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Elphinstone Reef
Elphinstone Reef is one of the most famous dive sites in Egypt and a true highlight of the southern Red Sea. Located around 12 km offshore from Marsa Alam, this legendary reef is known for its dramatic walls, powerful currents, breathtaking coral formations, and unforgettable shark encounters.
With its deep blue drop-offs and rich marine biodiversity, Elphinstone offers an exciting and world-class diving experience for advanced and adventurous divers.
Key Features
📍 Location: ~12 km offshore from Marsa Alam
🚤 Access Type: Daily boat trip
🌊 Depth Range: 18 to 70+ meters
🦈 Famous For: Oceanic Whitetip Sharks & Hammerhead Sharks
🪸 Reef Type: Vertical walls, plateaus, soft coral gardens
🧭 Dive Level: Intermediate to Advanced
📸 Ideal For: Drift diving, shark encounters, underwater photography
🕒 Best Time to Dive: March–June & September–November
Feature Details
📍 Location: 11 km north of Marsa Alam
🤿 Access Type: Shore entry
🌊 Depth Range: 2 to 18 meters
🪸 Famous For: Turtles, seagrass meadows, reef walls
🧭 Dive Level: Beginner to Intermediate
📸 Ideal For: Training, snorkeling, macro photography
🕒 Best Time to Dive: Year-round
Elphinstone Reef
Elphinstone Reef is one of the most famous dive sites in Egypt and a true highlight of the southern Red Sea. Located around 12 km offshore from Marsa Alam, this legendary reef is known for its dramatic walls, powerful currents, breathtaking coral formations, and unforgettable shark encounters.
With its deep blue drop-offs and rich marine biodiversity, Elphinstone offers an exciting and world-class diving experience for advanced and adventurous divers.
Key Features
📍 Location: ~12 km offshore from Marsa Alam
🚤 Access Type: Daily boat trip
🌊 Depth Range: 18 to 70+ meters
🦈 Famous For: Oceanic Whitetip Sharks & Hammerhead Sharks
🪸 Reef Type: Vertical walls, plateaus, soft coral gardens
🧭 Dive Level: Intermediate to Advanced
📸 Ideal For: Drift diving, shark encounters, underwater photography
🕒 Best Time to Dive: March–June & September–November
Features & Topography
Elphinstone Reef is a long and narrow offshore reef stretching from north to south for approximately 300 meters. On both sides, steep vertical walls descend dramatically into the deep blue sea, covered with colorful soft corals, sea fans, and large gorgonian corals.
The reef is divided into two main sections:
The northern plateau is more exposed to currents and famous for pelagic marine life, shark encounters, and the legendary deep arch known as “The Coffin.”
The southern plateau offers slightly calmer conditions, gentler slopes, and dense coral gardens full of reef fish and vibrant soft corals.
Caverns, overhangs, pinnacles, and dramatic reef formations make every dive visually spectacular. Depending on conditions, Elphinstone is ideal for drift diving and advanced exploration.
Marine Life
Elphinstone Reef is internationally famous for its large marine species and healthy reef ecosystem. Every dive offers the possibility of unforgettable encounters in the open blue water.
Common marine life includes:
🦈 Oceanic Whitetip Sharks (Longimanus), especially during autumn
🔨 Hammerhead Sharks, often spotted during early morning dives
🐢 Green turtles and hawksbill turtles
🐟 Schools of jacks, barracudas, trevallies, and tuna
🐙 Moray eels, nudibranchs, clownfish, and anthias
🪸 Massive soft coral formations and red gorgonian corals
The combination of big pelagic species and colorful reef life makes Elphinstone one of the most exciting dive sites in the Red Sea.
Diving Conditions
📅 Best Time to Dive
March to June offers excellent visibility and comfortable conditions.
September to November is famous for peak Oceanic Whitetip shark sightings.
🌊 Water Conditions
Temperature: 22°C (winter) to 30°C (summer)
Visibility: 20 to 40 meters
Currents: Moderate to strong — ideal for drift diving
Best Practices
Best suited for experienced divers due to depth and currents
Always dive with an experienced local guide
Use a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) during ascent
Nitrox is recommended for longer bottom times
Maintain good buoyancy to protect fragile coral structures
Bring a wide-angle camera lens for shark and reef photography
Diving Conditions
📅 Best Time to Dive
March to June offers excellent visibility and comfortable conditions.
September to November is famous for peak Oceanic Whitetip shark sightings.
🌊 Water Conditions
Temperature: 22°C (winter) to 30°C (summer)
Visibility: 20 to 40 meters
Currents: Moderate to strong — ideal for drift diving
Best Practices
Best suited for experienced divers due to depth and currents
Always dive with an experienced local guide
Use a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) during ascent
Nitrox is recommended for longer bottom times
Maintain good buoyancy to protect fragile coral structures
Bring a wide-angle camera lens for shark and reef photography
History & Legend
Elphinstone Reef was named during the British naval surveys of the Red Sea in the 19th century and has become legendary among divers worldwide for its dramatic underwater scenery and shark encounters.
One of its most famous legends is “The Coffin” — a deep natural arch located on the northern plateau between 50 and 70 meters depth. Over the years, stories about this mysterious formation have become part of Elphinstone’s mythology, adding even more fascination to this iconic dive site.
All dives with Dive & Discover include a detailed safety and environmental briefing to ensure maximum enjoyment and safety with minimal impact on the marine ecosystem.
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