Glowing corals and fluorescent night dives now offered at Coraya Divers in Marsa Alam

The Coraya Divers in Marsa Alam are offering another attraction.

Now it is possible to experience night dives in a light (fluorescent light), as you probably have never seen it – of course, under the expert guidance of an instructor.

It was discovered in 1927 that cnidarians can glow. Later it was found that coral species and some fish also shine brightly as invisible radiation is converted into visible light. The bright colors are based on the physicochemical phenomenon of fluorescence.

Certain pigments (proteins) in the body tissues absorb the short-wave, high-energy UV light and reflects it almost at the same time with a much higher, in the visible range wavelength. For example, it is demonstrated that a fish in 15 feet of water still retains its red signal color. Normally, the red part of light is negligible at this depth.

Coraya Divers offers the dive with special lamps. The Divers experience the reef partly in bright neon colors. There is no sufficient description of the colors and the overall appearance of reef organisms under UV light it is a must “see for yourself” experience.

Under UV light certain organisms such as sea pens and small cylinder roses aren’t as noticeable as under normal light. Many cnidarians fluoresce in green, blue, yellow and red hues. This luminescence has its origin mostly in special proteins. Also, some reef fish use this effect to communicate with each other.

As already mentioned, you have to experience it yourself as a diver. Written descriptions cannot give an accurate representation of this phenomenon.

Before the dive, there are detailed instructions and information provided. The contents include:

• Basic skills in light and human perception.
• Where does this lighting emanate?
• What is the purpose / biological significance of fluorescence or coloring of the coral?
• Is there natural lighting of marine organisms?
• The dive.

In order to participate in fluo-night diving, some experience is required.

Also, participating divers should already have logged night dives and have good buoyancy control.