Located about 70 km from El Quesir, these two islands offer spectacular diving. The sheer reef walls are covered with a very healthy mix of hard and soft corals, including massive sea fans and black coral bushes. They attract a variety of reef organisms, which in turn are an important food source for resident and visiting pelagics.
While Small Brother is uninhabited and more pristine, Big Brother holds a lighthouse and military station, with a minimum of 4-5 people stationed here at all times.
Despite the fully functional lighthouse, two ships crashed into this island in the 20th century, leaving two dive-able wrecks: the Numidia (sank 1901) & the Aida II (sank 1957).
The wreck of the Numidia ranges from ~18 â 85 metres, while the stern section of the Aida lies between ~30-60 metres. Other traces of these two shipwrecks are strewn across the shallows, by now overgrown with marine life.
Exposed and often windswept, the Brothers can be challenging dive sites; with potentially rough surface conditions and/or strong currents.
Shark Week ‘Best of the Red Sea’ November 2025 Liveaboard
Brothers – Daedulus – Elphinstone
24th November to 1st December 2025
Red Sea – The Authentic Shark Week
Not only will you be on the best Liveaboard in the Red Sea but this itinerary combines some of the best dive sites for spotting large pelagics such as a variety of shark species, and one of the most unspoiled reefs in the Red Sea. This is where it gets itâs itinerary name âBest of the Red Seaâ.
Youâll discover deep drop-offs, wall dives, and the chance to see schooling hammerheads, dolphins, oceanic white tips, thresher sharks, grey reef sharks, and possibly silkies. Get away from the crowds at these remote offshore reefs and soak up the winter sun on this amazing trip. This is a dive trip for thrill seekers!
About the Red Sea Shark Week Diving Holiday
The week will offer the opportunity to: – Enjoy fantastic diving on some of the most unique Red Sea reefs. Experience potential close encounters with sharks, dolphins and fingers crossed, manta rays. You must be a minimum of Advanced Open Water with 35 recent dives to join this diving holiday.
DATES AND PRICES
24th November to 1st December 2025
The price based on a twin / double shared cabin including 7 nights accommodation, all meals, and soft drinks, snacks, 6 days guided diving with approx 17 dives, tank, and weights is ÂŁ1,995 per person.
The authentic Shark Week
Our Red Sea Shark weeks are ran by the legendary Dr. Elke Bojanowski, owner of the charity ‘Red Sea Shark Trust’. As well as guiding you to the sharks, she will conduct several talks in between dives and allow you to contribute to her studies and shark protection.
Hosted by our friend, biologist Dr Elke Bojanowski (AKA the Shark Lady) who has been in the Egyptian Red Sea since 2004 and also heads up the fantastic charity www.redseasharks.org. As well as taking you to see sharks up close and personal she will do regular talks throughout the week on the different shark species in the Red Sea, how to dive with sharks safely, why sharks are so important to the health of our oceans, the plight of sharks and how you can help her research.
This liveaboard holiday explorers the reefs further South which offer a very good chance of encounters with sharks and Dolphins, on one recent trip we managed to swim amongst a pod of 100 or so for around an hour â simply breathtaking!
For this trip we will be aboard the luxurious yacht Scuba Scene. M/Y Scuba Scene is a steel-hulled liveaboard, 48 m long and 9 m wide., fitted to rigorous safety standards. She is spacious, comfortable and beautifully laid out, with a maximum capacity for 26 diving guests. Two large speedboats fitted with tank racks and dive ladders are supporting the diving activities.
This trip is not for the feint-hearted, if youâve never dived with sharks before it can be quite daunting the first time you enter the water. As soon as you see your first shark the adrenaline kicks in but very quickly you soon realise that they are not the blood thirsty creatures portrayed by the media and fictional books. In fact once your heart stops thumping like a racehorse, you soon see that they are fascinating creatures, often very shy and is an experience that you will never forget.
