Route Description - Brother Islands-Safaga
The Brother Islands – Safaga route combines some of the Red Sea’s most exciting big fish and wreck diving. Explore the dramatic walls and vibrant corals of Big and Little Brother, with opportunities to encounter hammerheads, thresher sharks, grey reef sharks and oceanic whitetips. Wreck enthusiasts can explore the Aida and Numidia, before continuing to Safaga for spectacular dives at Abu Kifan, Panorama Reef and the historic Salem Express.
Brother Islands
The Brother Islands are among the Red Sea’s most spectacular dive destinations, with Big Brother and Little Brother rising dramatically from the open sea. Their steep walls are covered in colourful hard and soft corals, sponges and anemones, attracting abundant reef life and sharks including hammerheads, threshers, grey reef sharks, silvertips and whitetips. The islands are also home to the Numidia and Aida wrecks. Strong currents and potentially rough conditions make the Brothers best suited to experienced divers.
Numidia
The Numidia is a spectacular 150-metre wreck resting along the northern reef of Big Brother after striking the island in 1901. Its dramatic position on the steep reef creates an impressive multi-level dive, with the wreck increasingly covered in hard and soft corals and gorgonians. Its remote location, depth and exposed conditions make it a highlight for experienced wreck divers.
Aida
The Aida offers a unique wreck-diving experience, standing almost upright on the sloping reef of Big Brother as though it were deliberately parked there. The wreck ranges from around 25 to 57 metres and remains remarkably intact, despite having rested on the reef for decades. Increasing coral growth is gradually transforming the ship into part of the surrounding reef.
Shaab Sheer
Shaab Sheer combines a sheltered southern lagoon with more exposed areas and stronger currents along its western side. The shallow reef features a striking brain-coral landscape inhabited by Picasso triggerfish, parrotfish, filefish and wrasses. Deeper areas around the northern plateau and steep wall attract bream, snappers, mackerel, tuna and barracuda.
Panorama Reef
Panorama Reef features dramatic walls and expansive northern and southern plateaus rich with marine life. Large mountain and table corals support thousands of anthias, while the surrounding waters may reveal barracuda, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, turtles, moray eels and crocodilefish. The southern plateau offers a more sheltered dive, with huge gorgonians, anemones and occasional stonefish.