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Brother Islands The Brother Islands are one of the best diving spots in the world. The Islands - the Big Brother and the Little Brother - are two small isolated islands that lie 1 kilometer apart. They come out of the water in the middle of the sea at some 140 km from the coast. Here you will see an extremely high concentration of underwater life. There is a whirlwind of color among the walls which are covered in sponges, anemones and all varieties of soft coral. Usual sightings include hammerheads, thresher, greys, silvertip and white tip reef sharks. On the west side of Big Brother, there is a lighthouse which is the only landmark for miles around. The Numidia wreck is found on the northern side of Big Brother Island. This 150 meter long ship sunk over 100 years ago and lies between 10 and 80 meters. It is completely covered with gorgonias and soft & hard corals. At the northwest side of the island you will find the other wreck. The 82 meter long steam ship sunk in 1957. The remaining pieces of the wreck are scattered all over the reef and just the back side of the hull can be found between 30 and 60 meters. It is nicely overgrown and well worth a visit. High waves and strong currents make it difficult to dive at the Brothers and it is recommended for experienced divers only. The Great Island Tour The Great Island Tour not only takes in The Brother Islands (as described above), but also visits Daedalus Reef, Rocky Island and Zabargad Island. Daedalus Reef is a huge reef formation that lies 180 km south of the Brother Islands. The reef is surrounded by a sheer wall, with a plateau on its southern side that goes from 30 meters, beside the reef, to 40 meters at the drop off. Reef and hammerhead sharks are often spotted here and the underwater life here is abundant, with schools of surgeons, fusiliers, carangids and much more. Rocky Island is a mythical site that represents every diver's dream. The fringing reef that circles the entire perimeter of the island drops steeply to an astonishing depth and the constant currents that flow all year long favor the growth of all different kinds of life in a continuous struggle for a place on the reef. The walls are covered with the most beautiful soft corals, as well as gorgonias, fans, sponges and black coral trees. Due to its isolated situation and the reduced dimensions of the reef wall, everything seems to concentrate on the surroundings of this small islet. Reef sharks, especially greys and silvertips, can be seen in the blue and manta rays, sailfish and dolphins can also be sighted here. The Island of Zabargad is a superb dive spot. Here you can dive along walls, hover over drop offs or dive slowly in the shallow area, watching the fish and admiring the coral garden. At the north side of Zabargad lies a nameless wreck. The 70 meter long ship lies in 24 meters of water. The whole stern section is nearly intact- stairs, rail, davit and the bridge. North Safari (Wreck Tour) The "Thistlegorm" is probably the most famous wreck in the world. The British ship was on the way to Egypt to bring military equipment of all kinds for the British troops in North Africa, when on 6th October 1941 a German bomber attacked. Now the wreck is lying upright on the sea bottom at a depth of 30 meters. Especially interesting is the cargo - tanks, trucks, motorcycles, weapons, railway carriages and one railway engine. The Reef at Abu Nuhas is famous for wrecks. There are 4 wrecks here, which are today an attraction point for divers all around the world. The Greek cargo ship "Giannis D", which ran aground on the reef on 19th March 1983 and sank a short time afterwards. It is now lying at a maximum depth of 27 meters and is overgrown with hard and soft corals. The ship cracked in the middle and the more interesting of the two halves is the stern section. Here it is easy to dive inside the wreck, as there are a lot of entry and exit points. The steamship "Carnatic" struck the reef in September 1869. She sank the following day as the weather worsened. She lies in 24 meters of water. She has broken up amidships, leaving her bow and stern intact. The decking has fallen away to be replaced by a thick growth of tube sponges, alcyonarians and occasional table corals, making her very photogenic. She is also laid open to light from above and is easily penetrated. The marine park, Ras Mohammed, offers dreamlike diving spots, which include Shark Reef and Jolanda Reef. Both reefs are standing on a plateau, which is 20 meters deep. The edges of the plateau fall down to more than 200 meters. On the reef you will find soft corals and plenty of fish. With luck you can also see sharks during your early morning dive. At Jolanda Reef you can dive the cargo of a Cypriot freighter "Jolanda" which ran aground in 1980 which was carrying a large quantity of household toilets! Deep South (St. John's safari) Deep, down in the south (near Rocky Island) are the St. John's Reefs. Due to the long distance, this reef group is quite virginal and here you will also find exciting drop offs. The wall of one of the reefs is overgrown with big gorgonias, the wall of the other reef is overgrown with all kinds of colorful soft corals. There are also a large quantity of fish on the reefs and out in the blue you can see the "big fish" - hammerheads, grey sharks, silvertip and white tip reef sharks, and barracuda, tuna and mackerel. Manta rays and dolphins have also been seen here. Due to the amount of traveling to and from St. John’s, and to take full advantage of the area, it is advisable to do a 10 or 13 day safari. South Safari The reef at Elphinstone is one of most beautiful reefs in Egypt. The north and the south plateaus of this reef are alone worth the visit to Egypt. On the wall and the drop off you will find a lot of spectacular colorful soft corals, as well as black corals and due to the remote location of the reef you can see the "big fish". It is not unusual here to find hammerheads, grey sharks, barracuda and dolphins. Shaab Sharm has got very steep walls, a lot of diversity and the possibility to encounter sharks and other big fish. On the east side of the reef you will find a plateau at 30 meters, which is overgrown with soft corals. Here you can see schools of barracuda, snapper and grouper. Shaab