Egypt. Red Sea. Scenic views of Saint John Reefs

The coral reefs of St. John consist of small islands in the southern Red Sea off the Egyptian coast. They are located after the corner of Ras Banas. None of the islands are inhabited. They are all empty and just flush out of the water. The slopes of the islands are composed by magnificent drop-offs that go down to up -100 meters (300 feet) in the Red Sea. What is striking on the reefs of St. John is certainly the wealth of colorful soft corals (Alcyonarians). These are certainly with the Brothers Islands and Daedalus, most beautiful drop offs in the Red Sea.

The most beautiful dive sites are Gota Soraya, Gota Kebir, Habili Ali and Habili Gafar. In addition to the rich colors, the reefs are characterized by an incredible explosion of marine life. The slopes are covered with coral beds anthias fish, jacks. For us photographers and researchers of lights and colors, this area is a true paradise. Saint John's reefs are an oasis of life in the Red Sea. The richness of life can be explained by the strong currents that affect the reefs and bring the necessary nutrients to marine animals. Visibility is often exceptional, with more than 60 meters (180 feet).

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Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater bottoms of Saint John Reef in the Red Sea. Photographs by Amar Guillen.

France. Normandy. Arromanches. Wrecks of the DDAY, June 6, 1944

Normandy is not very known and not famous for its scuba dives except perhaps by divers coming from the Calvados department, who know all the underwater treasures that lie on the sandy bottoms. Off the small village of Arromanches, hundreds of wrecks dating from the landing of June 6, 1944, are home to dozens of species of fish such as sea bass, pouts or many crustaceans like lobsters, sea spiders or big crabs.

The color of the North Sea is far from the intense blue of the Mediterranean Sea or the Red Sea, because the sea is shallow and the currents are often very violents. They brew a lot of sand, which makes visibility sometimes very poor. But Arromanches is a great place for underwater photographers because the environments are unique in the world. The bottoms are spotted with these huge vessels with steel hulls that provide shelter for thousands of fish. It's a fantasy world populated by ghosts and historical relics such as the guns of Susan B. Anthony, the whiskey bottles that were used to intoxicate the wounded before surgery.

Exploring the bottom of Normandy is like diving into a still very recent past we have not known other than through war movies made by Hollywood studios. When you come out after a dive on a historical wreck, it is not quite the same. You come back rich in emotions, sensations. You understand better what might actually happen during those terrible days. These wrecks impose use the duty of remembrance.

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Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
Underwater sceneries of Arromanches in Normandy, France. Photographs by Amar Guillen.
  1. Rocky Mountains, Colorado State, USA
  2. Mexico. Sea of Cortez
  3. Ecuador. Galapagos. Underwater fauna
  4. The White Desert in the West of Egypt

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