The offshore reefs of the southern Egyptian Red Sea — the Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone — are the premier destination in the world for reliable encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks. The season runs October through December, when the sharks appear close to the reef walls and photograph with the distinctive white-tipped pectoral fins that gave them their name. Daedalus also has a scalloped hammerhead school at its northern plateau during summer. All three reefs are accessible only by liveaboard — the crossings from Port Ghalib or Marsa Alam can be rough and this is not a destination for new divers.
The year at a glance
- Water
- 21–23 °C
- Viz
- 20–40 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 21–23 °C
- Viz
- 20–40 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 22–24 °C
- Viz
- 20–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 23–25 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 25–27 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 24–26 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 22–24 °C
- Viz
- 20–40 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Elphinstone Reef
Famous oceanic whitetip site, vertical walls and strong current.
- 02
Daedalus Reef
Remote offshore pinnacle with hammerhead schools in summer.
- 03
Big Brother / Little Brother
Paired walls with wrecks, oceanic whitetips, and thresher sightings.
What you'll see
Top species with their April status.
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Scalloped Hammerhead
Pelagic Thresher Shark
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Hurghada (HRG) or Marsa Alam (RMF). Visa: Visa on arrival for most nationalities, 30 days.
Best months
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec