Elphinstone Reef (Shaab Shagra)

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Shape of landscape
Elphinstone reef extends some 300m in length and is one of the best dive sites in the south of Egypt. Its spectacular walls plunge vertically on both sites to more than 100m and are covered in beautiful soft corals. Fish life includes milions of anthias, Napoleonfish, large tuna and schools of jacks and snappers. Shelving plateaus booked the reef. The south plateau features a garden of soft corals, gorgonians and long curvy sea whips bewteen 20 and 40m. Also keep an eye out for the tresher shark. There is an archway between 50 and 60m. The ocasional oceanic whitetip shark can visit this site. Draped in colorful soft corals the north plateau drops in stages from 8, 25 to 40m and more. Be aware that the current is often very strong, especially at the point. When conditions are right whitetip- and grey reef sharks visit the site. If you are lucky hammerheads might cruise through.
Dive Navigation
NORTH
Two pinacles are on the north side of Elphinstone, the first at 42 m. You then swim back along a series of plateaus at diminishing depths . Look out for sharks, especially Oceanic White Tips which are somethimes seen here along with their pilot fish. Other things to see inlcude barracuda, emperor angel fish, zebra angel fish, hoards of anthias, beautiful soft corals, big groupers, giant morays and shoals of suez fusiliers.

SOUTH
The plateaus of the south features a garden of soft corals, and look carefully for the colourful nudibranchs here. Sharks lurk at the tip. You can swim down the west side of the reef, and back up the east.
At the south end of Elphinstone is an archway. It's deep - 65 m - and contains a rock looking very like a sarcophagus.

EAST
The east side is a great drop-off with huge gorgonia and yet more soft corals. There is some damage at the southern tip though. This can make a good, gentle (depending on the current obviously) drift dive. Large maori (napoleon) wrasse may escort you.

WEST
The west is less steep and slightly sandier than the East. Again, huge gorgonia and corals. There are lots of overhangs and small caves. Titan triggerfish patrol and squirrel fish inhabit the overhangs. At around 15 m are many siderea grisea eels. A lovely dive with the possibility of seeing turtles.
Summary
Elphinstone reef means diving at a place where you can meet it all: hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks are circling around the northern plateau. At the southern plateau you can meet a cave in deep water. The western and eastern walls are covered with soft corals and all the life the Red Sea has got to offer. Thousands of anthias blocking your view while a turtle swims along. Elphinstone reef is a great place for diving and is quite close to the Egyptian coastline...........happy bubbles!

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