Elphinstone Reef: diving, sharks and trips from Marsa Alam (not Hurghada)
Elphinstone is a cigar-shaped reef, running north-south and over 400 m long, in open sea off Marsa Alam: one of the Red Sea's most famous dive sites, known for its sharks (oceanic whitetip, hammerhead and whale shark are reported, never guaranteed) and its soft-coral walls. It is a site for experienced divers: sometimes a current of about 2 knots, open ocean, misleading depth. From Hurghada a day trip is impractical; day trips leave from Marsa Alam, or on multi-day dive safaris from Port Ghalib or Hurghada. See also Hurghada's dive sites.
Highlights
The soft corals of the plateau
The walls and plateau of Elphinstone are covered in colourful soft corals (Dendronephthya) and anthias, which give the site its charm even without sharks.
The reef sharks
The hammerhead and the oceanic whitetip are the site's stars, seen more often in some seasons; nothing is guaranteed, and the current can keep them away.
Practical info
Tips
- To sort the options: if you are an experienced diver (advanced certification recommended, and several dozen dives), look for a day dive boat from Marsa Alam; the most practical trip we found online is a Marsa Mubarak trip with optional diving (8 hours, two guided dives optional), not Elphinstone itself. If you do not dive or are a beginner, prefer the turtles and dugong of Marsa Mubarak or the snorkelling at Abu Dabbab: Abu Dabbab. A multi-day dive safari leaves from Port Ghalib or Hurghada and adds transfer time (about 4 hours). Set a depth alarm: the water is so clear that depth is hard to judge.
How to get there
Elphinstone is reached only by dive boat, from Marsa Alam (day trips) or Port Ghalib. From Hurghada the simplest is to fly to Marsa Alam: see Marsa Alam from Hurghada and Hurghada or Marsa Alam.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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