Elphinstone Reef

Marsa Alam · Red Sea · Egypt

Elphinstone Reef is a legendary offshore reef located 12 kilometres from the Marsa Alam coastline in the Egyptian Red Sea. This torpedo-shaped reef, roughly 300 meters long, rises from the deep open ocean and is swept by powerful currents that bring an extraordinary concentration of pelagic life. Elphinstone is world-famous as one of the most reliable locations to encounter oceanic whitetip sharks — these bold, curious predators approach divers closely, particularly during October and November when they are most frequently seen near the reef's north and south plateaus. Hammerhead sharks appear in the blue during cooler months, and grey reef sharks patrol the wall year-round. The reef walls are spectacular in their own right, dropping vertically from 1 meter to beyond 100 meters and covered in dense curtains of soft corals in vivid purples, pinks, and reds. Large gorgonian fans extend from the wall, and Napoleon wrasse cruise at depth. The north and south plateaus at 20–30 meters are the focal points for pelagic encounters, where divers hover in current watching the blue. Dolphins occasionally pass through, and tuna and barracuda are frequent. The reef is accessed by zodiac from dive boats anchored nearby, and conditions can change rapidly — strong downcurrents are a known hazard, and only confident, experienced divers should attempt the exposed plateaus. Elphinstone is reached by day boat or liveaboard from Marsa Alam or Port Ghalib. Its reputation as a world-class big-animal dive is thoroughly deserved.