Karim was born in a city over two hours from the sea. Despite this and his fear of deep water, he found a way to bond with the ocean. He turned what many would see as a disadvantage into a passion and career.
Today, Karim is the Cruise Director at Sea Serpent Fleet in the Red Sea. He not only manages the operation and guides visitors who enjoy the stunning underwater world but also shares its beauty with those who can’t visit through his photography.
They are not just images but narratives that convey the majesty of the underwater world and the delicate ecosystems within.
I invite you to read the full interview and be inspired by people like Karim, who dare to follow their passions and find joy in their lives. We must remember that we have only one life to live, and the choices we make define the legacy we leave behind.
How and when was your first contact with the sea?
I can tell you about my first encounter with water, which ultimately led me to connect with the sea since I couldn’t swim.
I was born in Cairo, a city without a coast. My father worked in the tourism sector, and one day he took me to one of the hotels where he worked, allowing me to use the pool. I couldn’t swim, so I clung to the edge the entire time. However, there were so many tourists in the water that eventually, I had to let go and find a way not to drown. We can say that this was my first encounter with free diving, as I never learned to swim on the surface but would submerge instead.
So, you went from not knowing how to swim to free diving directly?
Exactly, I didn’t even know that free diving was an established discipline. I dived by instinct and pleasure. Years later, an Italian tourist saw me and mentioned Umberto Pelizzari, which led me to research more about the sport. I even had the honor of taking a course with him and appearing in ‘Apnea’ magazine. I cherish that photo dearly.
Did you always know you wanted to dedicate yourself to diving?
No, that came later.
My first job was as a tour guide in the Sinai Peninsula (jeep routes through the mountains, camel excursions, dinners in the desert…). Italian tourists loved snorkeling, and at the company where I worked, it was mandatory for guides who spoke Italian to lead this type of activity.
The first time I did it was in Rash Muhammad National Park, where there’s a drop-off of 780m just meters from the shore. I still remember that moment vividly. I had learned to stay afloat without drowning, but I was still terrified of the depths. I remember seeing an intense blue where only the sun’s rays entered. But there was nothing I could do. It was like shock therapy for me.
Years later, after working in the corporate sector in Cairo and for personal reasons, I decided to return to what truly makes me happy: becoming a professional diver.
It seems diving marked a before and after in your life.
Yes, indeed. The sea connects me with many aspects of my life. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. The sea helped me overcome a difficult stage, helped me start over. It made me discover aspects of myself that I didn’t even know existed. It also introduced me to underwater photography, a passion that has grown over time.
Your photos are spectacular. How exactly did you get into underwater photography?
It all started out of curiosity when I saw a coworker taking videos. It caught my attention, and I wanted to try it. But I’m someone who analyzes everything very well before embarking on a new project. I always try to minimize risks. So first, I borrowed a GoPro to see how I would do. And I discovered that I wasn’t too bad at it, haha.
From there, I gradually invested in my own equipment. Whenever I had a little money, I would buy something: a flash, a lens…
Did you take any courses?
No, I am more about trial and error, haha. I like to experiment, test, understand, and analyze. And at a certain stage, when I need answers, then I look for information.
What inspires you to press the shutter? What situation lets you know that it’s the shot you’re looking for?
What an interesting question. At least for me. When you’re starting out, you go without intention. You take photos wildly, without a clear idea in mind. I remember needing some kind of approval from a friend who was an underwater photographer. He would ask me, “What were you trying to capture with this photo? Did it happen by chance, or were you looking for it?” And honestly, I barely understood what he meant. I would just press the shutter when I thought it was appropriate and that’s it!
But then, after many hours under the water, you start to understand everything. You begin to realize the importance of every detail: the behavior of the animal, the light at every moment, whether or not there are other animals around and especially you start to know your camera. You understand its limitations and you don’t go beyond them, but you also start to recognize its strengths and begin to exploit them.
When you have an idea of the photo you want to take, and you achieve it, you transition from being a diver with a camera to an underwater photographer.
And then you stop asking for others’ opinions.
Having been diving in the Red Sea for nearly 9 years, is there a particular animal that has been special for you to photograph or that you have yet to capture a photo of?
Undoubtedly, the Dugong. I often like the stories behind my photos more than the photos themselves. Let me tell you.
I had been aboard for a week, and gradually I felt worse until I finally fell ill, unable to enter the water. So I sent another guide with the group while I took the opportunity to reorganize the operation with the captain. Suddenly I hear my colleague call out, “Karim! Dugong!!!”
I immediately grabbed my fins and camera, which fortunately was prepared, and I dove into the water without a second thought. They barely flap their tails, but they are very fast. I was swallowing water because I only had a snorkel and could not equalize my ears, remember, I was sick. After 4 or 5 shots, there it was. It came out perfect. I had been waiting almost 9 years for it.
We are not in the Maldives, nor in the Galapagos. We are in the Red Sea, we don’t have many opportunities to get good photos on the first try. For me, it’s a goal achieved.
Where can we find your work and get in touch with you?
Sure, you can find me on my facebook account.
