About this spot
Elphinstone is a long, narrow reef that rises from deep water 12km off Marsa Alam. Walls drop vertically on both sides — east drops to 100m+, west to 60m. Currents can be ripping, drifts are mandatory. Oceanic whitetip sharks are seen reliably October-December; hammerhead schools occasionally appear in winter. Day boats run from Marsa Alam, liveaboards include it in deep-south itineraries.
📖 Guide: Diving in Egypt: 258 Sites From Wrecks to Hammerheads
Best months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Marine life
Blacktip reef sharkScalloped hammerheadGreat barracuda
Dive types
WallDriftPelagic / blue water
Trip essentials
Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.
Trip checklist
- 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
- 🤿 Pack: 3/2 mm shorty
- 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
- 📔 Dive logbook
- 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
- 🔌 Plug type C/F · 220V adapter
- 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
- 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact
Quick facts
- 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
- 🤿 Wetsuit 3/2 mm shorty
- GPS
› Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 4165km · ~958kg · €17
From your departure country
United States
Origin score: 59/100 - Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
- Flight: 8h · direct
- Jet-lag: 7h east · 5 days recovery
FAQ
›Oceanic whitetip season?
Late October through December peak. Sometimes earlier or later.
›Tec dive plateau?
Yes — the deep-south plateau at 40m+ requires technical certification.
