Sharm El Sheikh Egypt

Those who’ve gone snorkelling in the Red Sea will tell you it’s a bit like being on an underwater roller coaster: an exhilarating rush to the senses, with colorful plant and animal life coming at you from all sides.

While the coral is beautiful and the shells are equisite, it’s the fish who are the real stars. The Red Sea is home to thousands of species, its diversity helped along by gentle, regular currents and warm, stable temperatures.

Here are a few of our favorite (and most uniquely-named) types:

Giant Squirrelfish
Also known as the Sabre squirrelfish, it feeds on crabs and only comes out at night. Its red color makes it easy for humans to spot, but not so for its scaly friends. This is because long red light wavelengths don’t penetrate water as well as shorter, blue and ultra-violent light wavelengths. Put more simply, most fish are slightly color-blind and the squirrelfish’s color gives it an unique advantage against predators.

Masked Butterfly Fish
This fish is one of the most beautiful and recognizable in the Red Sea. It has a blue spot (or “mask”) near its eye and short, bristle-like teeth. They eat mostly coral polyps (sounds delicious) and sponges and are active during the day, relaxing near rocks and coral at night. If there’s such a thing as a fish being romantic, look no further than the masked butterfly. It will find and stay with a mate for years, sometimes until the end of its life.

Rusty Parrotfish
Its teeth are the reason for this colorful fish’s name. They’re arranged in a hinged formation that looks somewhat like a bird’s beak. Like parrots, the parrotfish is a prolific chewer, and has been known to bite through the hardest of coral, though it prefers algae. This fish congregates in groups of females with a single male. However, if the male disappears, a female parrotfish may change sex and adopt the role of leader.

To see these fish and others, you’ll want to go on one of Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh’s snorkelling, scuba, or diving expeditions. Most leave from the Resort’s main beach and are organized by the Sinai Blues Dive Centre. No need to fear if you’re a first-timer. You’ll be lead by licensed instructors and multilingual certified divers. Rental equipment and lessons are available, so no matter level of experience you have you’ll want to give it try.  The water is warm and the fish can’t wait to make your acquaintance.