Marsa Alam, Red Sea, Egypt
Elphinstone is a narrow, cigar-shaped reef running almost precisely north to south. Below the southern end lies the Arch, a natural tunnel about 10 m high that cuts through the southern plateau and connects the east and west sides of the reef. Passing through the Arch is a technical dive, and it has claimed the lives of untrained recreational divers. On the west side of the southern plateau there is also the sarcophagus archway, named after a rock shaped like a sarcophagus.
On the northern plateau, clouds of orange anthias, hundreds of fusiliers, trevally and barracuda surround the diver. The walls have an abundance of soft corals, and the reef also has gorgonian sea fans. Among the animals listed for the reef are tiger sharks, giant trevally and schools of barracuda.
Sharks tend to be more common from October to December. Manta rays tend to appear mainly from May to August and are also seen in March and April. From July to October, mantas and stingrays can also be seen.
Information on this page, including technical data such as depth, current, visibility, access, and recommended level, is informational and may vary. Confirm actual conditions with a local operator before the dive.
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Reviews are from other divers — personal experiences, not guarantees.
