Elphinstone Reef

Elphinstone Reef sits in the Red Sea off Marsa Alam in Egypt's Al Bahr al Ahmar governorate, rising from deep water as an isolated reef plateau with steep drop offs on its north and south ends. It is rated an intermediate dive with a maximum depth of 20 metres over a reef bottom, though the walls beyond the plateau fall away well past that and divers use the drop offs for drift diving. Current is strong and confirmed as a hazard here, and divers have also reported it as unpredictable and variable, along with exposed conditions and deep water offering little bottom reference. Barracuda, fusiliers, tuna, hammerheads, and oceanic whitetip sharks are all regularly encountered, with the whitetips especially associated with autumn. Divers have also reported angelfish, eagle rays, lionfish, manta rays, Napoleon wrasse, snapper, trevally, and even thresher sharks around the reef. Boat access is typical, usually from Marsa Alam, since the reef has no direct shore connection.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Zebra AngelfishGenicanthus caudovittatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanusReported here · unconfirmed
• Crimson SoldierfishMyripristis murdjanReported here · unconfirmed
• Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Dendronephthya hemprichiReported here · unconfirmed
• Red Sea BannerfishHeniochus intermediusReported here · unconfirmed
• Orange-spotted TrevallyFlavocaranx bajadReported here · unconfirmed
• Two-spot Red SnapperLutjanus boharReported here · unconfirmed
• Oceanic whitetip sharkOceanic whitetip sharkConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
• Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• BarracudaBarracudaConfirmed present · 4 independent sources
• TunaTunaConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• FusilierFusilierConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• Manta rayManta rayReported here · unconfirmed
• Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseReported here · unconfirmed
• TrevallyTrevallyReported here · unconfirmed
• AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
• SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
• LionfishLionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Eagle rayEagle rayReported here · unconfirmed
• Thresher sharkThresher sharkReported here · unconfirmed