ELPHINSTONE

NAME & LOCATION

Located only 3-4 miles off the coastline, Elphinstone is one of the world famous dive sites of the Red Sea. She can be done by daily or speedboat, however for your comfort we advise to do her by Liveaboard.

This name was given by international marine shart. The arabic name Shagra means Blondie. If you are moored at the reef on a sunny morning, when you look at the shore, you will see a solitarily bright red mountain which is called Shagra Mountain or The Blondie Mountain. 

Elphinstone Reef is found between Marsa Alam and Port Ghalib only about 4 miles out the coast. The area in front of Marsa Alam is named after this city. And farther out and to the south the famous reef of Daedalus.

BIODIVERSITY

Because of her strong nutrient bringing currents and as she sits in very deep water, there is lord os life around. Stunning soft corals, big schools of fish, macro life hiding in the reef and pelagics doing a fly by. An absolute must dive site of the Red Sea.

  • A hawksbill turtle, commonly found on most reefs in the Red Sea, including some wrecks.
    A hawksbill turtle, commonly found on most reefs in the Red Sea, including some wrecks.
  • A long armed banded boxer shrimp is know to be a cleaner of for instance the local mural eel during its daily shower.
  • With one spot on its tail this snapper likes to hang between reef elements in a school.
    With one spot on its tail this snapper likes to hang between reef elements in a school.
  • Extremely poisonous this stonefish has mastered the ancient technique of hiding in plain sight. Please do not touch!!
    Extremely poisonous this stonefish has mastered the ancient technique of hiding in plain sight. Please do not touch!!
  • A juvenile black snapper with its typical white markings lives a solitude life until it becomes fully black.
    A juvenile black snapper with its typical white markings lives a solitude life until it becomes fully black.
  • Usually swimminglike it needs to catch a train along reef walls hunting for fish and often seen in small groups. This is the bluefin trevali.
    Usually swimminglike it needs to catch a train along reef walls hunting for fish and often seen in small groups. This is the bluefin trevali.
  • Sometimes few spots sometimes almost completely yellow, meet the gold dotted trevalli.
    Sometimes few spots sometimes almost completely yellow, meet the gold dotted trevalli.
  • the bearded scorpion fish can change it colors as means to blend into the background.
    the bearded scorpion fish can change it colors as means to blend into the background.
  • A stunning popcorn shrimp.
  • The chromodiris that looks lots like its cousin but lacking the rings around the yellow dots.
    The chromodiris that looks lots like its cousin but lacking the rings around the yellow dots.
  • A clownfish a.k.a. Nemo that lives in a specific Anemone where the fish protects the anemone in the day and the Anemone returns the favor as she closes at night protecting the fish.
    A clownfish a.k.a. Nemo that lives in a specific Anemone where the fish protects the anemone in the day and the Anemone returns the favor as she closes at night protecting the fish.
  • A lovely butterfly fish named after her orange head.
    A lovely butterfly fish named after her orange head.
  • The grey reef shark can be found single or in a group. Usually she is shy towards divers and to be found in places where the currents change the most.
    The grey reef shark can be found single or in a group. Usually she is shy towards divers and to be found in places where the currents change the most.
  • Tiger sharks are rarely seen in the Red Sea as they are believed to live on deep plateaus and traveling from reef to reef.
    Tiger sharks are rarely seen in the Red Sea as they are believed to live on deep plateaus and traveling from reef to reef.
  • The giant travail loves the blue waters next to deep falling walls with a medium to strong current, as they hunt schools of fish that hang nest to the reef. known to be vicious hunters and run after anything that is silver or blings.
    The giant travail loves the blue waters next to deep falling walls with a medium to strong current, as they hunt schools of fish that hang nest to the reef. known to be vicious hunters and run after anything that is silver or blings.
  • Wart slug, lover of sandy areas in between corals
    Wart slug, lover of sandy areas in between corals
  • Longimanus a.k.a. oceanic white tip shark. Seen on offshore reefs and giving us divers one of the most intimate shark experiences possible.
    Longimanus a.k.a. oceanic white tip shark. Seen on offshore reefs and giving us divers one of the most intimate shark experiences possible.
  • The giant moral eel lives on most reefs of Egypts Red Sea. Sometimes running up to 2,5 meters they like to relax during the day and come out to hunt at night.
    The giant moral eel lives on most reefs of Egypts Red Sea. Sometimes running up to 2,5 meters they like to relax during the day and come out to hunt at night.
  • This hammerhead shark can be found on offshore reefs like brother islands or Daedalus Reef. This species is quite shy although curious if we divers know how to respect them.
    This hammerhead shark can be found on offshore reefs like brother islands or Daedalus Reef. This species is quite shy although curious if we divers know how to respect them.
DIVE SITE SPECS
Access:Year round, in the winter currents and wind pick up
Type of diving:Drift along deep walls and no night dive allowed.
Diver level:Advanced & comfortable with currents & depth.
Depth:0-40 meters
Current:Medium-strong
Visability:20-30 meters

ELPHINSTONE REEF

With her 300 meters in length this reef with her deep dropping walls is located quite close to the mainland. She has an extended plateau on the north where at times hammerheads are spotted, a plateau on the south where you can find turtles and eels and of course the walls where trivially hunt and the Longimanus can appear just off the reef and usually around the boats.

Elphinstone is known to have strong and unpredictable currents and some choppy waters at the top can make a dive quite challenging. Best comfort is offered by Liveaboard and gives a chance to dive this site early in the morning or later the afternoon as the daily boats are not there.

Just off the coast but still an offshore reef Elphinstone is known for het beautiful corals, from stone fish to turtle and a good chance for some shark action.

WHAT TRIPS BRING YOU THERE?

These dives can be done by Liveaboard, where you combine the best dive sites in a weeks diving. The following trips offer it as part of their program: