Elphinstone Reef
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Why dive in Elphinstone Reef?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 9
- 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 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.
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
More marine life 53
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluecheek ButterflyfishChaetodon semilarvatus
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Broomtail WrasseCheilinus lunulatus
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
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
Hawksbill Sea TurtleEretmochelys imbricata
Honeycomb MorayGymnothorax favagineus
Kellogg's ScorpionfishScorpaenodes kelloggi
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Lyretail AnthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis
Masked PufferArothron diadematus
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Ocellated Eagle RayAetobatus ocellatus
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Orbicular BatfishPlatax orbicularis
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Pickhandle BarracudaSphyraena jello
Potato GrouperEpinephelus tukula
Rainbow RunnerElagatis bipinnulata
Red Sea ClownfishAmphiprion bicinctus
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Spinner DolphinStenella longirostris
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Tentacled FlatheadPapilloculiceps longiceps
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Whale SharkRhincodon typus
Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Yellowmargin TriggerfishPseudobalistes flavimarginatus
Yellowspotted TriggerfishPseudobalistes fuscus
Where is Elphinstone Reef
Red Sea · Egypt
Frequently asked questions about Elphinstone Reef
When is the best time to dive in Elphinstone Reef?
The best time to dive in Elphinstone Reef is in May and from September to November. In those months the water is between 23°C and 28°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Elphinstone Reef?
Divers can encounter 62 species in Elphinstone Reef. Highlights include Bigeye Thresher Shark, Green Sea Turtle, Grey Reef Shark, Humphead Wrasse, Oceanic Whitetip Shark, and Reef Manta Ray.
When can you see the Bigeye Thresher Shark in Elphinstone Reef?
The Bigeye Thresher Shark is most often seen in Elphinstone Reef from September to November.
When can you see the Reef Manta Ray in Elphinstone Reef?
The Reef Manta Ray is most often seen in Elphinstone Reef from March to April.
When can you see the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark in Elphinstone Reef?
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is most often seen in Elphinstone Reef from April to August.
What is the water temperature in Elphinstone Reef?
Water temperature in Elphinstone Reef ranges from 20°C in January to 32°C in July.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Elphinstone Reef?
Most divers wear a 7 mm wetsuit in January, when the water drops to 20°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in July, when it reaches 32°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Elphinstone Reef?
Visibility in Elphinstone Reef ranges from 20 m to 40 m. The water is clearest from March to May and from September to November.
What are the currents like in Elphinstone Reef?
Divers in Elphinstone Reef can expect strong, very strong, or moderate currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Elphinstone Reef?
After dark, Elphinstone Reef reveals nocturnal species such as Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, Honeycomb Moray, Kellogg's Scorpionfish, Leaf Scorpionfish, and Lionfish.
Where is Elphinstone Reef located?
Elphinstone Reef is a dive destination in Egypt, in the Red Sea.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Elphinstone Reef. Spotted something that looks off?
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