Elphinstone is a long, narrow reef that rises from deep water off the coast north of Marsa Alam, a short run from Port Ghalib. Its walls are covered in soft corals, and it is one of the best-known shark dives in the Red Sea. On a private yacht it is usually day two of a Marsa Alam charter.
What can you see at Elphinstone Reef?
The reef has steep walls on both sides and a plateau at each end. The walls are covered in soft corals and schools of anthias, and the plateaus are where the larger animals are most often seen.
- Oceanic whitetip sharks are most often seen in autumn, usually close to the surface.
- Hammerhead sharks are sometimes seen off the northern plateau in the warmer months.
- Reef life is rich all year: groupers, schools of fish and dense soft corals.
Is Elphinstone Reef suitable for every diver?
No. The currents can be strong and the reef drops into deep water, so it is a dive for experienced divers with a guide. The crew decides each morning whether conditions are right, and picks a more sheltered reef if they are not.
For guests who do not dive, the top of the reef can be spectacular from the surface on a calm morning. On rougher days the yacht moves to a protected reef closer to the coast for snorkeling.
When is the best time to visit Elphinstone Reef?
Autumn, roughly October and November, is the best time for oceanic whitetip sharks. Spring and autumn bring the calmest seas. Day boats from the coast visit too, so a private yacht that anchors nearby the night before can dive at first light, before they arrive.
People also ask
Where is Elphinstone Reef?
Elphinstone lies off the Egyptian Red Sea coast north of Marsa Alam, a short run from the marina at Port Ghalib.
Can you snorkel at Elphinstone Reef?
Sometimes. On a calm morning the reef top is good from the surface, but the reef is offshore and exposed, so the crew decides on the day.
When can you see oceanic whitetip sharks at Elphinstone?
They are most often reported in autumn, around October and November, although sightings are never guaranteed.
Red Sea yacht charter itineraries.
7-Day Red Sea Yacht Charter Itinerary: Marsa Alam and the Southern Reefs
A seven-day southern Red Sea route from Port Ghalib: Elphinstone Reef, the Dolphin House, the Fury Shoals, Sataya and the Qulan islands.
See full itinerary
7-Day Red Sea Yacht Charter Itinerary: Hurghada to Sharm el Sheikh
A seven-day northern Red Sea route from Hurghada to Sharm el Sheikh: the Giftun islands, Abu Nuhas, the SS Thistlegorm, Ras Mohammed and Tiran.
See full itineraryPhotos via Wikimedia Commons: Elphinstone Reef by Alexander Vasenin (CC BY-SA 4.0); Marsa Alam coast by Roland Unger (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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