Daedalus & Elphinstone Shark Safari
The shark frontier of the Red Sea
Date
October 17–24, 2026
Duration
7 nights
Vessel
M/Y Celesta
Spots
19 of 24 remaining
From
€1,999 €1,500
The Experience
What Awaits You
You are in the water before the sun clears the horizon. The northern plateau at Daedalus drops away below you — 30 metres, 35, 40 — and the blue out beyond the reef edge is the kind of blue that has no bottom. You settle at 32 metres, neutrally buoyant, breathing slowly, watching. Two minutes pass. Three. Then the first hammerhead appears from the left, a silhouette at the edge of visibility, followed by another, and another, until you count fourteen moving in a loose formation across the cleaning station. They pass close enough to see the ampullae on their heads, the slight flex of their caudal fins, the remoras pressed flat against their bellies.
By midday, Celesta is the only vessel moored at the reef. The lighthouse — black and white stripes faded by a century and a half of salt air — stands on the exposed reef flat above. You eat lunch watching a frigatebird circle the tower. The dive guide is reviewing the afternoon plan: a wall drift along the eastern face, then a late dive near the mooring line where the oceanic whitetips have been seen all week.
Two days later, at Elphinstone, you are hovering at 25 metres on the south plateau when an oceanic whitetip materializes from the gloom, pilot fish tucked tight beneath its pectoral fins. It approaches in a slow arc, unhurried, passes within three metres, and continues on as if you were simply part of the reef. You hang there, weightless, watching it dissolve back into the blue, and the silence afterward feels earned.
The Itinerary
Day by Day
Embark at Port Ghalib
Board M/Y Celesta at Port Ghalib marina (Marsa Alam) in the afternoon. Safety briefing, cabin assignments, and equipment setup. Welcome dinner on board as we prepare for the journey south and offshore.
Check Dive at Abu Dabab — Sail to Daedalus
Morning check dive at Abu Dabab — a white-sand bay with resident dugongs, 120+ green sea turtles, guitar sharks, and seahorses. Equipment check and buddy pairing in 3–18m of calm, clear water. After the dive, begin the overnight sail to Daedalus Reef, 80km offshore. Briefing on Daedalus dive sites and shark encounter protocols en route.
Daedalus — Day One: Northern Plateau & Eastern Wall
First of three full days at Daedalus. Pre-dawn dive at the northern plateau (30–40m) for hammerhead cleaning station encounters in the early light. Mid-morning wall dive along the eastern face — pristine hard and soft corals, grey reef sharks, and barracuda. Afternoon drift dive. Late afternoon dive for oceanic whitetip encounters near the mooring areas. Night dive opportunity on the reef wall.
Daedalus — Day Two: Southern Point & The Zealot
Dawn dive at the southern point — the thresher shark cleaning station, where threshers ascend from the deep in the early morning light. Wall dives along the western face with gorgonian fans and soft coral gardens. For trimix-qualified divers: the Zealot wreck dive — bow at 75m, anchors at 88m, stern at 110m. Meticulous planning, CCR or hypoxic trimix, and DPV scooters recommended.
Daedalus — Day Three: Open Water Encounters
Final day at Daedalus — dedicated to maximising pelagic encounters. Dawn dive at the northern plateau for hammerheads. Mid-water dives along both walls, drifting with the current. Time spent at 15–25m near the mooring area watching for oceanic whitetips. A third day here is a luxury most itineraries cannot afford — this is where patience pays off. Begin sail to Elphinstone in the evening.
Elphinstone — Walls & South Plateau
Arrive at Elphinstone Reef. Morning drift dive along the eastern wall — sheer vertical coral dropping beyond 100m. Second dive at the south plateau (25–35m) for oceanic whitetip encounters — October is peak season. Afternoon drift dive along the western wall with its ledges, caverns, and black snapper. Technical divers can explore the Arch at 52–65m.
Elphinstone & Coastal Dives — Sail North
Early morning dive at Elphinstone's northern plateau for hammerheads at dawn. Final wall dive to complete the circuit. Sail north towards Hurghada with an afternoon dive on a coastal reef en route — conditions permitting. Final evening dinner on board, log-book session, and farewell gathering.
Checkout & Departure
Final breakfast on board. Checkout and disembark at Hurghada marina. Airport transfers provided. Departure at your leisure.
Itineraries are indicative. Actual routes and dive sites may vary based on weather, currents, and sea conditions. Our crew will optimise the route in real-time to give you the best possible experience.
Dive Sites
Where You'll Dive
Sites visited depend on weather, currents, and conditions. Our crew will optimise the route in real-time to give you the best possible diving.
