Brothers Islands

Marsa Alam · Red Sea · Egypt

The Brothers Islands (El Akhawein) are two small, exposed islands in the open Egyptian Red Sea, roughly 70 kilometres offshore from El Quseir. Accessible only by liveaboard, they represent the pinnacle of Red Sea diving — raw, remote, and teeming with pelagic life. Big Brother is marked by a Victorian-era lighthouse and hosts two historic wrecks: the Numidia (1901) draped in soft corals on the north face, and the Aida II (1957) on the eastern wall. Both wrecks are encrusted in spectacular marine growth and surrounded by schooling fish. The walls of both islands drop sheer from the surface to beyond 200 meters, covered in some of the most vibrant soft coral growth in the Red Sea. Thresher sharks are a headline attraction — they cruise the walls, particularly in the early morning on the south plateau of Big Brother. Grey reef sharks patrol constantly, hammerhead sharks appear in the blue, and oceanic whitetip sharks are encountered on deeper safety stops. Manta rays visit during seasonal migrations. The schooling fish — massive tornado-like formations of barracuda, jacks, and batfish — are a constant spectacle. Little Brother is an uninhabited rocky outcrop with equally stunning walls and even more concentrated marine life. Conditions at the Brothers are demanding: strong currents, surge, and open-ocean exposure require experience and fitness. Liveaboard trips typically spend 2–3 days at the islands, offering multiple dives on different faces depending on conditions.