THE BOAT: SCUBA SCENE
Beautifully laid out across her four decks, she has large air-conditioned en-suite cabins, most of which can be laid out as a twin or double room. There are also superb features including an outdoor pool (yes, you read that correctly!), jacuzzi, cinema & video games room, saloon with huge TV for briefings and restaurant quality food.THE BOAT: SCUBA SCENE
She is spacious, comfortable, and beautifully laid out, with a maximum capacity for 28 diving guests. Two large speedboats fitted with tank racks and dive ladders make life easier for divers â no more being hauled into a rib and face-planting on the dive gear. With no bedrooms on the lower deck, it means engine noise wonât spoil your sleep!- Swimming pool
- Jacuzzi
- Cinema room
- Bar deck
- Spacious cabins
- Friendly and experienced staff
- 2 x RIBS with ladders and equipment racks
- The authentic Shark Week, in association with the Red Sea Shark Trust
- 48m long steel hull for stability
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Year of Building: | 2019 |
| Boat Design Category: | Motor Yacht |
| Port of Registry: | Safaga, Egypt. |
| Dimensions: | Length 42 m, Width 9.75 m |
| Hull Material: | Steel |
| Superstructures Material: | Wood |
| Crew: 12 Persons: | Captain, Mechanical Engineer, 2 Chief Cook, 2 Waiters, And 6 Sailors. |
| Engines: | 2 x Doosan, each one 1000 HP |
| Speed: | 14 knots |
| Generators: | 3 (1 x 175 KW â 1 x 140 KW â 1 x 60 KW Super silent) |
| Compressors: | 3 x Coltri 315 lt. |
| Nitrox: | Nitrox membrane filling system |
| Zodiac: | Two Speed boat 6.5 m, 2 outboard motors 40 HP each. |
| Safety Equipment: | Warning and fire extinguishing system; fire extinguishers; life jackets in each Cabin; two safety rafts for 25 persons each. |
| Fresh Water: | Desalination unitâs for 22000 lt. fresh water. + 2 water maker 8000 lt per day |
| Navigation and Communications: | VHF radio, DSC, GPS, radar, echo depth-sounder. Epirb |
| Number of Decks: | 4 |
| Number of Passengers: | 32 |
| Accommodation: | 16 x twin cabins with A/C and en-suite bathrooms. (8 cabins downstairs, 4 cabins main deck, 2 cabins top deck with and 2 Honeymoon Suites) |
| Saloon Facilities: | Separate lounge, A/C, Bar, Cooler, TV, Music sound system, DVD |
| Dining area: | Separate Restaurant, A/C |
Intinerary
Red Sea Dive Sites
Elphinstone Reef
Highlights:
- Shark sightings, particularly oceanic whitetips and hammerheads
- Pelagic species, with occasional encounters with whale sharks and manta rays
- Lush, colorful soft corals
Brothers Islands
Highlights:
- Frequent shark sightings, especially threshers and oceanic whitetips
- Wreck dives suitable for both recreational and advanced divers
- An operational lighthouse
Daedalus Reef
Highlights:
- Hammerhead sharks, with both year-round residents and seasonal schools
- A pristine reef featuring impressive hard coral formations
- An active lighthouse
Sample itinerary:
**PLEASE NOTE** the itinerary below is an example of the planned route and dive sites cannot be guaranteed. All dives sites are subject to weather conditions and the final route taken is at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides. Adverse weather can affect this route which includes several overnight sailings.
This itinerary will depart from and arrive to Port Ghalib. Please note that ports are subject to change.
Day 1 â Visit dive sites local to your departure port for three dives (a check dive, practice zodiac dive and night dive) before heading out to the marine parks.
Days 2-5 â We normally plan to spend a day each at Daedalus, Brothers and Elphinstone area. Normally you will have the opportunity to make three dives per day (night dives are not permitted in the marine parks).
Day 6 â After a week of drop-offs, enjoy two relaxed morning dives local to your arrival port allowing you to cruise into harbour in the early afternoon. Take advantage of an evening onshore to purchase souvenirs and enjoy Egyptâs famous hospitality before your journey home the next day.
This huge tear-drop shaped reef rises from the sea bed in the middle of the Red Sea, 80km offshore and more than 300km south of Hurghada. Easily recognised by its zebra-striped lighthouse, this reef offers some of the most amazing dives in the Red Sea. The sheer walls are covered in over-grown hard coral formations and a variety of reef fish.
Napoleon wrasses and turtles are often cruising by, but make sure you keep your eyes open on the blue! Daedalus is one of those places where anything can happen⌠oceanic white tip, grey reef and thresher sharks are often sighted, but Daedalus is most famous for its scalloped hammerhead sharks which can often be seen in large schools out in the blue during the summer months. The sheer size of this reef means that you can do several dives here and never get bored!
**PLEASE NOTE** the itinerary below is an example of the planned route and dive sites cannot be guaranteed. All dives sites are subject to weather conditions and the final route taken is at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides. Adverse weather can affect this route which includes several overnight sailings.
This itinerary will depart from and arrive to Port Ghalib. Please note that ports are subject to change.
Day 1 â Visit dive sites local to your departure port for three dives (a check dive, practice zodiac dive and night dive) before heading out to the marine parks.
Days 2-5 â We normally plan to spend a day each at Daedalus, Brothers and Elphinstone area. Normally you will have the opportunity to make three dives per day (night dives are not permitted in the marine parks).
