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TOP 5 MARINE LIFE TO SEE WHILE FREEDIVING IN Dahab, Egypt

17/12/2023

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In this blog post I wanted to discuss some of the marine life of the Red Sea at Dahab, and is the second part to accompany a post I did last year for the Maltese Islands.  The Red Sea is a tropical sea and has much more colourful than the Mediterranean, with hard and soft corals and abundant colourful fish and marine life.

I am writing a little bit about my own observations with 5 of my favourite marine life, all of which can be found by freedivers and snorkellers around Dahab and other parts of the Red Sea.
Click the highlighted links for more detailed descriptions and video footage.

1) Clownfish (INFO):
Made famous from the movie 'Finding Nemo', the clownfish can always be found close to its host anemone with which it has a symbiotic relationship. Super cute in appearance (there are a number of colours and varieties), however, they will get agitated and even 'charge' a diver who gets too close to their anemone home (where they might be raising a juvenile). Their group hierarchy and parenting information is very interesting and well worth a read!

2) Crocodile Fish (INFO)
De Beaufort's Flathead, to give it its full name! Though as you will see, when in their natural habitat of lying in wait for prey on the sand, they appear just like a crocodile. They are related to scorpionfish, stone fish and even lion fish and are similar ambush predators. Not massively common in Dahab, but a lovely to see one up close if you get the opportunity.

3) Turtle (INFO)
Egypt has a few species of sea turtle along its Red Sea coast, most commonly Green Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle. The info guide linked above will give the specifics of spotting the difference between the two. If you are lucky we could see a turtle at Lighthouse bay while line training, commonly cruising past majestically and surprisingly speedily. This is a real treat!

4) Napoleon Fish (INFO)
AKA Humphead wrasse this fish can grow up to 2m in length and weigh 180kg. The first time I saw one from a distance from above I thought it was a shark! They are a beautiful green or green-blue colour with the distinctive humped head especially distinctive on larger adults, although the ones seen closer to the reef in shallow water are usually juveniles.

5) Sea Goldie (INFO)
This is the fish you see in abundance on photographs of coral reef, a distinctive orange colour and will dart into the protective cover of reef outcrops if startled or threatened. Only 7-15cm long the Red Sea variety spawn in the winter months of December to February. This little fish really gives a lot of colour to the reef and look stunning as a school against a backdrop of blue sea


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Sea Goldies on the reef
By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving 
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Fish Profile: Mediterranean Damselfish (Chromis chromis)

27/7/2023

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The Damselfish (Chromis chromis) is the most abundant fish in the Mediterranean sea and so often gets overlooked as it is just so common around us while we dive. But believe it or not this grey adult fish (left image) starts out its life as a bright, you could say 'neon', blue, when they are babies and juveniles (right image)!

Adults are 5-10cm long and have the distinctive forked tail and school around the rocky reef or sea grass from the shallows to depths of up to 30m.

A really remarkable fish (see the fascinating youtube video below). Here in Malta the babies hatch in early to mid July and then we are surrounded by these beautiful, tiny blue fish! 
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Adult Damselfish near common habitat of Posidonia (sea grass) meadows
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Juvenile Damselfish
A very interesting video about Chromis chromis, filmed entirely while freediving:
By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving
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Top 5 Marine Life to See While Freediving in Malta & Gozo

22/9/2022

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In this blog post I wanted to discuss some of the marine life of Malta & Gozo. The Mediterranean Sea can have a reputation for lacking marine life, and while not completely wrong, as a positive, it can  encourage building an even greater appreciation of the smaller life and other details that can otherwise get overlooked in a crowded, tropical sea. Malta & Gozo are especially known for superb sea water visibility, with 30m of clear water common, as well as some really fascinating smaller marine life that can be very fun to observe while freediving.

Freediving is an under appreciated way to view underwater marine life. On scuba, of course you can stay longer, but you are also noisy and invasive with all the bubbles, equipment and disturbance that causes. Freediving allows you to get close without disturbing the marine life and gives a totally different interactive experience.

I am writing a little bit about my own observations with 5 of my favourite marine life, all of which can be found by freedivers and snorkellers around the Maltese Islands. Click the highlighted links for more detailed descriptions and video footage.

1) Ornate Wrasse (INFO):
One of my favourite fish, and one which surprise most people as their bright colourings make them appear almost as a tropical species. They are teritorial and will circle and get agitated if you (or nearly anything else alive in the water!) gets too close to them or their nest. Often overlooked because of their small size, they make up for it with vibrant colour and fun interaction. 

2) Fried Egg Jellyfish (INFO):
One of the most beautiful jellyfish, as well as 'friendly' (they do not sting), they appear in later summer and early autumn sometimes in large congregations, floating past like an alien space ship (see photo below). And this spaceship often has a passenger... They have a symbiotic relationship with juvenile Amberjack who use the jellyfish for shelter and protection and who keep them clean in return. 
Fried Egg Jellyfish VIDEO

3) Common Octopus (INFO):
One thing fairly numerous in Maltese waters are the common octopus. These can be super curious and I have observed them using pieces of glass as a shield to cover the entrance to their den and even with coins as they like to collect shiny things. See the video of a curious octopus grabbing my camera, below. 
Common Octopus VIDEO

4) Grouper (INFO):
This fish can live up to 50 years and reach up to1.5m in length! Though as with octopus, that maturity is rare now around Malta. They are also very inquisitive and often watch you as you dive and if they back away, they still turn around to observe from the shelter and safety of a cave or other shelter. 
​Grouper VIDEO

5) Scorpionfish (INFO):
There are 3 species around Malta with the bigger version sometimes displaying a vivid red colour (which looks more brown underwater). They have a venomous spine so you must respect them, and they are often sitting still waiting for prey (normally small fish), to pass by. They don't get it all their own way though. I once observed a scorpionfish being hunted and eaten by a cuttlefish!

Click HERE for more detailed information about the species listed above, and many of the other marine life of the Maltaese Islands:
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Fried Egg Jellyfish
​By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving
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The joys of reef freediving

3/6/2021

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The Blue Hole in Dahab has a stunning reef with vibrant colours. There is nothing better than after a tough training session on the buoy & line than enjoying the natural beauty of the reef with the freedom and simplicity without the wetsuit and feeling the water on your skin.
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