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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Brothers Islands location page.
Overview
Tiny rock pinnacle 70 km offshore in southern Egyptian Red Sea, the country's southernmost island and the most remote stop on the Deep South liveaboard circuit. Sheer walls plunge from 5 m to over 800 m, fed by open ocean currents that draft pelagic traffic onto the reef. Oceanic whitetip sharks patrol the blue from October through December, often shadowed by pilot fish; scalloped hammerhead schools queue at depth in summer. The east wall is the signature dive: strong drift, grey reef sharks at cleaning stations, schooling barracuda, and big tuna. Liveaboard only.
Briefing note
Liveaboard only, no day boats. Foul Bay crossings are committing open ocean; check sea state before booking shoulder season trips. The island is uninhabited and landings are not permitted. Strong currents and the lack of shelter mean the dive guide will call sites based on conditions; if Rocky is unsafe the boat will reroute to Zabargad or St John's. Oceanic whitetips can be inquisitive; brief on shark behavior and avoid trailing gear.
What you'll see
10 species curated- seasonalOceanic whitetip sharkPeak: Oct · Nov · Dec
- seasonalScalloped hammerheadPeak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- year-roundGrey reef shark
- seasonalSilky sharkPeak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- rarePelagic thresher
- rareManta ray
- rareBottlenose dolphin
- year-roundGiant barracuda
- year-roundGiant moray
- year-roundGreen turtle
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22–24 °C | 25–35 m | moderate |
| Feb | 21–23 °C | 25–35 m | moderate |
| Mar | 22–24 °C | 25–40 m | moderate |
| Apr | 23–25 °C | 25–40 m | moderate |
| May | 25–27 °C | 30–40 m | moderate |
| Jun | 27–29 °C | 30–40 m | strong |
| Jul | 28–30 °C | 30–40 m | strong |
| Aug | 28–30 °C | 30–40 m | strong |
| Sep | 27–29 °C | 30–40 m | strong |
| Oct | 26–28 °C | 25–40 m | moderate |
| Nov | 24–26 °C | 25–35 m | moderate |
| Dec | 23–25 °C | 25–35 m | moderate |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Gear for this site
Beyond the basic kit- SMB and long reel — Most dives end as the current drifts you off the wall into open water; every diver shoots their own marker for zodiac pickup.
- Nitrox certification — Pelagic action happens at 25 to 40 m on the corners; EAN32 buys meaningful bottom time across 3 to 4 dives a day.
- Reef hook — Strong current sweeps the east and south corners where the sharks queue; hook in to watch without burning gas fighting the flow.
Next step
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