One week with 12 dives with Seamax in Sharm el Sheikh in April 2007. Accomodation in Beach Albatros Hotel. There are two dive sites which are accessed by boat: Ras Mohammed and Tiran Island. Unfortunately diving is mass tourism there and sometimes it can happen that there are about a dozen dive boats on the same site. Ejoying the underwater workd with all the engine noise and many divers is not easy and some animals are scared away. Diving in a group as photographer is not a good idea cause one needs time to concentrate on a target. This was my third time at the SS Thistlegorm. I recommend minimum a 15 liter Nitrox tank and diving in a group with the same experience and equipment - otherwise one has to get up after 30 minutes when the first runs out of air. If possible go on early morning before all the boats arrive and first visit the inside before 100 divers raised all the dust in the inside. Usually the order is different: first dive outside, second dive inside.
Fig. 1: A Jewel Fairy basslet (Pseudanthias squamipinnis). — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 11:38:32
Fig. 2: A swarm of glass fishes under a coral. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 11:49:17
Fig. 3: One of the many jellzfishes that we met under water. Usually they floated in a group through the water. Fortunately they did not nettle. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 11:51:30
Fig. 4: Bella Mirela — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 11:56:06
Fig. 5: A hawk fish sitting on a coral. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 12:04:02
Fig. 6: Mirela is taking a picture of Nemo. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 12:04:49
Fig. 7: A big and a small anemone fish. Is it Nemo and Marlin? — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 12:06:54
Fig. 8: The coral hinds (Cepahopholis miniata) have very pretty colours an subject to many photos, but they don't seem to like being photographed. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 12:13:44
Fig. 9: The Schultz's pipefish (Corythoichthys schultzi) can be found on sand and under coral blocks. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/18.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 12:16:42
Fig. 10: Do you know who formed the coral islands with their sandy white beaches? The parrot fish eat corals, grind them and poop the coral rubble. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 12:25:21
Fig. 11: This is an arabian damsel (Dascyllus marginatus) hiding with its family in the twigs of a hard coral. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 14:19:42
Fig. 12: A nudibranch (Chelidonura livida) in the midst of the many salps that were floating around in the sea that week. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Ägypten, 31. März 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 14:41:02
Fig. 13: The maze surface of the hirn coral (Diploria strigosa) gave that it that name. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 14:42:53
Fig. 14: A pyjama nudibranch(Chromodoris quadricolor), wants to climb on a salp. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 14:47:10
Fig. 15: A red lionfish (Pterois volitans) and a fire coral. Both not good to touch. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 14:53:49
Fig. 16: Close-up view of a red lionfish (Pterois volitans). — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Marsa Bareika, Ras Mohammed, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 31. March 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-03-31 14:58:25
Fig. 17: Mirela and Yasser, one of our dive guides. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Gordon Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 1. April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=17 mm; f/6.3; ISO 100; 2007-04-01 10:17:51
Fig. 18: A coral block with soft corals in backlight with the sun. On the right hand side there is one of the many salps. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Woodhouse, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 1. April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-01 12:03:08
Fig. 19: A soft coral in back light. Due to the current it is upmped up with water. When there is no current they just hang down. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Woodhouse, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 1. April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-01 12:10:04
Fig. 20: This time a real jellyfish and not just a salp. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Woodhouse, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 1. April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=18 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-01 12:47:53
Fig. 21: Mirela and Yasser dancing upside down. They were flirting all the time above and below the water line :-) — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Ras Ghanila, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 1. April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 2007-04-01 15:38:44
Fig. 22: A colorful parrot fish above a coral. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Gordon Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 2 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=24 mm; f/7.1; ISO 100; 2007-04-02 10:25:01
Fig. 23: A bluespotted stingray is taking a nap on the sand. If you don't make them angry and grab them by the tail they don't sting. Right, Steve? — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Jackson Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 2 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=24 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-02 12:36:39
Fig. 24: A gorgony with a lot of orange sea goldies. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Jackson Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 2 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-02 12:43:50
Fig. 25: A block with various soft corals, hard corals and gorgonys in backlight with the sun. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Jackson Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 2 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/20.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-02 12:49:27
Fig. 26: Corals on the reef top right below the water surface with orange antias. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Jackson Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 2 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/6.3; ISO 100; 2007-04-02 13:09:20
Fig. 27: Nothing special, just to show you how the reefs look like. A slope with various hard corals and orange sea goldies. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Jackson Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 2 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-02 13:10:54
