The Red Sea is known for its coral reefs: more than 1,200 fish species have been recorded there, and about a tenth of them live nowhere else. Divemen runs liveaboard diving safaris here, so this article describes the Egyptian sites we dive ourselves, when it is best to go and how to choose the way you travel.
Where to dive in Egypt: the Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone
The Brothers
The Brothers (El Akhawein in Arabic) are two small islands in open sea, north-east of El Quseir, about 1 km apart. On the larger one, Big Brother, stands a lighthouse built by the British in 1883. The islands are pinnacles rising from great depths, so you dive along steep walls covered in soft corals and gorgonians. Currents here are often strong and usually run from north to south.
Two wrecks lie at Big Brother. The Numidia was a British cargo ship that sank in 1901 carrying railway equipment. The Aida was an Egyptian ship; its main part lies on a steep slope at 30–68 m, so most of the wreck is deeper than the recreational diving limit (40 m).
The islands are a marine protected area: diving needs a coast guard permit and a fee, and the only way to get there is by liveaboard. Our trip descriptions mention grey reef, hammerhead and thresher sharks, Napoleon wrasse and large schools of barracuda, but no encounter is ever guaranteed.
Daedalus Reef
Daedalus is a reef in open sea about 90 km east of Marsa Alam, with a lighthouse at its northern tip. The reef rises from about 550 m, its walls are almost vertical, and the currents can be strong and unpredictable, especially at the northern tip. Daedalus is known for hammerhead sharks. The reef is part of Egypt's network of Red Sea marine protected areas and can only be reached by liveaboard.
Elphinstone Reef
Elphinstone is an offshore reef about 25–30 km north of Marsa Alam. Its walls drop to more than 100 m, and at its northern and southern ends there are plateaus with a constant current over them. According to PADI, oceanic whitetip sharks are most often seen here from September to November, hammerheads from June to August and mantas in March and April. Elphinstone can be reached both by liveaboard and on day trips from the Marsa Alam area.
What experience you need
All three are open-sea dives along steep walls, often in currents. DAN Europe describes the Brothers as a site for experienced divers. Our Egypt safari page says an Open Water (OWD) certificate is enough: you dive with dive guides, and a Divemen instructor travels with the group. Still, experience helps a lot in a strong current, and some liveaboard operators only take divers with a certain number of logged dives on this route.
Before such a trip it is worth taking the Advanced Open Water (AOWD) course, which covers deep diving and navigation. On the boat you can also dive with nitrox (paid separately); for that you need the nitrox course.
When to dive: season and water temperature
You can dive the Red Sea in Egypt all year round. According to DAN Europe, the weather at the Brothers is best from March to November, and the water is 22–25 °C in winter and 26–30 °C in summer. Oceanographic studies show that in the northern Red Sea, where the Egyptian dive sites are, the water is coldest in February and warmest in July and August, and the difference between the seasons is larger than in the south of the sea.
When choosing a time, also think about what you want to see: oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone, for example, are most often seen in autumn. What wetsuit thickness you need for different water temperatures is explained in How to choose a wetsuit for diving?
Liveaboard safari or day boats
A liveaboard safari is a week on a yacht: you live and eat on board while the boat moves from one dive site to the next. This is the only way to reach the Brothers and Daedalus, far from the coast. On our safaris you dive 3–4 times a day with dive guides; night dives are not allowed in some marine parks.
Day trips mean you stay in a hotel on shore and go out by boat to nearby reefs each day. From the Marsa Alam area you can reach Elphinstone this way, but not the Brothers or Daedalus.
Divemen trips to the Red Sea
Divemen's diving safaris in Egypt take place on the yacht My Anemone. In April 2026 the route took in the Brothers, Elphinstone Reef and the Aida and Numidia wrecks. The next diving safari in Egypt runs from 31 October to 7 November 2026, to the Brothers, Elphinstone and Daedalus. You will find all our trips on the trips page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to dive the Red Sea in Egypt?
You can dive all year round. At the Brothers the weather is best from March to November; in the northern Red Sea the water is warmest in July and August and coldest in February.
What is the water temperature in the Red Sea in Egypt?
According to DAN Europe, the water at the Brothers is 22–25 °C in winter and 26–30 °C in summer.
Can I visit the Brothers on a day trip?
No. The Brothers and Daedalus Reef are far from the coast, so only liveaboards go there. Elphinstone Reef can also be reached on day trips from the Marsa Alam area.
What certificate do I need for the Divemen safari in Egypt?
An Open Water (OWD) certificate is enough. As the currents can be strong, it is worth gaining more experience before the trip, for example with the AOWD course.