Day 6 â After a week of drop-offs, enjoy two relaxed morning dives local to your arrival port allowing you to cruise into harbour in the early afternoon. Take advantage of an evening onshore to purchase souvenirs and enjoy Egyptâs famous hospitality before your journey home the next day.
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
DAEDALUS REEF
This huge tear-drop shaped reef rises from the sea bed in the middle of the Red Sea, 80km offshore and more than 300km south of Hurghada. Easily recognised by its zebra-striped lighthouse, this reef offers some of the most amazing dives in the Red Sea. The sheer walls are covered in over-grown hard coral formations and a variety of reef fish.
Napoleon wrasses and turtles are often cruising by, but make sure you keep your eyes open on the blue! Daedalus is one of those places where anything can happen⌠oceanic white tip, grey reef and thresher sharks are often sighted, but Daedalus is most famous for its scalloped hammerhead sharks which can often be seen in large schools out in the blue during the summer months. The sheer size of this reef means that you can do several dives here and never get bored!
BROTHER ISLANDS
Besides the two wrecks and the spectacular coral walls and diversity of reef fish, a variety of pelagics can be found around these islands, either year-round, seasonally, or completely randomly.
Among them are Pelagic thresher sharks (year-round), Grey reef sharks (year-round), Oceanic whitetip sharks (seasonally, mainly Oct-Nov) and Whale sharks (randomly), to name just a few.
ELPHINSTONE REEF
A Red Sea legend; a finger shaped reef, with north and south plateaus covered in hard and soft corals, unpredictable and exciting this truly is an awesome reef where hammerhead sharks are regularly spotted in the summer and oceanic whitetip sharks often congregate in large numbers during late autumn.
Cost includes
- Transfer from/to the airport
- 7-night accommodation on board
- Meals & snacks on board
- Water, soft drinks, tea & coffee
- Standard 12l cylinder (DIN/INT) & air fills
- Weights (& weight belts, if required)
- Marine Park & Port Fees
Cost excludes
- Tourist visa (to be paid on arrival at the airport or in advance)
- Nitrox fills (can be prepaid)
- Rental equipment (can be prepaid)
- Diving Courses (can be prepaid)
- Onboard merchandising
- Alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities for crew & guides
What sort of people will be going on the trip?
There is generally a real mix of people from different backgrounds and dive experience. Our customers tend to be good fun, are not âdiving geeksâ, can be any age (as long as they are fit enough to dive) and have a sense of adventure. There is normally a fairly even split between men and women.
What are the other costs?
Your trip includes flights, accommodation, transfers, guides, tanks, weights, all meals and soft drinks. The only additional costs are alcohol, Nitrox (optional at ÂŁ90 per week) and sometimes we go out for dinner on the last night but you can eat on the boat if you prefer.
Will I get eaten by a Shark?
It is highly unlikely that any sharks will take an interst in you. There are very few shark attacks in the world. In fact the most dangerous part of the holiday is travelling on the M25 to the airport! If you are scared of Sharks then feel free to hide behind one of our instructors. There are more people killed by vending machines then by sharks each year!
As part of Elke’s talks is how to dive safely and responsibly with sharks.
What if I havenât done 35 logged dives?
No problem. Just join us for a few of our weekends away. Lets say you have only done 4 open water dives and therefore need another 31. If you do 4 dives in a weekend then it will only take about 8 weeks. You will also need to have completed your Advanced course which includes 5 dives and can be done with us before the trip.
Will there be any other single people there?
The majority of people on the trip will be travelling alone. We will happily put you in a cabin to share with someone of the same sex and similar age/mindset.
What do we do when weâre not diving?
There is a great sun deck, a cinema room with DVDâs and plenty of books to enjoy. There is also plenty of room if you wish to escape for a while and sit and listen to your i-pod. Most people hang out on deck and enjoy the chat and a few cold Sakara’s or a Sprite.
What if a friend/partner wishes to come but they donât dive?
No problem but there is no price reduction unfortunately.
When do I need to book by?
As soon as possible. There are only 24 places and they are on a first come first serve basis!
Do I need a VISA?
It is your responsibility to check that you have the correct visa. You can now apply for a visa online (https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/) or for people with EU passports the visa can be collected at the airport in Hurghada (currently $25).
Qualifications required
You must be a PADI Advanced diver or equivalent with a minimum of 35 logged dives to join this safari. If you are not at this level yet â donât worry, you can complete your Advanced course in one weekend with us and with a few more weekends of pleasure diving youâll have plenty of dives too! Many of the dives will be from a RIB.