Brothers Islands
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Why dive in Brothers Islands?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 10
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsBigeye Thresher Shark
Alopias superciliosus
The Bigeye Thresher (Alopias superciliosus) is a large pelagic shark characterized by its exceptionally large eyes adapted for low-light hunting and a whip-like caudal fin, which can be nearly half its total body length and is used to stun prey. It performs daily vertical migrations, residing in deep waters during the day and ascending to surface waters at night to feed on fish and squid. This species is found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide and is currently listed as Vulnerable.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsCommon Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
The common thresher shark is a large pelagic shark recognized by its exceptionally long upper tail lobe, which it uses to stun schooling fish. It is an active predator found in temperate and tropical waters, often inhabiting offshore environments and occasionally approaching coastal areas.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsOceanic Whitetip Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus
The oceanic whitetip shark is a large pelagic shark recognized by its broad, rounded fins tipped in white. It inhabits tropical and subtropical open oceans and is an opportunistic predator, feeding mainly on fish, squid, and carrion.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsScalloped Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna lewini
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is a large, migratory shark easily recognized by the central indentation on its hammer-shaped head. These sharks are found globally in warm temperate and tropical coastal and oceanic waters, often forming large schools around seamounts and islands. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, feeding on a diverse diet of bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsSilky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis
The Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) is a large, slender requiem shark named for the smooth texture of its skin, attributed to densely packed dermal denticles. It is a highly migratory species found in warm tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, often associating with schools of tuna and oceanic fronts. These opportunistic carnivores primarily feed on bony fishes and cephalopods, exhibiting agile and fast hunting behaviors.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsSilvertip Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
The Silvertip Shark is a large, streamlined requiem shark identifiable by the prominent white tips and trailing margins on all its fins. It is an aggressive apex predator, often dominating other sharks during feeding, and can be found in various tropical Indo-Pacific marine habitats from the surface to considerable depths. While often solitary or in pairs, it can also form small groups or mixed-species aggregations and exhibits variable activity patterns throughout the day and night.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 47
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluecheek ButterflyfishChaetodon semilarvatus
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Broomtail WrasseCheilinus lunulatus
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Dogtooth TunaGymnosarda unicolor
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda
Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydas
Hawksbill Sea TurtleEretmochelys imbricata
Kellogg's ScorpionfishScorpaenodes kelloggi
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Ocellated Eagle RayAetobatus ocellatus
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Rainbow RunnerElagatis bipinnulata
Red Sea ClownfishAmphiprion bicinctus
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Tentacled FlatheadPapilloculiceps longiceps
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Yellowmargin TriggerfishPseudobalistes flavimarginatus
Yellowspotted TriggerfishPseudobalistes fuscus
Where is Brothers Islands
Red Sea · Egypt
Frequently asked questions about Brothers Islands
When is the best time to dive in Brothers Islands?
The best time to dive in Brothers Islands is from March to May and from September to November. In those months the water is between 22°C and 29°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Brothers Islands?
Divers can encounter 57 species in Brothers Islands. Highlights include Bigeye Thresher Shark, Common Thresher Shark, Grey Reef Shark, Humphead Wrasse, Oceanic Whitetip Shark, and Reef Manta Ray.
When can you see the Bigeye Thresher Shark in Brothers Islands?
The Bigeye Thresher Shark is most often seen in Brothers Islands from September to November.
When can you see the Common Thresher Shark in Brothers Islands?
The Common Thresher Shark is most often seen in Brothers Islands from September to November.
When can you see the Reef Manta Ray in Brothers Islands?
The Reef Manta Ray is most often seen in Brothers Islands from May to August.
What is the water temperature in Brothers Islands?
Water temperature in Brothers Islands ranges from 21°C in January to 31°C in July.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Brothers Islands?
Most divers wear a 5 mm wetsuit in January, when the water drops to 21°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in July, when it reaches 31°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Brothers Islands?
Visibility in Brothers Islands ranges from 25 m to 40 m. The water is clearest from September to May.
What are the currents like in Brothers Islands?
Divers in Brothers Islands can expect moderate, strong, or very strong currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Brothers Islands?
After dark, Brothers Islands reveals nocturnal species such as Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, Kellogg's Scorpionfish, Leaf Scorpionfish, Lionfish, and Painted Spiny Lobster.
Where is Brothers Islands located?
Brothers Islands is a dive destination in Egypt, in the Red Sea.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Brothers Islands. Spotted something that looks off?
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