Panorama, El Quseir: Red Sea wall and pelagic encounters

Panorama Reef is a prominent, large, oval-shaped reef, a testament to its compelling nature as an offshore Red Sea site. It stands as a significant feature within the 'Safaga, Brothers & Elphinstone' liveaboard itinerary. As a purely reef dive, it offers a stark contrast to wreck explorations, focusing instead on the intricate architecture of living coral formations and the life they sustain. The site's mooring points are situated on its southwest side, from where divers often approach, preparing to discover a dynamic environment sculpted by the prevalent currents.

The dive profile typically involves an initial descent along one of its impressive walls or plateaus. The reef presents a significant wall dive, a characteristic feature often sought in the Red Sea. The topography here is classic Red Sea, with a main reef structure extending into the deep, adorned with hard and soft corals that thrive in the nutrient-rich waters. This structure creates numerous hiding spots and gathering points for marine life, encouraging close observation as you drift along. Beyond the sheer wall, the topography includes a vast plateau to the northwest and another to the southeast, providing varied exploration opportunities.

Dropping down the wall, the structure itself provides shelter and hunting grounds for a diverse range of marine life. On the southern plateau, it is common to observe Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) moving through the corals. This area offers a chance to spend time at a more consistent depth, examining the reef top and its inhabitants. The constant flow of water around the reef provides a perpetual food source, maintaining the health and diversity of the coral garden.

Beyond the reef structure, the open water at Panorama can be active. Pelagic species like tuna (Thunnus spp.) are known to pass by, particularly where currents might be present, allowing them to hunt. Larger predators, including bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) and barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), can often be seen hunting in schools of fusiliers (Caesionidae spp.). Encounters with sharks are a possibility here, adding another dimension to the dive. Whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) are present, often patrolling the reef edges. Gray reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) have also been sighted. The presence of larger, more transient species like the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) underscores the connection Panorama has to the wider ocean.

While not permanent residents, their occasional appearances suggest the site functions as an important point of interest for them, likely due to the food source provided by the schooling fish. Eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) are also part of the occasional pelagic show, gliding gracefully in the blue. This mix of resident reef inhabitants and passing pelagics distinguishes Panorama from many other Red Sea sites.

The experience of diving Panorama Reef is defined by its untouched reef ecosystem and the feeling of being in a truly wild environment. Unlike some shore-based dives, this site’s offshore location means less human impact and a more pristine setting. You'll navigate its contours, perhaps finding a sheltered nook for a moment of quiet observation before moving back into the gentle sweep of the current, always keeping an eye on the blue.