Explore Elphinstone
Elphinstone dive site is located around 12km from the coast of Marsa Alam out in the Red Sea, in Egypt. This dive site is world renowned for the pristine condition of the coral but also the vast amount of marine species, including many sharks, divers can spot here. The reef here is located in the open ocean of the Red Sea and is a reef which stretches approximately 300 metres, cigar shaped and varies from 10 metres wide to 25 metres wide. It is made up of two plateaus, with depths ranging between 10 and 45 metres, which both drop down to hundreds of metres deep. Divers can visit here either as part of their liveaboard trip or on day trips from Marsa Alam dive centres and dive resorts.
Dive Activity
Diving in Elphinstone
Elphinstone dive site is for advanced divers only because it is out in the open ocean meaning chances of unexpected and strong currents. The diving here includes spectacular drift dives past the flourishing reef walls or over top of the reef plateaus. It is also fantastic for underwater photographers, as there are subjects big and small to capture here, surrounded by incredible colours.
Due to the depths and the conditions, there are a lot of opportunities for tec divers here to do some thrilling dives, including descending down the steep reef walls which drop down past 100 metres into the blue, there’s also
Sacrophagus Archway to explore at depths of 52 and 65 metres; a really unique dive.
Top Wildlife Sightings at Elphinstone
Usually a dive site like this would have a highlight, but at this dive site the entire area is the highlight. A stunning reef with soft and hard corals in pristine condition, Fan corals, Gorgonians, Annenomes and more. The reefs here really are an absolute canvas of every colour of the rainbow just shimmering with schools of fish. Elphinstone is known for its array of sharks which can be spotted here, with the two leading ladies being Hammerhead Sharks and Whitetip Reef Sharks. With sharks being a bucket list item for many divers, there are also other pelagic species including Tuna, Barracuda. There have even been Dolphin sightings here.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
3k Sightings
J
70
F
23
M
85
A
95
M
179
J
309
J
357
A
245
S
365
O
461
N
596
D
197
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
2.7k Sightings
J
44
F
38
M
67
A
113
M
215
J
265
J
248
A
241
S
296
O
456
N
486
D
242
Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
2.6k Sightings
J
49
F
0
M
6
A
40
M
81
J
136
J
117
A
112
S
185
O
662
N
923
D
300
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
2k Sightings
J
55
F
32
M
62
A
118
M
171
J
169
J
175
A
189
S
241
O
323
N
329
D
133
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
1.2k Sightings
J
24
F
6
M
48
A
92
M
86
J
126
J
145
A
83
S
145
O
189
N
188
D
50
AdobeStock/G Russel Childress
Great Hammerhead Shark
492 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
52
J
164
J
148
A
66
S
23
O
29
N
10
D
0
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
455 Sightings
J
7
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
45
J
34
J
54
A
26
S
47
O
82
N
117
D
41
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
3.5k Sightings
J
74
F
47
M
144
A
199
M
280
J
312
J
364
A
286
S
358
O
539
N
607
D
305
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
3.4k Sightings
J
62
F
51
M
146
A
189
M
260
J
266
J
338
A
296
S
425
O
514
N
558
D
263
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
2.8k Sightings
J
42
F
13
M
102
A
141
M
214
J
228
J
306
A
250
S
318
O
495
N
455
D
222
The best Months to dive at Elphinstone
The weather here, due to the desert environment, is usually pleasant, reaching up to 45 degrees Celsius in the summer, but that does mean very pleasant water temperatures; 19 degrees Celsius in February and 29 degrees Celsius in August. The visibility is above average throughout the year; between 10 and 45 metres. This is a very popular dive sites so divers do need to keep in mind it can get crowded, so the earlier they dive, the less crowded it will be.
When it comes to spotting marine life, July to October, there is a higher chance to see Manta Rays and Stingrays. Hammerheads, which are star attraction here, are here year round.
