Elphinstone - what is it like in late october?

[Christian]

I will be at hurghada. I think Elphinestone is reachable from there by boat? Or is another reef better?

By liveaboard yes, but not by day-boat. You need to be based in the Marsa Alam-region to reach Elphinstone by dayboat, which is about a three hours highway car journey South of Hurghada.

 

[Boyan]

Don’t do that. You can see in my video that the shark got curious to him & he turned around and look at the shark just in time to make the shark turn away from him. You need to keep your eyes on them, otherwise this what would happen to you (see the video, below).

Thats good advice but what if there are multiple sharks circling you, you keep switching so each one knows you see it? Also I read the advice to show sharks your back so they bite your bottle... kind of the opposite advice.

Puh... Check with your dive shop if they have this trip available. I don't think so as it's a long, long way... 230 km approx. That's nothing you will do with a zodiac or one of the regular dive boat.
I thought James & Mac are doing this but from their website they are only going as far as Panorama Reef / a bit south of Safaga. Even Orca Dive in Somabay does not offer that site because it's to far away.
Other offers on the web are taking the divers by car down south (to Abu Dabbab or nearby ???) and then with a 20 min Zodiac ride to Elphinstone.
If Elphinstone is a must, i would stay somewhere nearby, Abu Dabbad area, e.g. Marsa Shagra.
If it has to be Hurghada, i would focus on the remote spots and on the wrecks in that area.

What is your fav in Hurghada region?

Guess why the guide who do this day in day out for a living wears a helmet....

Dive guide or the one from the video feeding sharks?

It is reachable by boat but it will be a 7 day liveaboard.

Ahh thats no good, but I will probably rent a car for a few days anyway, maybe Ill just drive where it will be close.

Hurghada is very resort and mostly day sites with some dolphins. Nothing else really.

I would go liveaboard if you seek currents sweeping you directly into jaws

There are dive sites with dolphins? How close do they get?

Marsa Alam

I think I can reach that by car. I will probably rent a car.

 

[Dan]

Thats good advice but what if there are multiple sharks circling you, you keep switching so each one knows you see it? Also I read the advice to show sharks your back so they bite your bottle... kind of the opposite advice.

My dive buddy & I would be back-to-back.

You saw in the video what happened when you lose eye contact with the shark. He was lucky that the shark was just curious on the shiny tank, not his head. If you are not facing on the shark, how would you be sure that the shark would bite on the tank, not on your fishy smelling head?

Another thing to consider is the color of your gear. Sharks seem to be interested in shiny, white or yellow (things that look like fish or fish flesh (filet)). We are instructed to wear black / blue gears (wetsuit, fins, etc.). If you have a blond hair, wear a black hood. If your skin is white, wear black gloves & boots.

 

[Boyan]

My dive buddy & I would be back-to-back.

You saw in the video what happened when you lose eye contact with the shark. He was lucky that the shark was just curious on the shiny tank, not his head. If you are not facing on the shark, how would you be sure that the shark would bite on the tank, not on your fishy smelling head?

Another thing to consider is the color of your gear. Sharks seem to be interested in shiny, white or yellow (things that look like fish or fish flesh (filet)). We are instructed to wear black / blue gears (wetsuit, fins, etc.). If you have a blond hair, wear a black hood. If your skin is white, wear black gloves & boots.

Do they make sure on such dives that there is nothing shiney, like regulators and bottles? D rings even. Probably lots of shiney things.

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

Thats good advice but what if there are multiple sharks circling you, you keep switching so each one knows you see it? Also I read the advice to show sharks your back so they bite your bottle... kind of the opposite advice.

You never dive alone... You know the hand signs for "F...ing Big Shark Behind You" (Google it)

Do they make sure on such dives that there is nothing shiney, like regulators and bottles? D rings even. Probably lots of shiney things.

No, they don't because that equation is not that straightfoward i.e. shiny reg = shark attack = yummy lunch for shark.
I did not change anything on my equipment, i had shiny reg, shiny bottle, plenty of D-Rings, ... and guess what: i survived several longimanus.
I am getting the feeling that you are too much focusing on this shark thing. First, there are far more fascinating things to discover under water, second, these sharks at Elphinstone are not always there, waiting for divers for a snack. You may not see any.

Ahh thats no good, but I will probably rent a car for a few days anyway, maybe Ill just drive where it will be close.

