Elphinstone is the shark dive of Marsa Alam and one of the most famous dives in the entire Red Sea. Your day is simple: we collect you from your hotel, transfer you to the speedboat launch point, and about 45 thrilling minutes later you are hovering over a legendary wall that drops straight into deep blue.
Elphinstone Reef, 30 km north of Marsa Alam (12 km offshore)
DurationHalf Day
Dives2
Skill LevelCertified Divers
Group SizeMax 10
LocationElphinstone Reef, 30 km north of Marsa Alam (12 km offshore)
Elphinstone Reef . Gallery
9 photos
About this trip
Elphinstone Reef is the icon of Marsa Alam diving and a true bucket-list site: a 300-metre-long plateau roughly 30 km north of town and 12 km offshore, dropping into deep blue on every side. Here is how the trip works. We pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the speedboat launch point on the north coast. Over a relaxed briefing your guide walks you through the reef, the dive plan, and exactly what to look for, then the speedboat covers the open water in about 45 minutes. You make two guided dives - usually the south plateau first, then the north plateau or an easy drift along the wall - with a surface break on board with water and snacks in between. Expect walls covered in soft corals and gorgonians and some of the most reliable big-animal encounters in the Red Sea: oceanic whitetip sharks (Oct to Dec), scalloped hammerheads in summer, grey reef sharks year-round, and reef mantas passing through in spring. Currents can be strong, so this trip is for certified divers with some open-water experience; our guides stay close, explain everything, and plan each dive so your Elphinstone dives become some of the best dives of your life. Then we speed back to shore and drop you at your hotel - the whole trip takes about 5 hours door to door.
Trip Highlights
The shark site
Oceanic whitetips, grey reefs, hammerheads
Dramatic walls
70+ m vertical drop
Big pelagics
Tuna, barracuda, eagle rays
Speedboat access
Fast 45-min ride
What's Included
Included
2 tanks
Dive guide
Hotel pickup & drop-off
Bottled water
Snacks
Not Included
Full rental equipment
Lunch
Nitrox
Insurance
Tips
A Day in Detail
06:00 / 11:00
Hotel pickup
We collect you from your hotel and transfer you to the speedboat launch point. Departure time depends on sea conditions and the confirmed speedboat slot.
07:00 / 12:00
Speedboat departure
Full briefing on the reef and the plan, then a fast 45-minute ride out to Elphinstone.
07:45 / 12:45
Dive 1 - South plateau
Soft-coral walls, gorgonians, and the first chance at sharks in the blue.
09:00 / 14:00
Surface break
Water and snacks on board while your guide reviews dive one and previews dive two.
09:45 / 14:45
Dive 2 - North plateau or drift along the wall
Route chosen on the day for the best conditions and encounters.
11:00 / 16:00
Return to marina & hotel drop-off
Back on land and at your hotel, about 5 hours after pickup.
Marine Life You May See
Wild animals - sightings are likely, not guaranteed. We never bait, chase, or surround.
Oceanic whitetip sharkHammerheadGrey reef sharkTunaBarracudaEagle rayReef manta ray
Where you'll dive
Elphinstone Reef, 30 km north of Marsa Alam (12 km offshore)
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Real guest reviews
What guests say
No reviews yet. Did you join this trip? Be the first to share your experience.
If there were a way to give 10 stars, Elphinstone Reef would deserve every single one of them!
Every time we visit Elphinstone, it delivers something spectacular. The reef is absolutely breathtaking, packed with vibrant marine life, stunning coral formations, and endless underwater action. No two dives are ever the same, which is exactly why we keep coming back.
Our most unforgettable experience was in December when we had an incredible close encounter with a Longimanus (oceanic whitetip shark). Seeing such a magnificent animal from so close was both thrilling and humbling. It was one of those moments that reminds you why you fell in love with diving in the first place.
Elphinstone seems to have a magical rule: if you arrive expecting something amazing, it will exceed your expectations anyway! From curious reef inhabitants to big pelagic surprises, this place never disappoints.
For divers, Elphinstone isn’t just a dive site, it’s an addiction. The only downside is that every reef you visit afterward has a very hard act to follow!
Can’t wait to come back and see what surprises Elphinstone has waiting for us next. 🦈🌊🤿
MS
Marta Stashevska
Jun 2025
Google
One of the most thrilling dives I’ve ever done. Elphinstone Reef offers stunning drop-offs, vibrant soft corals, and a real chance to see oceanic whitetip and hammerhead sharks. Currents can be strong, so it’s best for experienced divers. I joined a liveaboard to beat the crowds and catch early morning dives—totally worth it. Visibility was fantastic, and every dive felt like an adventure. A must-do Red Sea site if you're into big fish and deep wall diving.
SD
S. Diggelmann
Apr 2018
Google
Awesome reef for diving. Alot of fish and coral.
ND
Nicolas De Smyter
Nov 2022
Google
Very nice location to go diving. When we were here, there was a lot of things we got to see. It of course depends on different factors what you actually see, but it is definitely worth to do a couple of dives here.
IZ
Ismail Zohdy
Oct 2022
Google
Best dive site with sharks in the red sea
I dont recommend going with a speed boat from shore if wind is more than 18 knots - its usually 18 knots
Sharks are amazing and you get to sea oceanic white tip sharks - long manous - and hammer head sharks along with tiger sharks
If you are not an experienced diver then its not recommended
Public Google reviews of Elphinstone Reef as a dive site - they describe the location itself, not a specific trip with us.
Frequently Asked
October to December offers the highest probability, especially around full moons. We don't bait or feed - encounters are wild and unpredictable.
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