Marine Life & Conservation
Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone: what to expect on the route
Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone are offshore reefs in Egypt's southern Red Sea, famous for steep walls, strong currents and pelagic sharks. Brothers and Daedalus are liveaboard destinations; Elphinstone is also visited by day boat from the Marsa Alam coast. Daedalus's lighthouse was first built in 1863 and rebuilt in 1931; the Brothers' lighthouse dates from 1883. The route suits experienced divers: Advanced Open Water or 50+ logged dives.
By 71 Guardians · Published 29 Oct 2026
Where are the reefs, and what are the lighthouses?
The Brothers are two small islands in open sea; their lighthouse was built by the British in 1883 and renovated in 1993. Daedalus Reef, further south, has a lighthouse first built in 1863 and rebuilt in 1931. Elphinstone is a long reef closer to the coast near Marsa Alam.
What will you see?
Walls covered in soft corals and sea fans, schools of reef fish and, with luck, oceanic whitetip, grey reef and hammerhead sharks. Oceanic whitetips are critically endangered and need careful behaviour — see our article on them before you go.
Who is the route suitable for?
Offshore currents and depth make this a route for confident divers. We ask for Advanced Open Water or 50+ logged dives, good buoyancy and a surface marker buoy you know how to use.
How do you prepare?
- Practise deploying a surface marker buoy (DSMB) before the trip.
- Consider Nitrox — longer no-decompression times on repetitive deep days.
- Make sure your dive insurance covers liveaboard trips far from shore.
How do you book the route with us?
Our Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone route and its available weeks are on the Liveaboards page.
Frequently asked questions
Can beginners do the BDE route?
It isn't suited to new divers; we ask for Advanced Open Water or 50+ logged dives.
Will I see hammerhead sharks?
Possibly, but sightings are never guaranteed — sharks are wild and seasonal.
Can you visit the Brothers on a day trip?
No; they're far offshore and only reached by liveaboard.
Questions before you dive with us?
Message our team on WhatsApp — we're divers in Hurghada and happy to help.
Chat with us on WhatsAppSources
- Brothers Islands Lighthouse — Wikipedia
- Daedalus Reef — Wikipedia
- Diving in Marsa Alam: 6 Reasons to Visit This Egyptian Destination — PADI