Snorkelling

Just had a quiet day around the hotel today so no news. Here's a jellyfish for you and a pair of bat fish.

Elvie

Diving practice

Little to report today. LB and I took a boat trip a short way up the coast this morning. He went snorkelling on his own. I went diving with young sexy Italian diving instructor Andreas. Unfortunately the photo doesn't do him justice!

If you've watched Finding Nemo you'll recognise todays fish. they're red Sea anemone fish, two adults and, if you look carefully, there's a baby top centre

Elvie

More fish!

Nothing exciting to report today. This morning LB and I walked around the bay to the shopping centre to get some cash from the ATM as the ones near the hotel weren't working. This turned out to be about an hour and a half walk in hot sun so by the time we arrived back at our room I was worn out and slept for a couple of hours! This afternoon we just went snorkelling off the beach again. We're getting much better at recognising the fish, with the help of our fish book. The amazing thing is that we see new fish each day.

The Picasso trigger fish (above) is a permanent resident of the reef but the broom tail wrasse ( below) was first seen today. The little black and white fish just visible below it is a cleaner wrasse. These hang around at so called cleaning stations and nibble off any parasites or dead scales from other fish wanting a clean. The broom tail wrasse had obviously come in just for this service. It stayed fairly still but turning from one side to the other so the cleaner fish could reach all parts, including inside the gills. Once satisfied it swam off into deep water and the cleaner wrasse started approaching other fish looking for another customer.

Elvie

Padi Open Water Diver

Well, I'm a diver! I completed the Padi Open Water diver's course today and will pick up my certificate tomorrow. I'm under no illusions as to my diving ability as it is a very basic level but it's still nice to have done it. I wasn't able to take the camera on the training dives as I had too much else to concentrate on but LB went snorkelling while I was stuck in the classroom doing my final exam. He took some nice fishy photos. The stripey one is a tiger cardinal and the spotty one is a white spotted puffer fish, they're the ones that puff up into a ball when scared .

Elvie

A Submarine Trip

Well not quite a submarine, but almost as good. While Elvie was having a diving lesson today, M and I took an organised trip to Hurghada to look at the local reefs. The submarine was basically an ordinary boat with a deep keel, and the hull was glass plated. We were actually seated about 4 feet under the water, and had spectacular views of the reefs and the fish. M managed really well especially as the access to the cviewing area was down a narrow and steep staircase. I took some video footage which I will post up when we get back.

Fish of the day. LB

Snorkelling Trip

This morning we took a 2 hour snorkelling boat trip in a glass bottomed boat. Our first stop was over an excellent reef with different fish to those we see off the beach. The photos aren't so good as it was in deeper water which absorbs all the red tones from the light. Our photos all look a bit blue but nonetheless this blue spotteed ray was rather splendid. He had beautiful turquoise blue spots which you can easily see if you enlarge the photo. We had another snorkelling stop with rather less fish and then meandered over a reef so we could view it through the boats glass bottom before heading back for lunch. This afternoon we went to sleep! It's such hard work here!!

Elvie

Mondays fish!

We're having a really relaxing time here. So far we've not left the hotel but have spent our time eating drinking sleeping and snorkelling. Mother-in-law is having a wonderful time although she's missing out on the snorkelling! She's walking more than she has for years, as it's a big place with extensive grounds, so hopefully will be super fit when we take her home!

Tomorrow, for a change LB and I are taking a trip.........snorkelling! Anyway here's todays fish, a splendid lion fish of the sort known as a Radial Firefish and below is a Bird Wrasse with an unknown silver fish.

Elvie

Todays Fishes

Sorry I can't limit myself to one fish of the day..... that's one of the many beautiful parrot fish above and a threadfin butterfly fish below

Elvie

Fish(es) + of the day

The underwater case we bought for our camera works! ( Thank Heavens! No leaks!) I had thought to post a fish per day whether you like fish or not! Anyway this is our first day so you get two fishes + a bonus animal as I can't decide on just one. Unfortunately, apart from the bonus, I don't know precisely what they are yet as I haven't looked them up in our book, however, they are very pretty! The photos were taken in a couple of metres of water just off the beach at the hotel.

Elvie

ps the yellow one is the aptly named Exquisite Butterfly fish and I think the pink one is a Big Scale Soldier fish.

No points for knowing what the bonus animal is!