Anemonefish – always a welcome sight
Starting shallow on the east side of the reef the speed of water movement gradually picked up as myself and dive guide Afreet , ( translated into English as ‘ genie ’) descended along a wall to a maximum depth of 30 metres . The wall itself continued below us beyond sight . A small school of barracuda very nearly passed by unnoticed above our heads .
Heading west into shallower terrain provides a perfect haven for large anemone communities and their much-loved tenants , the clownfish . Shallower still and a series of rocky outcrops form intricate caves and caverns which can be safely explored under the shimmering rays of sunlight .
Panorama Reef is an oval-shaped structure with two separate plateaus , north and south which are dived individually . If you ’ re visiting the Red Sea for the first time then this spot with its life both large and small will leave a lasting impression .
Giant gorgonian sea fans and soft corals hanging over the drop-offs are a particular feature of the site . Drab and grey in ambient light , when illuminated by torch or camera strobe they glow in vivid deep red , orange and purple hues . Back on the boat a fellow diver without a suitable light source remarked that they ‘ aren ’ t really that colour , are they ...?’
Ascending the reef
Gorgonian fan ; and yes , they are that colour
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