Fig. 28: Two gobies sitting on the sand and looking each into opposite direction. This picture was accidentally overexposed but because I always shoot raw, the brightness could be adjusted while processing the image in Photoshop. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Gordon Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 3 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-03 10:48:37
Fig. 29: This time a jellyfish and not one of the many salps that were floating around in the sea that time. They are quite fast when one tries to shoot them with a macro lens. I had some difficulties to focus and couldn't shoot for long because it was wandering towards the surface and I had to follow the dive group or the dive guilde would complain. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Thomas Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 3 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-03 12:42:21
Fig. 30: An egyptian sea star (Gomophia egyptiaca). The dive guide pointed on it that I should make a picture. Hmm, is this something special? — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Thomas Reef, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 3 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-03 13:10:03
Fig. 31: An emperor fish, also called royal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Ras Bob, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 3 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-03 15:10:08
Fig. 32: The sand lizardfish Synodus dermatogenys are usually lying on sand or corals and waiting for prey. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Ras Bob, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 3 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-03 15:16:51
Fig. 33: A cleaning wrasse was cleaning this giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus). But as soon as I shot this picture it was gone. I didn't have time to shoot more pictures because the egyptian "jalla jalla" dive guide forced me to keep up. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Ras Bob, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 3 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/13.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-03 15:25:06
Fig. 34: Close up of a diagonal butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus). Maybe I should remove the fish in the background. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Ras Bob, Tiran Island, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 3 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-03 15:33:49
Fig. 35: This lionfish didn't want to yawn while I pointed the camera towards it. It also lost one of its antennas. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Ras Bob, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 3 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-03 15:37:40
Fig. 36: And again a hawkfish sitting on a coral. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF Micro 60mm, Ras Bob, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 3 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-03 15:41:57
Fig. 37: One of the tanks in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. The visibility was not very good for red sea conditions. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 8:03:02
Fig. 38: A grenade in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. Will it explode when one diver hits the ignitor? — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/7.1; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 8:05:01
Fig. 39: A part of a cart with a soft coral in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/7.1; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 8:06:25
Fig. 40: A diver with a soft coral in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/10.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 8:08:54
Fig. 41: A swarm of glassfish and a lionfish in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/10.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 8:09:41
Fig. 42: The gun on the stern of the SS Thistlegorm with the sun at a depth of about 30m. In November 2006 I was diving at the same position but this picture got much better. There were also less people on the wreck and also less noise of the boats. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/10.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 8:11:36
Fig. 43: The broken middle part in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 8:18:06
Fig. 44: Rope winches in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 8:21:37
Fig. 45: Bubbles from divers in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm are escaping from a ventilation pipe. Diving in the inside of a wreck is an exciting experience but the air from the bubbles causes the metal of the wreck to oxidize and accelerates the destruction of the wreck. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 8:24:16
Fig. 46: The motor bikes in the cargo hold of the SS Thistlegorm. The gear might need some oil but the tire profile is still okay. Unfortunately the visibility in the cargo hold was not very good due to the many divers on that day. It would be nice to be the first one to go into the wreck in the morning. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/160 s; f=12 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 10:35:57
Fig. 47: The motor bikes in the cargo hold of the SS Thistlegorm. The gear might need some oil but the tire profile is still okay. Unfortunately the visibility in the cargo hold was not very good due to the many divers on that day. It would be nice to be the first one to go into the wreck in the morning. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/160 s; f=12 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 10:36:59
Fig. 48: A railway car in the cargo hold of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=12 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 10:39:25
Fig. 49: Light and shadows in the cargo hold of the SS Thistlegorm. I wanted to make more such picture but there was absolutely no time. "Jalla jalla!" Diving in Egypt around Sharm is nothing for connaisseurs. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/31 s; f=12 mm; f/5.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 10:40:06
Fig. 50: One of the trucks in the cargo hold of the SS Thistlegorm. This one carried a lot of knee-length boots. Why do soldiers need such boots in the desert? — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=12 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 10:43:58
Fig. 51: A fish swarm with salps in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=18 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 10:50:18
Fig. 52: One of the batfish living around the wreck despite of the many divers and the noise of the boats. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=22 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 10:52:50
Fig. 53: Diver bubbles escaping from one of the exhaust pipes in the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, SS Thistlegorm, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt, 5 April 2007 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 2007-04-05 10:56:38