Have you ever drove a car in Egypt? how many days do you plan to go down to the Marsa Alam Area? in what hotel/resort? better i.e. cheaper and safer will be to get a private transfer.
Consider that it is not showing up at a dive shop and getting brought to Elphinstone one hour later. The dive shops have their schedule and not every day is Elphinstone day. And you will need a check dive before you can dive on your own - meaning with a budy, of course or with a private guide.

There are dive sites with dolphins? How close do they get?

The Red Sea is full of dolphins. You can encounter them everywhere. There are few sites where they use to be to rest and access is strictly regulate.
But you can also encounter them in the wild - at their convenience. And if they fancy, they will come close to you to play a little. How close? so close that you can see the texture of their scin and every single scar. And the amused look in their eyes to meet such a slow and awkward creature, trying so hard to keep pace....

 

[Dan]

Do they make sure on such dives that there is nothing shiney, like regulators and bottles? D rings even. Probably lots of shiney things.

No worry about little shiny things. Sharks (other than Whalesharks) have no interest in anchovies nor bubbles (I have seen a Whaleshark gulping my bubbles, thinking those bubbles were food). Your white hands look like big enough fish for shark to bite on. So, make sure you wear black gloves.

 

[Christian]

Thats good advice but what if there are multiple sharks circling you, you keep switching so each one knows you see it? Also I read the advice to show sharks your back so they bite your bottle... kind of the opposite advice.



What is your fav in Hurghada region?


Dive guide or the one from the video feeding sharks?

Ahh thats no good, but I will probably rent a car for a few days anyway, maybe Ill just drive where it will be close.

There are dive sites with dolphins? How close do they get?

I think I can reach that by car. I will probably rent a car.

Driving in Egypt will be far more dangerous than diving with a pack of Longimanus. Now with that said, the stretch from Hurghada to Marsa Alam is fairly quite. I had a friend residing in Cairo … that was very dangerous driving.

 

[Sascha314]

Afaik gloves are not permitted to wear in egypt. Stumbled across this rule with several operations. Apparently a state law in order to save corals from being touched ....



Read this thread, because I consider to take a day boat trip to Elphinstone in december. I want to prepare myself, if there are any kind of sharks, as I have no experience with them..

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

@Sascha314
You are right regarding the gloves. I haven't seen gloves in Egypt for years, even not with wreck divers.
You don't need any experience with sharks to dive there: the guides will brief you and you will follow and do what you are told.

 

[Boyan]

You never dive alone... You know the hand signs for "F...ing Big Shark Behind You" (Google it)

Heh, I googled it, hope I get to use it before I forget. Kind of wordy for such a situation.

I am getting the feeling that you are too much focusing on this shark thing. First, there are far more fascinating things to discover under water, second, these sharks at Elphinstone are not always there, waiting for divers for a snack. You may not see any.

I know, I hope to see a manta and other things, Id love to see some reef sharks. But I feel like safety wise this might be a good thing to focus on. I am still not sure if I should do it. Maybe if I feel great on some coast dives Ill decide.

Have you ever drove a car in Egypt? how many days do you plan to go down to the Marsa Alam Area? in what hotel/resort? better i.e. cheaper and safer will be to get a private transfer.

Not in Egypt but I have driven a lot in Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey, Italy and I have even driven in Nepal. I think I can handle Egypt. But I will not do Nepal driving again tbh.

Consider that it is not showing up at a dive shop and getting brought to Elphinstone one hour later. The dive shops have their schedule and not every day is Elphinstone day. And you will need a check dive before you can dive on your own - meaning with a budy, of course or with a private guide.

Yes of course, I will probably need to leave at like 6am or even earlier.

The Red Sea is full of dolphins. You can encounter them everywhere. There are few sites where they use to be to rest and access is strictly regulate.
But you can also encounter them in the wild - at their convenience. And if they fancy, they will come close to you to play a little. How close? so close that you can see the texture of their scin and every single scar. And the amused look in their eyes to meet such a slow and awkward creature, trying so hard to keep pace....

Do they come over to touch you? Sounds awesome. Are they also found on elphinstone?

Driving in Egypt will be far more dangerous than diving with a pack of Longimanus. Now with that said, the stretch from Hurghada to Marsa Alam is fairly quite. I had a friend residing in Cairo … that was very dangerous driving.

I can handle crazy driving to a degree. If its like eastern europe or Turkey its not problem. If its like Nepal or India with cows or camels on the "highway" I might opt for a service.

Afaik gloves are not permitted to wear in egypt. Stumbled across this rule with several operations. Apparently a state law in order to save corals from being touched ....

Thats very surprising. Don't you need gloves to prevent touching fire coral? Why would gloves make you more likely to touch coral?