Elphinstone Reef is a short boat trip from Marsa Alam. It generally takes about 45min-1hr depending on weather conditions and exactly where you depart from. The reef itself is pretty much on its own in this area and as such attracts an awesome range of fishlife and pelagics. Elphinstone is a long thin reef which barely pokes its head above the surface at high tide. The reef has stepped plateaus at both the north and south ends and sheer vertical drop-offs to the east and west descending to over 70m. Elphinstone is famous for its semi-resident population of Oceanic White Tips. My husband worked in Marsa as a dive instructor for almost a year and only once was at Elphinstone without the sharks - so you're pretty much guaranteed an encounter. Diving with a shark in the water is awesome and the thrill increases when there are 3 or 4 (or more) swimming around you! On the eastern side of the reef you will also find fine examples of gorgonian fans corals (25-40m) so suitable for advanced openwater divers and above. Encounters with the large napoleon wrasse are common and the standard Red Sea fare of lion fish, box fish, puffers, antheas, cornet fish and barracuda are all but guaranteed. In peak season the reef can be pretty busy with day trips from the local resorts as well as liveaboards heading north or south. My husband has seen 19 boats all moored at the Southern Plateau so congestion can be a problem. A liveaboard is an excellent option as many overnight at Elphinstone giving you the advantage of night and dawn dives as well as less traffic after the day trippers leave. Diving around Marsa is excellent with turtles, dolphins and the occasional dugong sighting but diving Elphinstone is the biggest buzz of all.