Samadai (Dolphin House): At this reef you find different diving spots - drop offs, shallow reefs and caves. The reef is horseshoe shaped and inside the sheltered lagoon you can often see large pods of dolphins. Shaab Maksur: The south plateau offers a superb diving site, with three coral pinnacles, which are overgrown with red soft corals. The pinnacles contain several caves and crevices where glassfish, groupers, morays and other creatures can hide among the soft corals and gorgonias. Fish are also plentiful and large schools of carangids, surgeons and other small fish can be seen here. With luck you can see sharks at the edge of the plateau. Abu Galawa: Here a wreck lies in 18 meters, which sank in the 1950's. It is so overgrown with all kinds of hard corals, that it takes a little bit of time to recognize the bridge, rail and the funnel of the ship. The wreck is very appealing for every photographer. Abu Galawa is also a great spot for night diving. Shaab Claude: This reef is fun - it has multiple caves, passages and canyons. The underwater landscape is fantastic. Diving inside the caves at Shaab Claude is safe as they are wide and spacious. The distance between the different cave entrances is short and lots of shafts in the ceiling let the sunbeams illuminate the magical setting. The Best of The Red Sea Tour Daedalus Reef is a huge reef formation that lies 180 km south of the Brother Islands. The reef is surrounded by a sheer wall, with a plateau on its southern side that goes from 30 meters, beside the reef, to 40 meters at the drop off. Reef and hammerhead sharks are often spotted here and the underwater life here is abundant, with schools of surgeons, fusiliers, carangids and much more. Rocky Island is a mythical site that represents every diver's dream. The fringing reef that circles the entire perimeter of the island drops steeply to an astonishing depth and the constant currents that flow all year long favor the growth of all different kinds of life in a continuous struggle for a place on the reef. The walls are covered with the most beautiful soft corals, as well as gorgonias, fans, sponges and black coral trees. Due to its isolated situation and the reduced dimensions of the reef wall, everything seems to concentrate on the surroundings of this small islet. Reef sharks, especially greys and silvertips, can be seen in the blue and manta rays, sailfish and dolphins can also be sighted here. The Island of Zabargad is a superb dive spot. Here you can dive along walls, hover over drop offs or dive slowly in the shallow area, watching the fish and admiring the coral garden. At the north side of Zabargad lies a nameless wreck. The 70 meter long ship lies in 24 meters of water. The whole stern section is nearly intact- stairs, rail, davit and the bridge. Brother Islands & Elphinstone Tour The Brother Islands, tops of two undersea mountains rising from the depths, are located about 50 nautical miles offshore, at the height of the town of Quseir. A part of the Marine Park, they offer breath taking underwater scenery, wall diving along their whole perimeter and the possibility to spot a wide variety of pelagics. Their walls are covered in soft corals, creating a true feast for the eyes. Big tuna, shoals of jack fish and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by hammerheads, grey reef sharks, silver tip sharks, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. The thresher shark, an oceanic species, very rarely spotted to close reefs, circles the walls of the Brothers on a regular basis. The huge and spectacular moonfish can also be observed near the reefs. Nobody can ever get tired of diving the Brothers Islands. Even wreck lovers get spoilt on the Brothers. The Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Namibia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. They are covered in soft and hard corals, and are a real treat. Due to the strong currents and possibility of high waves, this safari is best for experience divers. The Elphinstone Reef, a truly legendary reef, is one of the most beautiful reefs in the Red Sea, with its north and south plateaus, and its walls covered in soft corals, black corals, wire corals and gorgonians. Hammerheads, oceanic white tip sharks and grey reef sharks can also be spotted here on a regular basis. Brother Islands, Elphinstone & Daedalus Tour The Brother Islands, tops of two undersea mountains rising from the depths, are located about 50 nautical miles offshore, at the height of the town of Quseir. A part of the Marine Park, they offer breath taking underwater scenery, wall diving along their whole perimeter and the possibility to spot a wide variety of pelagics. Their walls are covered in soft corals, creating a true feast for the eyes. Big tuna, shoals of jack fish and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by hammerheads, grey reef sharks, silver tip sharks, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. The thresher shark, an oceanic species, very rarely spotted to close reefs, circles the walls of the Brothers on a regular basis. The huge and spectacular moonfish can also be observed near the reefs. Nobody can ever get tired of diving the Brothers Islands. Even wreck lovers get spoilt on the Brothers. The Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Namibia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. They are covered in soft and hard corals, and are a real treat. Due to the strong currents and possibility of high waves, this safari is best for experience divers. The Elphinstone Reef, a truly legendary reef, is one of the most beautiful reefs in the Red Sea, with its north and south plateaus, and its walls covered in soft corals, black corals, wire corals and gorgonians. Hammerheads, oceanic white tip sharks and grey reef sharks can also be spotted here on a regular basis. Daedalus Reef is a huge reef formation that lies 180 km south of the Brother Islands. The reef is surrounded by a sheer wall, with a plateau on its southern side that goes from 30 meters, beside the reef, to 40 meters at the drop off. Reef and hammerhead sharks are often spotted here and the underwater life here is abundant, with schools of surgeons, fusiliers, carangids and much more. ElWasseem Special Safaris
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