Elphinstone Reef
Why dive in Elphinstone Reef?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 9
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
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.
Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More marine life 50
Where is Elphinstone Reef
Red Sea · Egypt