Brothers Islands
Intro: The Brothers Islands are situated 67 km offshore east of El Quseir, and liveaboards usually depart from Hurghada or Marsa Alam to access them. Big Brother and Little Brother are 1000m apart and separated by a 300m deep abyss, an ideal situation to encounter pelagic and big fish!
Description: There are about a dozen different dive sites and most are wall dives or sharp drop offs. You have a good chance of seeing hammerhead sharks; white tip oceanic sharks, shoals of jack fishes, big groupers etc. Big Brother has a few ship wrecks; the Aida II was a large Italian ship which was carrying troops one night in 1957 when it hit Big Brother. The Numidia wreck starts at a depth of 8m and lies on the steep drop-off at an almost vertical angle.
Best bits: Amazing wall diving and good chance of sharks and big pelagics.
Suitability: The Brothers are located in the middle of the sea, and currents can be strong and weather rough. These sites are only suitable for experienced divers i.e. with 50+ logged dives. Best time to visit is during the summer, seas can be rough in the winter.
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Elphinstone Reef
Intro: Located about 30km north of Marsa Alam and 12km offshore, this excellent dive site is visited by liveaboards from Hurghada or Marsa Alam and also by day boats from Marsa Alam. Elphinstone reef rises up from about 130m depth, and is long and thin, extending some 300m in length.
Description: A very good spot for pelagic fishes. The north has beautiful plateaus at 2Om, 35m and 40m. At the edge of the plateau if you look down in the deep blue it's possible to see hammerhead sharks and maybe other big pelagic fish including oceanic white tip shark. The reef walls are covered in beautiful soft corals and fish life includes thousands of anthias, Napoleon fish, large tuna and schools of jacks and snappers.
Best bits: Amazing wall diving and good chance of sharks and big pelagics.
Suitability: Elphinstone reef is located offshore, and currents can be strong and weather rough. Only suitable for experienced divers i.e. 50+ logged dives. Best time to visit is during the summer, seas can be rough in the winter.
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Daedalus Reef
Intro: Daedalus island is located about 95 offshore from Marsa Alam. It's a small island with a light house and long pier which extends over the reef to the sea. The lighthouse was built by the English and is still in use today. Daedalus Reef is accessed by liveaboard from Hurghada and Marsa Alam..
Description: The reefs around Daedalus island drop off quickly on three sides. The north and west sides are best and encounters with big pelagic and hammerhead sharks are common. The deep water and currents provide the perfect habitat for a lot of big fish. To the east there is a spectacular drop-off, which continues on to the south east point where thresher sharks are regularly found. Lovely soft corals, Gorgonias and Black coral can be found everywhere with impressive numbers of fish.
Best bits: Great reefs and very good chance of several shark and big pelagics.
Suitability: Daedalus is located a long way offshore, and currents can be strong and weather rough. Only suitable for experienced divers i.e. 50+ logged dives. Best time to visit is during the summer, seas can be rough in the winter.
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