Abu Dabab
Rec3–20m
A white-sand bay 35km north of Marsa Alam, sheltering some of the rarest marine encounters in the Red Sea. Resident dugongs graze the central seagrass meadows alongside 120+ green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. Guitar sharks, blue-spotted rays, and seahorses. Shore entry from a sandy beach. At 3–18m with a gentle slope, it's accessible to all levels — the perfect check dive.
Daedalus Reef — Walls & Plateaus
Rec5–40m+
A 400–600m reef surrounded by open water reaching 500m depth. Walls densely covered in pristine hard and soft corals drop to 20m, then slope to 40m before plunging into the abyss. The northern plateau at 30–40m draws hammerhead schools during early morning cleaning station visits. The southern point attracts thresher sharks at dawn. Marine park status and remoteness keep the reef in extraordinary condition.
Daedalus Reef — Oceanic Encounters
Rec5–30m
Oceanic whitetips are frequent visitors to Daedalus, often lingering near mooring areas with bold, unhurried curiosity — accompanied by their characteristic pilot fish. One of only a handful of places on Earth for reliable encounters with this critically endangered species. Grey reef sharks, barracuda, trevallies, and occasional mantas complete the cast.
The Zealot Wreck
Tec (Trimix)75–110m
A 74m iron-hulled steamship — originally named Helme Park — that struck Daedalus on her second voyage in 1873, ripping away her bottom. Bow at 75m, two anchors at 88m, stern at 110m on the steep reef slope. Located in 2003 by technical diver Marcus Lohr. A largely untouched deep wreck requiring CCR or hypoxic trimix, meticulous planning, and ideally DPV scooters. Expect roughly 15 minutes on the wreck at an average depth around 95m.
Elphinstone — Walls & Plateaus
Rec5–40m+
A finger-shaped reef with dramatic vertical walls plunging beyond 100m on both sides, covered in spectacular soft corals. The eastern wall drops sheer. The western wall features ledges and caverns harbouring black snapper, soldierfish, and titan triggerfish. The northern plateau at 20m draws hammerheads at dawn. Dived as drift dives with strong north-south currents — experience in current is essential.
Elphinstone — South Plateau & Arch
Rec & Tec18–65m
The south plateau slopes from 25m to 35m — the world's best location for oceanic whitetip encounters. Below it, the Arch pierces the reef between 52 and 65m, containing a rock formation resembling a sarcophagus. Accessible to technical divers only. Passing through forces a descent to nearly 60m with the open ocean below. The plateau itself is where most encounters happen — patience at 25–30m is the strategy.
Gallery
A Glimpse of the Journey
What's Included
- 7 nights full-board on M/Y Celesta
- All meals and non-alcoholic beverages
- Up to 4 dives per day (conditions permitting)
- Professional dive guides for rec and tec groups
- Marine park fees
- Airport transfers (Hurghada)
- Dive planning and briefings
- Weights and belts
Not Included
- International flights
- Nitrox, Trimix, and specialty gas fills
- Equipment rental
- Visa fees
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
Pricing
Choose Your Cabin
Shared Double — Lower Deck
Shared twin cabin on the lower deck. Comfortable and practical — ideal for buddies or solo travellers happy to share.
Shared Double — Upper Deck
Shared twin cabin on the upper deck with more natural light and easier deck access.
Private Room — Lower Deck
Private cabin on the lower deck for single occupancy. Your own space to decompress between dives.
Private Room — Upper Deck
Private cabin on the upper deck with natural light and direct deck access. The best single-occupancy option.
Suite
Spacious suite with double bed, additional seating area, and en-suite bathroom. Price is per person based on double occupancy.
The Vessel
M/Y Celesta
Celesta is not a chartered boat we rent by the week. She is ours — a 36m, wood-hulled vessel built in 2026 to our specifications. Every detail, from the spacious dive deck with full Nitrox, Trimix, and CCR support to the Scandinavian-designed interiors, was chosen with one purpose: to create the finest platform for serious diving in the Red Sea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sharks will I see at Daedalus and Elphinstone?
When is the best time for hammerhead encounters?
What is the Zealot wreck, and who can dive it?
Is this trip suitable for beginners?
What about currents at these sites?
Ready to Dive?
Secure Your Place
19 of 24 spots remaining on the Daedalus & Elphinstone Shark Safari. Get in touch and we'll take care of the rest.
We reply within hours, not days. Ask us anything.
€1,999 €1,500
per person, shared cabin · + Flights + Gases · 19 spots left