6 Days in Brothers Islands, Safaga and Elphinstone Island

A check dive, a practice zodiac dive, and a night dive should be made at dive sites close to your departure port before moving on to the marine parks on your Red Sea liveaboard.

Brother Islands. Two islands located 60 km offshore and 140 km south of Hurghada make the northernmost part of Egypt's offshore marine park. The larger, Big Brother Island, is 400 meters long and features a breathtaking plateau on the southeast corner, which is famous for coral mountains as well as grey reefs and thresher sharks. Big Brother also hosts a lighthouse built back in 1883. Two interesting shipwrecks lie on the western part of the island, one of them positioned almost leaning on the edge of the reef. The Numidia shipwreck is the most impressive of them all. The large cargo ship that succumbed to the depths in the year nineteen hundred and one; now she lies thirty-two to one hundred meters off the island’s point, her hulk draped in soft corals and occasionally inhabited by the large sea-faring fish. The smaller Aida wreck is much shallower and located at a depth of thirty and sixty-five meters, it was a supply ship of the lighthouse authorities that sunk in 1957 because of heavy storms. Although, Small Brother Island is slightly over 200 meters long it hosts an amazing number and variety of marine life. There are amazing overhangs to explore, an incredible variety of hard and soft corals, and a pristine forest of fan corals. The pelagic zone is the main attraction, with including seasonal grey reef, hammerhead, and oceanic white tip sharks appearing sporadically.

Safaga. Safaga has something for everyone, with a wide range of breathtaking drop-offs, shallow coral gardens, and fascinating wrecks. The most well-known wreck is the huge ferry "Salem Express," which sank in 1991 and claimed a significant number of lives. Additionally, there are the enormous ferry wrecks of Al Kafain and El Arish El Tor, both of which sank without claiming any life. The well-known finger-shaped reefs of Abu Kafan and Panorama have breathtaking plateaus covered with both soft and hard corals, as well as drop-offs abundant with fan coral. Shallower reefs are great for afternoon or night dives since they are teeming with life, like Torbia Arbaa.

The Red Sea is home to the well-known reef known as Elphinstone. Because of its unusual shape, which resembles a finger, both hard and soft corals may be seen growing on both north and south plateaus. The experience of the reef is exciting yet unpredictable. Grey Reef Sharks and Napoleon Wrasses are a common sight during summer however; Oceanic white tip sharks are, also, found in plenty during late October. Elphinstone, located in the Safaga region and one of the Brothers Islands, is usually part of the itinerary.

You will enjoy two leisurely morning dives close to your arrival port after spending a week exploring different drop-offs. This will enable you to arrive at the harbor in the early afternoon with a relaxed voyage. Use your evening ashore time to shop for mementos and soak up Egypt's legendary hospitality before heading back home the next day.