Joe Daniels: Egypt’s Red Sea
It is no secret that the Red Sea is home to some of the best diving in the world. From pristine coral gardens, electric dolphin encounters, ethereal caverns, and incredible shark encounters, the Red Sea has it all for any diver or photographer.
I have been very fortunate to have been living and working in some of the top diving destinations in the world but never truly experienced what the Red Sea had to offer (other than doing my open water qualifying dives there 15 years ago). Now that I am based in Europe, this has all changed. The Red Sea is very accessible from most European hubs and is still very popular with divers. This year, I joined two photo workshops, both exploring the southern region of the Red Sea. The first was in May with Mario Vitalini and Martyn Guess, and the second was with Alex Mustard in October, focused on photographing oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus). To say I was impressed with the diving and photographic opportunities is an understatement. The offshore reefs are full of life with some of the most abundant and healthy hard corals I have seen anywhere. The shark encounters were incredible, and the cavern dives stunningly beautiful. I hope the images do these experiences justice; I will be back.
About Joe Daniels
Joe is an award-winning underwater photographer and author. His passion for underwater photography developed through his love for the marine world, which began from a very young age. For the past 12 years, Joe has worked in marine conservation/research and the diving industry from Seychelles to Indonesia. Joe continues to find inspiration in the ocean and hopes that his images can bring awareness to the fragility and incredible diversity of the underwater world.
To see more of Joe’s work, please visit his website.
The spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) of Fury Shoal playing in the early morning.
Longimanus under the fading light of the day.
One of the stunning chambers in St Johns caves.
An oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus) coming in from the big blue to check me out.
A vibrant and bustling Elphinstone Reef.
Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) playing in the shallows of Fury Shoal.
A classic Red Sea scene with a bommie of fire coral ((Millepora sp.)surrounded by anthias (Pseudanthias sp.).
A large green turtle (Chelonia mydas) takes a break from feeding on the lush sea grass beds to feed on the plentiful moon jellyfish.
An oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus) in the big blue. A master of its realm.
A large green turtle (Chelonia mydas) taking a break from feeding on the plentiful sea grass.
Schooling yellow goatfish (Mulloidichthys martinicus) from Fury Shoal.
Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) heading out to the open ocean to feed.
The caverns produce fantastic ligh shows on calm clear days.
A very sad sight. A plastic regulator holder slowly strangling a magnificent oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus).
The reefs of the southern Red Sea often have stunning caverns running through them.
A male anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) in the fading evening light.
The resident pod of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) that reside on fury shoal making a game from the influx of moon jellyfish that day.
Sunset over St Johns reef.
A pair of Red Sea clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus) in their host anemone.