Elphinstone Reef

Cigar-shaped reef 12 km off Marsa Alam, 375 m long and aligned north south with vertical walls dropping past 100 m on either side. The south plateau slopes from 18 m to 40 m and is the autumn rendezvous point for oceanic whitetip sharks — the site's signature animal — which cruise the surface from October through December. The north plateau steps down to 30 m before plunging, and a current swept saddle joins the two tips. Hammerheads school here in summer, threshers and silvertips appear in the blue, and red Dendronephthya soft corals carpet the overhangs. A memorial to diver Arno Wallaard sits on the south plateau. Strong, variable currents and the depth profile make it advanced only.