What does a chef learn from the ocean? For Hamza Lazgani, every dive is a lesson in flavor. The rhythm of the waves becomes the tempo of his kitchen. The colors of an octopus inspire a plate. The texture of coral guides the way he handles ingredients. In this post, Hamza takes us on a sensory journey from the depths of the Red Sea to the table — and shows how diving and cooking, at their core, share the same language.

Most people picture the Maldives as a luxury escape — overwater villas and turquoise silence. Reem found a different version. On the small local island of Dhangethi, there are no asphalt roads, only sand paths, motorbikes, and barefoot afternoons. The locals greet you by name. The dives reveal heart-shaped caves, white tip reef sharks, and schools of bluestripe snappers. By the time the rain came on the last day, even the island didn't want them to leave. This isn't a trip — it's a family visit you'll want to do again.

Lujan has been mixing colors and sharpening pencils since childhood. But it wasn't until she turned 30 — and tried scuba diving for the first time at Coco Beach in Jeddah — that her art truly changed. The Red Sea pulled her in. Now her sketchbook holds salty pages of nudibranchs and reef life, and her hands shape wooden marine creatures and paint diving fins. This is a quiet, beautiful invitation: take whatever you love, and bring it to the sea. The ocean has a way of amplifying everything.

Want to scuba dive in Jeddah but not sure where to start? La Plage Resort is one of the city's most accessible shore dives — just 30 minutes from downtown, with a giant stride entry into a reef that stretches both north and south. Expect green sea turtles, clownfish, bluespotted stingrays, and the occasional frogfish surprise. This complete guide covers how to access the site, the dive topography, what marine life to look for, and the local team that makes it all run. Part of the Diving in Saudi Arabia series.