The Egyptian Red Sea is blessed with an incredible array of marine life – a fact that keeps divers coming back time and again.
There are so many attractions that every underwater trip can bring new and surprising discoveries.
While headline-grabbers like hammerheads, oceanics, dolphins, turtles, and dugongs often steal the spotlight, we should never overlook their lesser-known companions in this part of the world.
Companions such as the speckled trevally (Carangoides bajad).
When scanning the blue for pelagic action, it’s easy to let some of the smaller, more elusive creatures quite literally slip past unnoticed. But the speckled – or orange-spotted, as it’s more commonly known – trevally deserves a second look.
Its striking golden spots are scattered across a silvery body, shimmering in the light, especially in clear, shallow waters, giving it an almost glittery appearance. This unique pattern sets it apart from most other trevally species, which tend to be more uniformly coloured. The contrast between the shiny silver and vibrant gold creates a beautiful, almost artistic appearance when caught by the light.
But for all its glitz, this is a fish that takes no prisoners.
Typically patrolling coral slopes, fringing reefs, and drop-offs, they glide through the water with an elegance that belies their role as skilled, opportunistic predators.
A carnivore with a varied diet, the trevally feeds on small reef fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods – essentially, anything it can catch and fit in its mouth.
While individuals may be seen alone, especially during casual reef patrols, small groups are not uncommon. These work together using coordinated movements to corner and ambush prey.
And with the potential to grow to over 70cm in length – though most seen on recreational dives are in the 40–55cm range – it’s certainly big enough to give smaller fish good reason to be wary. A beautiful, graceful, almost ghostlike presence with the instincts of a ruthless hunter.
In a region rightly famed for its megafauna, it’s easy to overlook the quieter characters of the reef. Yet species like the orange-spotted trevally are essential to the rich biodiversity and dynamic predator-prey relationships that make the Red Sea such a compelling dive destination.
So next time you’re cruising along in the depths, keep an eye out for a flash of gold – it might just be a speckled trevally on the hunt for its next meal.
Grab your chance to see the beautiful speckled – or orange-spotted – trevally and join us on one of our incredible Red Sea liveaboard itineraries or our daily diving trips. If you would like to find out more, email our brilliant team on [email protected]