sea turtle swimming in a competition. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot Housing, Hartenberger Flash, Siyul Elsogher, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Sea Ray with Guide — Fig. 16: Our safari boat, the Sea Ray, with the dive guide Ridda waiting for us. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot Housing, Hartenberger Flash, Siyul Elsogher, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Russel Lion Fish — Fig. 17: A Russel's lionfish — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF 60mm 1:2.8, Hugyfot Housing, Hartenberger Flash, Shab Umm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Scorpion fish — Fig. 18: A sweet small scorpionfish — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Shab Umm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Hermit crab — Fig. 19: A small hermit crab lost on top of a coral. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Shab Umm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Hermit crab — Fig. 20: A big hermit crab — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Shab Umm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Hunting lion fish — Fig. 21: These two lion fish were following us during the night dive and catched every fish in the light beam of our underwater torces. Was funny to observe them hunting but sometimes they got very close while one was taking a picture and did not expect them. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Shab Umm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Carnatic — Fig. 22: Corals growing on the wreck of the sunken ship Carnatic. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Crocodile fish — Fig. 23: A crocodile fish who liked being photographed. Because I as using a wideangle lens I had to get very close to the fish. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Carnatic — Fig. 24: The bow of the Carnatic. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Carnatic — Fig. 25: One of the hatches in the side of the Carnatic. The current was blowing very strong and it was hard to keep the camera with the long strobe arm steady. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Carnatic — Fig. 26: A timber with corals — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Carnatic — Fig. 27: The stern of the Carnatic with helm and the propeller. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006 Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=12 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 8 November 2006 08:08:52

Wreck Carnatic — Fig. 28: Probably one of the rescue boat brackets with diver Stefan in back light. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Rope with Zodiac — Fig. 29: Rope with Zodiac — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 30: The stern of the Giannis D. This ship was sunken in 1983. I converted the image to black&white because it looks much better. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 31: The stern of the Giannis D. This ship was sunken in 1983. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006 Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 8 November 2006 11:34:24

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 32: Diver Andrea waiting in the traffic jam inside the wreck. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 33: A swarm of small fishes inside of the wreck. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 34: Ascending from the wreck through a hatch. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 35: Gallery with rail on the ship's side. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 36: Funnel of Giannis D. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 37: Winches below the captain's bridge. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 38: One of the Giannis D's masts. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 39: On deck of the Giannis D. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 40: Winches below the captain's bridge — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 41: The "D" on the funnel of the Giannis D wreck. More light from the strobe would be fine here. I don't know why it didn't fire or did I turn it off? Diving makes stupied. Dive #256: Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea

Wreck Giannis D — Fig. 42: Corals growing on a pole. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Abu Nuhas Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Bat Fish — Fig. 43: Two bat fish in the unknown ship wreck — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Mahmodat, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Stern helm — Fig. 44: The helm and propeller on a shipwreck's stern. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Mahmodat, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Shipwreck stern — Fig. 45: The stern of an unknown shipwreck. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Mahmodat, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Blue spotted ray — Fig. 46: A blue spotted stingray. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Mahmodat, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 47: The lokomotive on the ground beside the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. It's an interesting wreck from second world war. Unfortunately there are too many boats and too many divers on this wreck. It's noisy and crowded and less fun for dive. Also they tie their boats directly on the wreck which destroys it. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 48: The wreck of the SS Thistlegorm in a rare moment when no divers are crossing the picture. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 49: The stern gun of the SS Thistlegorm. It did not help against the attacking German torpedo bomber. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Fish swarm — Fig. 50: A swarm of fish at the SS Thistlegorm. I don't know their name. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Batfish — Fig. 51: Three batfish with bubbles in the background on the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Thistlegorm Mast — Fig. 52: The folded down mast on the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 53: A railway tank waggon on deck and what is that in the foreground? Is it a part of an aircraft or a torpedo? — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 54: Well, this tank waggon was empty and closed when the ship sunk. The water pressure crushed it. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 55: Remnants of the SS Thistlegorm's freight. The tyres are still in a good condition. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 56: What is left from bycicles after some decades under water and some thousand divers. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 57: Trucks in the SS Thistlegorm's hulk. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 58: Trucks in the SS Thistlegorm's hulk. Someone as tried to steal a truck's engine. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Fishes in Wreck — Fig. 59: A swarm of hatchetfish is swimming in the cargo bay of the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wreck SS Thistlegorm — Fig. 60: A fish swarm inside the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, SS Thistlegorm, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Flounder — Fig. 61: A white flounder with black dots. I don't know the proper name of this species. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Trigger fish — Fig. 62: A big blue triggerfish. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Anemone fish — Fig. 63: A two-banded red sea anemone fish, far away from its home anemone. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Moray Eel — Fig. 64: A moray eel is looking out of its hiding place. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Old moray — Fig. 65: A big old giant moray eel. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Anemone fish — Fig. 66: An anemone fish. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Lizard fish — Fig. 67: A lizard fish, half digged in the sand — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Snail — Fig. 68: A snail looking out of its house. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Moray — Fig. 69: A white-eyed moray eel — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Hermit crab — Fig. 70: A hermit crab. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Fish swarm — Fig. 71: A big swarm of silver fishes during a night dive. Every time when the beam of my pilot light hit the swarm they stopped their synchron swimming. — Nikon D200, AF Micro 60mm , Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Gorgony — Fig. 72: A big gorgony — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Soft Coral — Fig. 73: An underwater photo of a white-pink soft coral. One can clearly see the blurred edge caused by the Nikkor 12-24mm lens in the dome port. Only when zoomed to 20mm and above the lens produces sharp images in that dome. On land it's a nice wideangle lens.

Soft coral — Fig. 74: A big soft coral with a lonely fish. Hm, somehow it seems that there aren't many fish in the Red Sea. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Moray couple — Fig. 75: A couple of moray eels in their cave with reef view. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Table coral — Fig. 76: A table coral on a steep slope with fish — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Michi snd Pascal — Fig. 77: Michi and Pascal while synchronusously taking pictures of nudibranches. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Reef top with zebra perch — Fig. 78: A few zebra fish on the reef top — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Coral perch with Stefan — Fig. 79: A coral perch on a horn coral on the reef top. In the background Stefan. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Bluff Point, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Table coral — Fig. 80: A big table coral from beneath in backlight.. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Mala, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Wimpel fish with Flex — Fig. 81: Underwater scene with two wimpel fish and flex with flex fins hunting for a picture. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Mala, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Gorgony — Fig. 82: A big gorgony with orange coral fish — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Blind Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Gorgony — Fig. 83: A big gorgony with soft corals — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Blind Reef, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Coral with Pascal and Michi — Fig. 84: Coral with Pascal and Michi. This was a rather boring dive. We have seen many Fairy Tale Sharks. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Umm Island, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Michi with clown fish — Fig. 85: Michi swimming upside down for taking pictures of clown fish — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Umm Island, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Divers and soft coral — Fig. 86: Underwater shooting with Stefan, Pascal und Michi and a soft coral — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Umm Island, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Andrea and Michi — Fig. 87: Underwater shooting with Andrea and Michi — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Umm Island, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Coral block with gorgony — Fig. 88: A coral block with a big gorgony with many fish in backlight. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Umm Island, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006

Coral block with gorgony — Fig. 89: A coral block with a big gorgony with many fish in backlight. — Nikon D200, AF-S 12-24mm, Hugyfot-Housing, Hartenberger Strobe, Umm Island, Egypt, Red Sea, November 2006