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Amr Ala Abdul-Majeed is a Jordanian communication and electronics engineer living and working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. However, his passion is diving on the weekends, teaching underwater photography, and even reviewing underwater photography equipment for international websites.

The Yellow Frogfish (below) is an extremely rare find in Saudi’s waters!

How did you get into diving and ocean photography?

I have a passion for the sea and like watching underwater documentaries, and by coincidence one of my friends was a diver and introduced me to an instructor in 2009. I started my open water course and I was lucky that my instructor was interested in underwater environment and photography. By the end of 2010 I finished my PADI Assistant Instructor and PADI Digital Underwater Photography Instructor certificates.

Which is your favourite spot to dive in?

There are many spots in Jeddah which I like to dive in, but mostly I like Ann Ann Wreck and Chicken Wreck as boat dives and Bahadur Resort as a shore dive. In Saudi Arabia I dove in Yanbu in several dive sites and it was a great spot for diving and photography. I’ve been diving once internationally, last May 2015 to Indonesia: Raja Ampat for 10 days and Lembeh for 7 days. It was a great trip

I am planning more diving trips in several destinations.

Can you tell us about an experience which stands out in your memory?

In Jeddah finding macro subjects is quite challenging, especially when you dive in a resort with lots of trainee divers. Frogfish are rare, and usually a dark colour. I found frogfish in that resort 2-3 times. One day we did four dives searching for a frogfish and during the fourth dive I spotted a strange yellow colour under a rock and once I came near it was a Yellow Frogfish. I was really excited to find that colour of frogfish in Jeddah!

What advice do you have for anyone who is interested in the ocean?

The Ocean is an amazing kingdom so if you’re interested in that kingdom it’s a must to be respectful and to take care of it by avoiding doing damage to the corals, provoking marine life and throwing trash in the ocean. For photographers they must work hard and keep seeking new information and techniques if they want to master underwater photography.

What would you like to accomplish in the field of ocean photography?

I would like to make an Arabic Encyclopedia about marine life, or at least to be part of it.

صوغلاب تمق دقلف اًيملاع امأ .اًعم ريوصتلاو صوغلل لايمج

،”هيبميل“ يف مايأ ةعبسلو ،مايا ةرشع ة دمل ”تابمأ اجار“ ف :2015 ويام يف

.ةهجو نم

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Georgie Bradley knows a thing or two about her native Greece – especially Kavala and Thassos – two gems off the beaten path that are the best kept secret in the entire Mediterranean

Wh E n you think of the picture-perfect Greek islands with whitewashed villages and those intensely blue doors you’re probably thinking of the islands in southern Greece. The Cyclades – the most frequented and popular – have a glowing rep – always have, always will. The teal tint of the Aegean, the sunsets that attract artists from the world over and the charming village life make it a justifiable travel rite.

But while the south basks in the glory, there’s the northern regions of Greece, sat on important history, where the present is inseparably bound up in the past, which deserves some light too.

Kavala is my hometown. The place I was born but never lived in. It’s been my summer destination for 25 years – the duration for each visit has thinned down since those liberal three-month university holidays came to an end – and its untapped, remote beauty still leaves me awe-struck.

One of the most prominent features is Kavala’s aqueduct – a thorough structure punctuating the heart of the city – which was initially a Byzantine barrier wall built in the 14th century and then later functioned as an aqueduct during the Ottoman reign. Suleiman’s rule is present in the old town’s architecture and main square of Mohammed Ali – a place I always take visitors to for its deep coloured houses and vintage feel. The entire old town is amphitheatrically built, so it takes some lungpower to traipse it but when you reach Panagia (Virgin Mary) church you get the most panoramic views of the city. Kavala can have an overwhelming denseness to it as the buildings stack up tightly but the locals are so friendly you look past it and appreciate the warmth of the people.

Being a principal seaport in eastern Macedonia means Kavala sees considerable traffic in its harbour. It’s the focal point for commercial and recreational activity and where I get the ferryboat to the opposite island of Thassos in just under an hour.

Thassos is a speck of paradise, not blighted by mass tourism, full of foliage and is green, very green. Unlike its southern counterparts, Thassos is wild with nature –pine trees outline the entire island including the many secret bays. The waters are more than postcard blue – they are swimming pool clear and bluer than blue. I once did a day-long boat tour of the island where we anchored into several bays as we necked around and jumped from the boat, full of gusto and happiness.

Despite being quite dense and populated, Kavala is a friendly and welcoming town steeped in history.

Along the main towns of Limenas and Prinos you’ll find a string of tavernas serving up local dishes including my fail-safe order, chargrilled Octopus, doused in olive oil, sprinkled in oregano, perfection. Thassos has its own Panagia pilgrimage, built into the side of the mountain, giving you dreamy views. One thing I remember from my childhood is the ice-cold drinking water from the natural springs. What’s even more quaint is how the water runs down alongside the narrow streets – I used to follow the route and splash along the way past the dainty houses with tiny doors. Being sparsely populated, home to breathtaking beaches and peacefully quiet means you’ll find the idyll you’ve always dreamt of in an island.