Discovery I · Egypt · 8D7N
Embark on a thrilling dive safari to the legendary offshore marine parks of the southern Red Sea. This classic itinerary targets the iconic trio of Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone, renowned for their deep walls, strong currents, and exhilarating pelagic encounters. This trip is geared towards experienced divers comfortable with drift and deep diving conditions. Expect spectacular coral-covered pinnacles and wrecks, with a high chance of spotting oceanic whitetip, thresher, and hammerhead sharks in the blue.
Board the vessel in Hurghada and settle into your cabin. You will receive a welcome briefing from the crew, set up your dive gear, and enjoy dinner. The boat will prepare for an overnight sailing to the south, beginning the journey towards the remote Brothers Islands.
Arrive at the Brothers Islands for the first dives of the safari. The day often includes exploring Big Brother, home to the impressive Numidia and Aida II wrecks. These historic vessels are now fantastic artificial reefs, completely covered in vibrant soft corals and teeming with glassfish, providing a stunning start to the adventure.
Dive sites: Numidia Wreck, Aida II Wreck
A full day is spent exploring the waters around the two islands. Dives often focus on Little Brother, a conical pinnacle whose walls are draped in a dense forest of fan corals. The surrounding deep water and cleaning stations attract a variety of pelagic species, offering chances to see thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips, and grey reef sharks.
Dive sites: Little Brother
After an overnight cruise south, the day is dedicated to diving the legendary Daedalus Reef. This large, isolated reef is famed for its pristine hard coral gardens and, most notably, the chance to encounter schools of scalloped hammerheads off its northern point, especially in the early morning.
Dive sites: Daedalus Reef
The morning offers further opportunities to dive Daedalus, with its steep walls and rich fish life. After the morning's dives, the vessel begins the journey northward, cruising towards the final iconic site of the trip, Elphinstone Reef. Daedalus Reef is characterized by its large, isolated circular reef rising from the seafloor. Divers can expect to encounter an abundance of schooling fish, vibrant hard and soft corals, and a high probability of spotting various shark species, including hammerheads, grey reef sharks, and oceanic whitetips, particularly around the northern plateau.
Dive sites: Daedalus Reef
Arrive at Elphinstone Reef, a long, finger-like reef famous for exhilarating drift dives. Its sheer walls are covered with purple and pink soft corals, while the north and south plateaus are well-known gathering spots for sharks and other large pelagics, swept by strong currents.
Dive sites: Elphinstone Reef
The final one or two dives of the trip are usually conducted in the morning, often at Elphinstone or another suitable site en route back to port. After the last dive, the crew will rinse equipment as the boat begins its final cruise back towards the Hurghada marina.
Enjoy a final breakfast on board before packing and saying goodbye to the crew and fellow guests. Disembarkation takes place in Hurghada. Hurghada serves as a major port and dive hub in the Red Sea. Although disembarkation day, the waters surrounding Hurghada are known for their calm conditions and diverse shallows, offering a mix of fringing reefs and coral gardens teeming with reef fish, turtles, and occasional pelagic sightings at outer sites.