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Elphinstone North Plateau

Elphinstone Reef, Marsa Alam offshore, Egypt
AOW suggestedStrong currents20–40 m depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Elphinstone North Plateau at a glance

Elphinstone North Plateau is a advanced boat dive site in Elphinstone Reef, Marsa Alam offshore, Egypt with depths of 20–40 m (66–131 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Oceanic whitetip shark, Grey reef shark, and Scalloped hammerhead. Recent reports put the water around 30°C (85°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 4h ago
0.2 mwaves — under half a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 30°C · seasonal avg 30°C

Site hazards: Strong currents · Down-currents · Drift exit

All 4 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sat
Sun9:00–20:00
Mon7:00–20:00
Tue7:00–20:00
Wed7:00–20:00
Thu7:00–20:00
Fri7:00–20:00
Sat7:00–20:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:39 · Sunrise 6:04 · Sunset 19:29

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 2.5 km from site · graded 4h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: Grey reef shark, Gorgonian fans, Bluefin trevally
Best time: May to October

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan72%24°C1.1 m
  2. Feb46%23°C1.3 m
  3. Mar71%23°C1.0 m
  4. Apr67%24°C1.0 m
  5. May57%25°C1.1 m
  6. Jun81%27°C0.9 m
  7. Jul92%30°C0.7 m
  8. Aug69%31°C1.0 m
  9. Sep63%30°C1.1 m
  10. Oct73%28°C1.1 m
  11. Nov78%27°C0.9 m
  12. Dec82%25°C1.0 m

July hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • Oceanic whitetip sharkOccasionally seen
  • Grey reef sharkCommonly seen
  • Scalloped hammerheadOccasionally seen
  • Gorgonian fansCommonly seen
  • Bluefin trevallyCommonly seen
  • Napoleon wrasseOccasionally seen

  • Cheilinus undulatus recorded here Aug, Nov (4 records)

    most recent 2014

  • Carcharhinus longimanus recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2004

  • Pterois volitans recorded here May, Aug (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Rhincodon typus recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2004

  • Sphyraena lucasana recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2004

  • Balistapus undulatus recorded here Aug (1 record)

    most recent 2004

  • Carcharhinus albimarginatus recorded here Jan (1 record)

    most recent 2013

  • Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos recorded here Dec (1 record)

    most recent 2019

Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Site details

The northern tip of cigar-shaped Elphinstone tapers into a finger-like plateau between roughly 20 and 40m, best reached by dropping in north and drifting onto it. Purple dendronephthya, brown soft corals, gorgonians and crowds of redtooth triggerfish flutter in the current here. Reef sharks and, in season, oceanic whitetips cruise the plateau edge.

drift

Strong currents

Down-currents

Drift exit

Exposed open water

Reviews

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