reef

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Reef Patches

Reef Patches, as the name suggests, isn’t one big continuous wall of coral. Instead, you'll find these incredible isolated bommies rising from the sandy bottom, each one its own micro-ecosystem. We love dropping in on one of these coral heads and just slowly spiralling around it, finding new nooks and crannies with every turn. We’ve seen schools of Red Sea Half-and-half Chromis so thick here, they form shimmering clouds that obscure the light for a moment. Keep an eye out for the Granulated Drupe, an unusual mollusc, and the always entertaining Fat-handed Snapping Shrimp darting back into their burrows. While some sites feel like a race, Reef Patches rewards a slow, deliberate approach. It’s perfect for photographers or anyone who enjoys really observing the smaller details. We’ve found the best light is usually mid-morning, when the sun is high enough to penetrate the deeper areas around the bommies, making the staghorn corals glow. You might even spot a Blacktip reef shark cruising past in the blue, though they tend to be shy.