Red Sea Marine Parks

Red Sea Marine Parks Information

Dive sites

Brothers Islands

The Brothers Islands are two small, yet iconic islands—Big Brother and Little Brother—situated about 70 km offshore. Despite their size, they offer some of the most exciting diving in the Red Sea.

Big Brother

Famous for its steep walls covered in vibrant soft corals and gorgonian fans, Big Brother is a magnet for pelagic species. It’s not uncommon to spot hammerhead sharks, oceanic whitetips, and even the occasional thresher shark. Big Brother is also home to two wrecks—the Aida and the Numidia—both of which are covered in marine life and make for fascinating wreck dives.

Little Brother

Slightly smaller than its neighbour, Little Brother is equally packed with thrilling dive opportunities. Its dramatic drop-offs and strong currents attract larger marine life, including reef sharks and manta rays. The reef itself is teeming with colourful anthias, barracuda, and schools of trevallies.

Daedalus Reef

Daedalus Reef is a massive standalone reef located about halfway between the Brothers Islands and Marsa Alam. Known for its lighthouse and sweeping underwater topography, Daedalus is a favourite for shark lovers.

The reef features steep walls and plateaus that are often visited by schools of hammerhead sharks, as well as occasional sightings of manta rays and barracudas. Its extensive coral gardens and impressive visibility make for spectacular diving, whether you're cruising along the walls or exploring the vibrant shallows. Due to its distance from shore, Daedalus Reef remains relatively undisturbed, making it a bucket-list destination for divers seeking more adventurous dive sites.

Elphinstone Reef

Elphinstone Reef lies just north of Marsa Alam and is one of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea. Known for its thrilling drift dives and beautiful coral plateaus, it’s a hotspot for encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks, particularly between October and December.

The reef’s vertical walls are decorated with colourful soft corals and drop down into the blue abyss. With regular sightings of large pelagic species like tuna and barracuda, alongside its beautiful coral gardens, Elphinstone delivers a dramatic diving experience.

Marine life

The Red Sea’s central marine parks—Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone Reef—are a paradise for marine life enthusiasts, offering divers a chance to encounter some of the ocean’s most majestic creatures, along with vibrant reef ecosystems.

Sharks and Pelagics

One of the main draws of these dive sites is the opportunity to see a variety of shark species. The Brothers Islands are particularly famous for frequent sightings of oceanic whitetip sharks, as well as the elusive thresher shark. During the summer months, hammerhead sharks are often spotted patrolling the blue waters of Daedalus Reef in schools. Divers at Elphinstone are also regularly treated to close encounters with oceanic whitetips, especially during the autumn season.

In addition to sharks, these reefs are a hotspot for larger pelagic species such as barracudas, giant trevally, and even manta rays. Daedalus Reef, with its deeper waters and open-sea location, provides the perfect environment for manta sightings, while the fast-moving currents attract schooling jacks and tuna.

Reef Life and Corals

The reefs themselves are a vibrant tapestry of marine biodiversity. The Brothers Islands’ steep walls are festooned with colourful soft corals, large gorgonian sea fans, and swaying anemones that house clownfish. Spotted among these coral formations are moray eels, lionfish, and the ever-present anthias, which dart between the corals in their hundreds.

At Daedalus, the coral gardens are a treat for macro photographers, with species like nudibranchs, pipefish, and scorpionfish hiding among the hard and soft corals. Elphinstone, too, is known for its beautiful coral plateaus, where divers can find turtles grazing on the rich marine life and schools of snapper cruising by.

Rare Encounters

Lucky divers may even come across rarer creatures, such as the occasional whale shark, or catch a glimpse of dolphins playing in the surf above. These reefs are also a prime location for spotting hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, and the sometimes-shy Napoleon wrasse.

Wreck diving

The Brothers Islands are not only renowned for their rich marine life and dramatic walls, but also for their fascinating wrecks, offering a unique blend of history and adventure for divers.

Aida II

One of the highlights of diving at Big Brother is the wreck of the Aida II, a 75-metre long Egyptian supply ship that sank in 1957. It lies on a steep slope, with the wreck starting at around 30 metres and dropping down to over 60 metres. Over the decades, Aida II has become a vibrant artificial reef, awash with colourful soft corals and gorgonians, attracting a variety of marine life. The deeper sections are best suited for technical divers, while recreational divers can enjoy exploring the upper portions of the wreck.

The ship's structure, though broken, is still relatively intact, with the bow and stern being particularly interesting areas to investigate. Schools of snapper, jackfish, and fusiliers are often seen circling the wreck, while the occasional shark may glide by in the blue.

Numidia

Further along Big Brother’s slopes rests the wreck of the Numidia, a 150-metre long British cargo ship that sank in 1901. Known as the "Train Wreck" due to the locomotives it was carrying, Numidia is a wreck of true historical significance and offers an almost surreal diving experience.

The wreck lies at a depth of 10 to 80 metres, making it accessible to both recreational and technical divers. Like Aida II, it is heavily encrusted with vibrant corals, with larger marine species frequently passing by. Divers can explore sections of the ship’s hull, with its intricate coral growth and the remnants of its cargo adding an eerie yet fascinating element to the dive. The currents around the Numidia can be strong, so divers need to be experienced and aware of the conditions.

A World of Adventure

Wreck diving at the Brothers Islands adds a layer of historical intrigue to an already exhilarating dive destination. The fusion of coral-encrusted shipwrecks and teeming marine life makes these wrecks a must-visit for anyone diving the central Red Sea Marine Parks.

Dive Conditions

The diving conditions at the Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone Reef are generally excellent year-round, but certain months offer even more spectacular marine life encounters and optimal conditions.

Best Time to Dive

While diving is possible throughout the year, the most favourable period for the central Red Sea Marine Parks is between April and November. These months offer warm water temperatures, calmer seas, and the best visibility, often exceeding 30 metres. For those eager to see sharks, the months between June and September are peak for hammerhead sightings, especially at Daedalus Reef, while October to December is prime time for oceanic whitetips, particularly at Elphinstone.

Water Temperature

Water temperatures in the Red Sea vary depending on the season:

In summer (June to September), the water ranges from 26°C to 30°C, ideal for diving in thinner wetsuits.

In winter (December to February), the temperature drops to around 22°C to 24°C, so a thicker wetsuit or even a dry suit might be necessary.

Visibility

Visibility in the central Red Sea is one of its biggest draws, often ranging from 20 to 40 metres. The clarity is particularly good during the summer months, making the colourful coral walls and pelagic sightings even more stunning.

Currents

One of the key challenges of diving in the Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone is the strong currents, which can be unpredictable and vary from site to site. These currents, however, are part of what makes the area so special, bringing in nutrient-rich waters that support its abundant marine life. Divers should be comfortable with drift diving and experienced in managing currents, as some sites, particularly at the Brothers Islands, can have fast-moving waters.

Experience Level

The Red Sea Marine Parks are generally recommended for advanced and experienced divers due to the strong currents, deep walls, and remote location. Many liveaboards require divers to have a minimum of 30 to 50 logged dives before participating in trips to these sites. For those up to the challenge, these marine parks provide a once-in-a-lifetime diving experience.