Careless Reef

FOTW recommend Careless as the best dive in Hurghada. The reef sits on the edge of a big drop off and of all the Hurghada reefs is furthest from the Coast. Subject to reasonable strong currents it consequently teems with fish. It is also one of the least visited reefs in Hurghada.

Morrings to the south of the Eastern of two large pinnacles, reaching to about 3 metres from the surfaces provide a sheltered starting point to explore an expansive coral garden to the East of the pinnacle at around 18m. Push further east and north and the gentle sloping coral garden mets the drop off. Follow this on your right and you are lead to the northern most tip of the second pinnacle. Once you have had your fill of this a 50 metre swim across a sandy bottom takes you back to the first pinnacle where you can de-gas and explore the reef unitl your air runs out. Top dive.....

Ras Um Sid

We return to Ras Um Sid this month because we at FOTW know a good thing when we dive it. Lots of gorgonian fans and planty of fish lifl. Here we see a FOTW diver swotting away Goldfish as they shoal in pest like quantities.

El Aruk Giftun

A slightly different offering this month. We concentrate on the Pearl Sea Star, seen here on a coral head on El Aruk Giftun

Shar Abruk Umm Gamar

A fantastic dive. If you can trouble yourself to head down to 28 matres you can examine the left overs from a WW2 supply boat. A multi cylinder engine can be seen plus a some other miscellaneous metal work. After this you proceed along a wall running north into the current. Here a series of pinnacles culminates in this one. A beautiful collection of Gorgonian fans.

Shar Iris

Shar Iris is a collection of five pinnacles spread around 5 to 10 metres apart. Shar Iris named after someone called Iris, a a pleasant dive with a maximum depth is around 13 metres (unless you are from the North East of England and carry a shovel as part of your standard dive kit). The dives end with a Coral saddle between two of the largest pinnacles. The saddle at a depth of 6 metres is covered with pres tine coral. For wreckies, there is absolutely no metal so this is not one for you guys.

Um Gunnar, Hurghada

Here Hilary demonstrates that buoyancy control is key to avoiding unnecessary collisions with coral pinnacles

Hin Dueng

Hin Dueng is a small submersed reef some 50 miles south of Phuket. It is now receovering from a recent bout of dynamite fishing which desimated both coral and fish life.

Koh Bon

Koh Bon is small granite outcrop north of Similan Islands in the Indian Ocean. For some reason it is a particular favourite of Manta Ray so if your heading to Koh Bon your likely to see some serious marine life.
The north east reef is happily now recovering from previous dynamite fishing that decimated both coral and fish life. Increasing amounts of staghorn coral provides a perfect environment for nursery fish.

East of Eden

This exquiste reef would not have been out of place in the Garden of Eden. As it happens its was found just east of there.

Shark Point - Phuket, Thailand

Fish soup but no sharks, so why the name. FOTW ask those awkward questions that many divers just could not be bothered to ask.

Matamanoa, Fiji

A quick glimpse of the undersea life in the South Pacififc. It would appear that the fish were all on vacation when this picture was taken. Thanks to FOTW friends Kate and Gareth for this one.

Deep Six

Once again we are in Thailand for this months reef. Deep Six is a collection of large granite boulders sitting on a gently sloping sandy bottom starting at around 25m. Here we see a couple of sweetlips hovering under a large table coral.

Christmas Point

These little spiral darlings seem to flourish on this particular reef in the Similans. Get to close and ZIP, they have disappeared into a little hole in the coral. The patient amongst us who have sufficient control of their buoyancy will no doubt be still around a minute or two latter to watch them tentatively re-emerge.

Elephant Rock

Topside and below the waterline. From this angle it is clear why it has got the name. What you dont get told about is that from thirthy metres to the left the elephant rock looks more like a guinnea

pig. Who said diving was a macho sport ?

East of Eden, Similan Island No 7

East of Eden certainly lived up to its name. Here Brian the videographer captures images of one of the many shoals of reef fish.

Name the Reef

This distinctive pinnacle formation forms the basis of FOTW's latest competttion, namely 'Name the Reef'.
As always there is a selection of excellent prizes for the first of you to 'Name the Reef'' correctly. Enter by clicking on comments below and letting us know what you think. As usual anonomous entries will not be considered for prizes and the judges decision is final, and thats me by the way. Best of luck. Entries must be in by 20th December. Winners will be announced on our Christmas day festive FOTW posting.

Big Brains on Speyside

Reputely the biggest brain coral in the western hemisphere at Speyside in Tobago. FOTW recently sent divers out to measure it up on behalf of the Guiness Book of Records. FOTW friend Katy is seen here, having forgotten to put her contact lenses in, looking at a big pebble.
Thnaks to Katy and Gareth for volunteering to travel to Tobago on behalf of FOTW on this size critical mission.

Blue feather coral

Havn't got a clue as to where this one was spotted but it is a fine example of a feather coral, delightfully backlit for maximum effect.

Ras Um Sid

This month we have a superb Gorgolian fan coral for your delictation. Ras Um Sid, probably named after someone forgetful called Sid, is surprisingly excellent drift dive in the Naama Bay locality. Well worth a look.

Beautiful Brains

Once again we feature FOTW's only national geographic diver. This time Hilary has appropriately found a couple of beautiful brain corals to pose above.

Castle Bank

The unmistakable Carribean soft corals of Castle Bank reef, off the south coast of Barbados.

Woodhouse Reef Tiran Straits

This month we have stayed with Woodhouse as our reef of the month because I thought you would all like to see this delightful coral pinnacle.

Woodhouse Reef Tiran Straits

This excellent example of a brain coral was spotted whiilst ascending to the surface at the north-east end of Woodhouse Reef in the Tiram Straits.

Jackson Reef Tiran Straits

Following complaints that Reef of the Month was a little short of Reefs heres a nice little coral head I drifted past recently on Jackson Reef in the Tiran Straits.

Orange & Mango

Whilst checking out the Reef of the Month we thought you might need some stimulation.........