Brothers Islands Diving — Egypt

The Brothers Islands are two remote pinnacles 60km offshore, accessible only by liveaboard. Hammerheads school at 40m, oceanic whitetips patrol the blue, and the walls are draped in spectacular soft corals. With some of the strongest currents in the Red Sea, this is strictly for experienced divers — and the shark action is the reward.

Score
63.3 / 100
Country
Egypt
Region
Red Sea
Area
Red Sea
Nearest airport
Hurghada (HRG)
Visibility
20–30 m
Water temperature
22–29 °C
Max depth
40 m
Current strength
moderate
Dive types
reef, wreck, shore, pelagic
Best months
May, June, July, August, September
Minimum certification
Open Water
Access type
boat
Average 2-tank dive cost
$150 USD
Budget tier
mid range
Key species
whale shark, hammerhead, whale
Google rating
0 (0 reviews)
Top operators
Emperor Divers, Blue O Two
Nearest hyperbaric chamber
Hurghada Hyperbaric Medical Center (~200 km)
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World Class
Intermediate
Brothers Islands
EgyptRed Sea
63.3

SCORE

26.3200°N

34.8500°E

The Brothers Islands are two remote pinnacles 60km offshore, accessible only by liveaboard. Hammerheads school at 40m, oceanic whitetips patrol the blue, and the walls are draped in spectacular soft corals. With some of the strongest currents in the Red Sea, this is strictly for experienced divers — and the shark action is the reward.

The Red Sea's Shark Pinnacle

Visibility20–30 m
Temperature22–29°C
Max Depth40 m
Currentmoderate
2-Tank Dive$150
Best MonthsMay, June, July, August
CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score Breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

ML47.0CH71.0VIS89.0SV60.0TMP66.0DA62.0OP73.0TS66.0GT68.0VAL43.0CRD57.0SP57.0

Marine Life

47.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity
48
Megafauna Encounters
56
Reef Fish Abundance
74
Macro Life
0
Endemic Species
35
Marine Life Diversity
47.0
Coral & Reef Health
71.0
Visibility & Conditions
89.0
Dive Site Variety
60.0
Water Temperature
66.0
Depth & Access
62.0
Operator Quality
73.0
Topside Experience
66.0
Getting There
68.0
Value & Cost
43.0
Crowding
57.0
Social Proof
57.0

Key Species

whale sharkhammerheadwhale

Dive Types

reefwreckshorepelagic

Traveling with Non-Divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for Non-Divers

liveaboard deck time only — no landing on islands

Non-Diver Partner Score

1/10

Dedicated dive destination — not ideal for non-divers.

Family FriendlyNot recommended
Restaurants & Nightlifenone

Safety & Emergency

Dive Insurance

Dive insurance is essential. Standard travel insurance often excludes scuba diving. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) for comprehensive dive accident coverage.

Learn More at DAN.org
Hyperbaric Chamber200 km — Hurghada Hyperbaric Medical Center
Nearest Hospital200 km

Liveaboard-only; 8-12 hrs to Hurghada; some liveaboards carry emergency O2 and DAN insurance is essential

Skill LevelIntermediate
Current Strengthmoderate

Top Operators

Emperor Divers

PADI

4.8
380 reviewsNITROX

Blue O Two

PADI

4.7
310 reviewsNITROX
Compare This Dive Site
Current conditions
9/10
Waves0.52 m
Swell0.08 m
Wind27.9 km/h
Air23.1°C
Clear sky
9d ago
Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives
60+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification
Advanced Open Water
“Egypt's best pelagic diving. Hammerheads, spectacular wreck, oceanic whitetips. Liveaboard or nothing.”

What will challenge you

  • →Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
  • →Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 40 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
  • →Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.
  • →Nearest hyperbaric chamber is ~200 km away. Evacuation is slow. Dive conservative profiles and get DAN insurance before you fly.
  • →Open Red Sea crossing is rough. The reward is empty sites and big sharks.

What will surprise you

  • →Thermoclines can drop water temp by 7°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.
Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: strong. Optimal window: Jun-Nov for sharks. Liveaboard only — 6-8 hours from Hurghada..

Morning
  • Viz
    high
  • Current
    moderate
  • Crowd
    empty
  • hammerhead schools
  • Numidia wreck
  • wide angle

Big Brother and Little Brother — tiny islands in open Red Sea. Numidia wreck on Big Brother is 130m draped down the wall. Hammerheads at north plateau.

Afternoon
  • Viz
    high
  • Current
    moderate
  • Crowd
    light
  • Little Brother sharks
  • wall dives
  • pelagic encounters

Little Brother is the sharky one. Afternoon south face for grey reef, thresher, oceanic whitetips.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month Viz (m) Temp (°C) CurrentSea RainConfidenceHighlights
Jan21–2422ModModWet55%conditions vary
Feb21–2422ModModWet55%conditions vary
Mar22–2522ModChopLight65%conditions vary
Apr22–2624ModCalmDry78%conditions vary
May22–2726ModCalmDry88%conditions vary
Jun22–2827ModCalmDry88%conditions vary
Jul23–3029ModCalmDry88%conditions vary
Aug23–3029ModCalmDry88%conditions vary
Sep23–2929ModCalmDry88%conditions vary
Oct22–2727ModCalmDry78%conditions vary
Nov22–2526ModChopLight65%conditions vary
Dec21–2424ModModWet55%conditions vary
Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects33
Wide angle84
Viz stability76
Hover friendliness70
Natural light62

Recommended kit

  • →Wide-angle or fisheye (8-15mm range), dual strobes for close-focus wide angle
  • →Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone
Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget
$2,250–$3,100

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US)
$810–$990
Accommodation / day
$50–$100
Diving / day
$130–$150
Food / day
$15–$30
Transfers + misc
$50–$150
Mid-range
$3,350–$5,000

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US)
$1,150–$1,450
Accommodation / day
$120–$220
Diving / day
$150–$200
Food / day
$35–$65
Transfers + misc
$50–$150
Splurge
$5,600–$8,700

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US)
$1,800–$2,200
Accommodation / day
$260–$500
Diving / day
$200–$260
Food / day
$75–$150
Transfers + misc
$50–$150

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here