The RED SEA 2017

June 2017 I decided it was time to explore the beauty of the Red Sea reefs.
Accompanied by brother-in-law Joe Fitzgibbon we set off for Egypt via Ryanair to Gatwick and EasyJet to Hurghada.
Joe is an experienced diver and responsible for introducing me to diving.

He was my buddy, adviser and confidant during this trip.
"I'm sea sick Joe" - "Don't worry - you'll be fine when you hit the water."

At the port we embarked on the Mistral boat - our home for the next seven days.
As we boarded we were told to loose the shoes and so we were barefooted for the rest of the trip - a wonderful liberating feeling - memories of childhood.
The group consisted of 12 divers - 10 from UK - two dive masters - captain and crew - chef and kitchen staff and Mario Vitalini our expert and very knowledgeable photographer guide.

This was our boat - The Mistral

This is the dining room

The stern of the boat - from where the diving action begins.
The ladders and tanks are visible along with the two rescue RIBs on top.

First morning everybody up at 06.30!

After dive briefing it was straight to the dive area - gear up and hit the water - and not a cup of tea or coffee in sight.

The plan was to do four dives a day - which included a night dive.

I was in the process of finishing my Advanced diving course and to complete it I needed to do what is referred to as "the Deep Dive".

I did three dives most days including a drift dive and a night dive.

On day 3 we were anchored above the famous SS Thistlegorm wreck.

The Thistlegorm is regarded as possibly the most famous diving wreck of all - lying on the sea bed at 30meters.

It was a support British battleship which set out in 1941 to enter the Mediterranean sea through Gibraltar - but on hearing that the Germans were very active in that area decided to go around Africa - around the Cape and up to the Red Sea.

While at anchor in the red sea they were struck by a bomber and sunk with the loss of 9 crew.

In 1952 Jacques Cousteau discovered it with help from local fishermen.

This was the Thistlegorm at launch in 1940:-

Here she is at 30m down.

Click HERE to see a Tube video of diver exploring the inside of the wreck.

So on the third day of diving I went down to the Thistlegorm in the company of Aled - my dive instructor. We went all round the outside of the ship - but did not enter it.
This was to a depth of about 23m.

I got to dive the Thistlegorm!
A few hours later we were set up to do the deep dive to 30m.
So we went to the sea bed which registered at 30.1m on my computer. As I followed closely Aled headed to a dark opening in the ship - he turned to me and gave me the "Are you OK" sign.
A bit late now for second thoughts ....
Luckily there were not too many divers inside - mostly our group.
It was fascinating to see the trucks - the Motorbikes - the wellies and the fish totally unperturbed by the divers - after all this was their home - we were the visitors.

Joe took this shot of me beside a locomotive train that was blown out of the Thistlegorm ship by the bomb.

For many divers, especially near Ireland, doing their Deep Dive it is a murky water dive with very little to see. So I felt very privileged to dive this most famous wreck for my deep dive.

Here are three photos from inside the Thistlegorm curtesy of author and excellent UW photographer Alex Mustard

My purpose in diving is twofold - to enjoy the whole process of the dive but mainly to photograph the wildlife. Photographing underwater is little more complicated than up top.

Fish have a habit of turning their back on you.

You get the focus right and the composition is not there.

As Joe pointed out is is far easier for a diver to photograph well underwater

than for a photographer to get great results.

View from the top deck of our boat looking towards another dive boat with the reef immediately behind.

These are some of my shots from the Red Sea.

This is a Parrot fish.

Snorklers trying to interact with a pod of dolphins

who were not remotely interested!

Beautiful healthy coral everywhere.

This is me with camera rig - trying to look cool and calm.

Emperor Angelfish

Joe - always looking good - no problem .....

I love this face ...........

Picasso Trigger Fish

There are many wrecks on the ~Red Sea reefs. This one was reputedly ran aground deliberately to claim insurance - but was found to have no fuel aboard despite a short trip.
Picture taken from our dining room window on the Mistral.