reef ’ s spectacular coral garden is home to striking red anemones . A virtual who ’ s-who of Red Sea species are attracted by the flow of nutrients streaming through the same area where hammerhead sharks visit from July to September .
Laguna Reef is divided into two , north and south , marked by green and green / white beacons respectively . South Laguna is the largest with tidal currents deciding the direction of the dive . Table and fire corals are prominent features and the aptly-named crocodile fish is often seen .
Close to Sharm , Naama Bay has several options for relaxing , easy diving , ideal as third dives . Far Garden , Middle Garden and
Red soft corals abound
Leaving port
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A diver is dwarfed by a giant colony of porites coral
Near Garden may be in close proximity to one another , but each offers its own identity .
Ras Bob is a picturesque shallow site named after English underwater guide and cameraman Bob Johnson , who was heavily involved in an award-winning 1990s television advertisement for the Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society .
Situated south of Naama , Ras Uum Sid has no known connection to a bloke from Blighty called Sidney , but is a popular shore dive for those based at the nearby resort . Divers can enjoy a magnificent display of gorgonian sea fans starting at 14 metres . Ascending leads to a gentle slope with table corals and large outcrops .
At Ras Ghamila , the gorgonians become more numerous with increasing depth . Traversing its steep walls is mesmerising , peering out into the blue in anticipation of seeing something large .
Wrecks to relish
The Dunraven was one of two wrecks with a connection to my native north-east . Built on the banks of the River Tyne and launched in December 1872 , the 79.6 m long by 9.8 m beam vessel was powered by a combination of sail and steam .
On the 6th of April 1876 carrying a general cargo from Bombay on her return to Liverpool , a mix-up between the second mate and the captain in the early hours of the morning saw the Dunraven strike the reef at Sha ’ ab Mahmoud . Abandoning ship at 4pm to a passing steamer , she slipped beneath the surface an hour later .
Starting at 10m with a maximum depth of 30m , the Dunraven lies almost upsidedown . Several prominent breaks in the hull allow safe and easy penetration . Two large coal-fired boilers are amidships and along with the broken , encrusted propellor are highlights of the dive .
SS Thistlegorm , the most famous of Red Sea wrecks , was a Merchant Navy vessel built in 1940 in Sunderland . Her cargo of Bedford trucks , BSA motorcycles , several steam locomotives , aircraft parts and wellington boots was intended for the British Western Desert Force .
Measuring 126.5m long with a beam of 17.7m , the Thistlegorm arrived at the Sinai Peninsula and proceeded to seek safe anchorage after an unavoidable closure of the Suez canal . A pair of German Heinkel bombers , unable to locate their original target , came across the static vessel .
Two bombs struck the ship , igniting the ammunition in her hold , ripping the vessel in half and sending the two locomotives flying . Nine of 42 crewmen lost their lives . Two decades had passed since I last dived the Thistle and the 5am start and three hour journey did little to dampen my enthusiasm for the chance to renew my acquaintance .
Descending into the wreck to avoid the strong current , I explored the cargo holds . While the trucks and motorcycles jogged the grey matter I was looking forward to subsequent dives , especially the propeller to really trigger the memories .
Unfortunately another diver had the misfortune to dislocate a shoulder prior to descent . The rightful decision was made to call the remaining dives and head back to seek medical attention . I could only sympathise with the injured party , but left wondering if I ’ d wait another twenty years for my next visit to the Thistlegorm .