Elphinstone Reef

Elphinstone is a long narrow reef rising from deep water about twelve kilometres off the coast, roughly three hundred metres of coral with plateaux at the north and south ends and walls dropping vertically on both sides. It is one of the best known dive sites in Egypt and its reputation rests on the pelagic traffic: oceanic whitetip sharks in the autumn months, hammerheads on the deeper plateaux, grey reef sharks, tuna and occasional manta. The soft coral on the walls is dense and the visibility is usually excellent. It is exposed, with no shelter and often strong current running along the reef, which makes it an advanced site and one that day boats cancel frequently. An arch at the southern tip lies well beyond recreational depth.

What you actually see

• Sheer coral walls - vertical drop-offs on both flanks of the reef.
• Oceanic whitetips - autumn shark encounters in the blue.
• Dense soft coral - the wall cover in strong current.
• North and south plateaux - the two ends where big fish gather.

When to go

October to December is the season for oceanic whitetips, which is when most divers come. Conditions are calmest in autumn and spring. A day trip from Marsa Alam or a leg on a southern liveaboard route.

Honest expectations

This is an advanced dive with current, depth and no shelter; it is not a site for the newly qualified. Trips cancel often for wind. Oceanic whitetips are curious and close-approaching, which requires calm and a briefing you should take seriously. The southern arch is beyond recreational limits and has killed divers.

Nearby

Marsa Alam is the mainland base; Abu Dabbab lies north along the coast.