Strolling the plains

[Sonaj]

Hey

Some of you enjoyed the pics I posted in the WDELL thread, so I thought I would share some more underwater beauty without further derailing.

I recently visited my sister who is a divemaster and instructor in Egypt. The images are actually low res snap shots from a video that friend and videographer mark (http://www.2gobelow.com/) made for us on one of the days. Check out their photos and prints.
This was one of the best days ever, perfect conditions and so much to see. This world/planet is so beautiful I will never forget what I experienced there.

The other days I also saw amazing things (e.g. ship wrecks from WW2, lots of rare fish), but the manta ray you see here was definitely my personal highlight. It directly swam towards us like it was flying and came very close.

I hope it is a little bit inspiring for you, too. Let me know if this thread is in the wrong place or feel free to contribute

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[Black Spot]

Beautiful shots.

[Ilaekae]

These are absolutely mind-boggling, Sonaj!

Could i have your permission to add them to my ref files? (No straight rendering from the pic as is...)

[Katfayheirti]

Awesome! Thanks for these! It's too murky to see anything at the beach where I live (just got back from there, in fact. haha. still soaked. ) but we have mantas like these too and it is AMAZING to see them when they jump out of the water sometimes. They're one of the most graceful creatures on earth, IMO.

[Edward Cherniga]

oh and ah, lovely! Thank you for putting a huge smile on my face.

[scottishmidget]

Ahh turtles are gorgoeus! Beatiful pictures mate. :) Thanks for sharing.

[Sonaj]

These are absolutely mind-boggling, Sonaj!

Could i have your permission to add them to my ref files? (No straight rendering from the pic as is...)

Yes, feel free. I uploaded these hoping they might be useful reference or inspiration

Katfayheirti - They are indeed. I was there only a bit more than a week and saw 2 of them, i was so lucky. The sight in the red sea and the diversity is just incredible.

Here are more low res shots from Mark that he added to the video. You can purchase high quality pics from his site.

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[Sonaj]

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[CCThrom]

Amazing shots!! Beautiful...

[IanE]

Whale Sharks are incredible... it didn't try and taste that person?!

Beautiful.

[Hookswords]

That ship wreck is awesome. I love that there are places where a hulking, deteriorating monolith of human ingenuity met with disaster is part of the landscape.

[Asatira]

Those are pretty. I love the close-up photos the most.

[Moai]

Beautiful, beautiful shots. They're making me nostalgic for the times I went snorkeling in Hawai'i, especially that first set. Thank you for posting.

[Shinn]

Stingrays always makes me think of alien creature. Awesome shots by the way.

[walnut]

Thanks for putting up these pictures, they're very inspirational.

[yoitisi]

Thanks for posting these, they're really awesome. Make me want to go diving ...

[Sonaj]

Hey,

I am back from another trip to Egypt and i have lots of pictures this time.

My sister lent her camera to me, so all of the shots i will post are taken by me or my sister/her boyfriend. I am completely new to underwater photography, so tell me what you think.

I will not post all pics at once because of the quantity, so expect updates as soon as i find the time.

Hope you enjoy

First batch are of Clownfishes (Amphiprion bicinctus) in Anemone City/Ras Mohammed National Park
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Next ones are in Ras Umm Sid
A blackside hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri)
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Closeup of a leather coral
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Pumping Xenia (Xenia umbellata)
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Coral reef with lyretail fairy basslets (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
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More coral reefs
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Stone coral (Acropora)
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Stone coral (Pocillopora)
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A wart-slug (Fryeria rüppellii)
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Red-sea bannerfish (Heniochus intermedius) over a salad coral (Turbinaria mesenterina)
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Shark & Yolanda reef
A school of red snappers (Lutjanus bohar)
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Coral reefs
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[squidmonk3j]

Thank you very much for putting these up, sonaj:)

[yoitisi]

This got to be one of my favourite threads in the lounge :P Thanks for updating this!

[Vatsel]

Thank you sonaj for making my ref folder stronger! :D :yayca:

[shamandalie]

Thank you for the beautiful shots! :)

[PieterV]

Thanks for sharing these! :D

[AsaB]

These are breathtaking, Sonaj, thanks so much for sharing! :teeth: I love the ones with the shipwreck, oddly fascinating.

Reminds me I want my own diving license, although the underwater landscape isn't quite as colourful up here, heh.

[jedininjaman]

wow. this is sweet,
shipwreck is way nice.
They have a feel that makes it seem more real than National Geographic
great work

[Sonaj]

I am glad someone enjoys these. Here are some more that i took in Ras Mohammed National Park again.

Jackfish Alley
Finger leather coral (Lobophytum)
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Glass fish (Parapriacanthus ransonneti)
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Coral reef
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A common lionfish (Pterois miles) - 12 poisonous spikes!
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A stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) - The most poisonous fish in the sea! And it looks like a stone. Don't touch!
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A small tunnel
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Shark & Yolanda Reef
Circular batfish (Platax orbicularis)
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A flathead scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus) - Poisonous spikes!
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Common crocodilefish (Papilloculiceps longiceps) - lurking for prey in the sand
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^A closeup makro shot of the specialized eye - a net-like organ expands or contracts depending on sunsunlight and protects the eye like a lid
(i think this is one of my best shots so far)
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Spotted unicornfish (Naso brevirostris)
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A giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus)
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Coral reefs
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Cargo of a shipwreck covered with corals
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Tower reef
Fire coral (Millepora) - Poisonous!
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A gray moray (Sidera grisea)
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Indopacific sergeants (Abudefduf vaigiensis)
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Panther-torpedo-ray (Torpedo panthera) - Electric!
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Giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus)
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Coral reefs
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A wart-sponge (Crella_cyathophora) - not sure about the english name
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more soon!
Thanks for all the nice comments

[egerie]

These are amazing! Thank you!

[Sonaj]

The next ones my sister and me took in Naama Bay

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A spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari)
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Giant clam (Tridacna maxima)
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Pyjama slug (Chromodoris quadricolor)
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Yellow edged moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)
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A stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa)
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Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson)
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Wart slug (Phyllidia melanocera)
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[Orunitier]

This thread is awesome.

[Sonaj]

Near Garden

The friendly captain allowed us to have some fun on the boat during a break :)
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He also allowed us to snorkel with a manta ray we spotted on the surface

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Masked butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus)
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Indopacific sergeants (Abudefduf vaigiensis)
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Soft coral (Dendronephthya klunzingeri)
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Branching table coral (Acropora divaricata)
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Ras Umm Sid

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Clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus)
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A forest of huge Gorgonia corals (Subergorgia hicksoni)
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Barracuda school (Sphyraena genie)
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There was a small bug in the bootee...haha
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Dolphins love to escort the boats
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Red sea bannerfish (Heniochus intermedius)
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[2gobelow]

Hi All,

Great to see that all are enjoying the images from the Red Sea and some of the images from http://www.2gobelow.com. So that you can see and experience the beauty of the mantas in action take a look at "Dancing with Sea Angels". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0zN7otPWy8. The screen shots in this post have been taken from this short movie that i made. Hope you enjoy.

Mark