17th – 24th Nov 2024. Fully Booked.

This trip is organised by Scuba Travel, please contact Caroline@scubatravel.com for more information and reserve list spaces.

“The reefs of the Red Sea are some of the most beautiful in the world,” says Alex. “This workshop is focused on shooting these spectacular reefs in optimal conditions. The sheltered coast around Sharm El Sheikh is packed with stunning reefs and the this workshop is timed specifically for late November to get the best light. The low sun at this time of year, gives beautiful dappled light on both the morning and afternoon dives on this trip, providing the opportunity for stunning wide angle scenics that can’t be matched at other times of year. Furthermore, the low sun casts much of the reef structure into shade, prompting the Red Sea’s characteristic soft corals to burst into full bloom and providing the dramatic silhouetted reef backgrounds to frame them against. This workshop is all about shooting Red Sea reefs at their jaw-dropping best.”

The workshop will be based on the stunning new liveaboard Bella Eriny, based out of Sharm El Sheikh, minutes away from our target dive sites. She is a stylish and comfortable boat, whose extra size means notably spacious cabins and accommodation. Bella usually takes 20 divers, but Scuba Travel are limiting the capacity for this trip, to 17 photographers and Alex, for a superior experience on board and underwater. Nitrox is included on this charter.

There are few more productive places in the world for coral reef photography. Here rich coral gardens grow right to the surface, vertical walls drop into the blue often less than a stone’s throw from the desert shore and there are fish and colours everywhere, plus lots of turtles and many sites with friendly lionfish. Famous dive sites include Ras Mohammed, Ras Umm Sid, Anemone City, the Alternatives, Jackfish Alley, the Straits of Tiran, Ras Za’atar and many more. The exact itinerary for this workshop will depend on the weather, because Alex wants this trip to focus on the most photogenic conditions. Bella will depart and return from Sharm El Sheikh for this workshop and the diving will likely be on the beautiful dive sites to the north and south. However, should we get ideal conditions we will venture further afield and visit some of the photogenic Red Sea wrecks too, as this time of year is characterised by large aggregations of glassfish on the wrecks.

This gallery of 100 images all come from the last time Alex ran this itinerary, showing how ridiculously productive this itinerary at this time of year can be. The workshop will be based around 3 day dives each day, with night dives on offer whenever possible. We will also schedule the chance for some sunset split level photography.

THE WORKSHOP

The diving and teaching on this workshop will focus on coral reef scenic photography, covering subject selection, composition, lighting and post processing. Alex will give a selection of presentations including shooting scenics, fish portraits, lighting, split levels and sunbursts, depending on what we are experiencing underwater. These reefs are highly suited to many types of wide angle shooting, but there is also lots of good macro photography, especially fish portraiture. With a smaller group than any of Alex’s other Red Sea workshops, there will be more chance to discuss your images in the nightly image review sessions.

VITALS

Dates: 17th Nov – 24th Nov 2024

Price: £2195 GBP (London to London). Or £1995 GBP (Sharm El Sheikh – Sharm El Sheikh, i.e. without flights).

Workshop price includes accommodation (based on twin share, standard cabin), full board (not alcohol) on board, diving (12 l nitrox cylinder + weights), the workshop.

Included extras: Nitrox, 12l tanks, park/port fees, group airport transfers, Egyptian entry visa on arrival (for eligible nationalities), day use of Jaz Magic World Sharm Club on departure day with lunch.

Scuba Travel can arrange flights from the UK. If arranging your own flights ensure you arrive before and depart after these flights (the liveaboard will not wait for your arrival or return to port early)!

Cabin Upgrades:

Twin Main deck deck £100 (4 spaces)

Double Upper Deck £150pp (4 spaces)

Single supplement £1000p (1 space only)

BOOKING

For further information and for reservations please contact Scuba Travel. Email is the best way to start booking this trip. Contact Caroline@scubatravel.com.

A deposit of £500 GBP is required to secure your place on this workshop. The final balance for the workshop is due 90 days before travel.

“It is possible to book this trip back to back with my Southern Egypt Red Sea Workshop, which happens the week before,” says Alex. Note that there are 5 days between the two workshops and you will need to fly across to Sharm El Sheikh to join the northern trip, which will likely be via Cairo, making this an ideal combo trip with ancient Egypt sightseeing (which is also better away from the heat of the summer).