Big Brother
One of the most iconic dive sites in the Egyptian Red Sea, Big Brother combines dramatic walls, spectacular wrecks and encounters with some of the Red Sea’s most impressive pelagic species.
El Quesir, Red sea
Egypt
Where we dived
Dive Site
Big Brother is the larger of the two remote Brothers Islands, located about 60–70 km offshore from the Egyptian coast. The island is surrounded by deep water, with steep coral walls dropping far beyond recreational diving depths. Access is by liveaboard only, and the exposed location means that strong currents are part of the experience. The island is easily recognised by its historic lighthouse and is home to two famous wrecks, the Numidia and the Aida. Both are heavily covered in coral and sit along the steep walls, offering experienced divers the opportunity to combine wreck and reef diving in the same area.
The conditions at Big Brother can be challenging, with strong and changing currents and deep water immediately beyond the reef. Dives are usually planned as drift dives along the walls or around the island’s plateaus, depending on the conditions. The southern plateau is particularly well known for pelagic encounters, where divers can spend time watching the blue for sharks and other large visitors. The combination of remote location, deep walls, strong currents and big marine life makes Big Brother a site best suited to experienced divers who are comfortable in challenging conditions.
What to expect
Dive Type
Reef, Wreck, Deep, Drift, Technical, Wall
ACCESS
Liveaboard
EXPERIENCE
Advanced, Pro, Tec
CURRENT
Strong
MAX. DEPTH
40+m
VISIBILITY
30-40m
WATER
Salt
When to visit
Best Time To Dive
Big Brother can be dived during the main Brothers Islands liveaboard season, but conditions and shark encounters vary throughout the year. Spring and autumn are often considered good periods for visiting, with the possibility of encounters with oceanic whitetip, hammerhead and thresher sharks. Water temperatures are generally around 22–30°C depending on the season.
Meet the Locals
Wildlife
Big Brother is best known for its pelagic encounters. Oceanic whitetip sharks are one of the main attractions, while hammerheads, grey reef sharks and thresher sharks can also be encountered around the island. Schools of barracuda, tuna and trevallies patrol the blue, while Napoleon wrasses, groupers and moray eels inhabit the reef. The walls themselves are covered with hard and soft corals, gorgonians and sponges, providing plenty of life even when the bigger animals are not around. The Numidia and Aida wrecks are heavily overgrown with coral and have become part of the reef ecosystem, attracting large numbers of reef fish and invertebrate
Where to Go
Dive Site Location
El Quesir, Red sea
Egypt
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BB
Spectacular, yet challenging diving. Walls, wrecks and encounters with some of the Red Sea’s most impressive pelagic species.
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Local Projects
If there is a conservation project running at this dive site, we list it here. You may consider to join or take a part to give somthing back, help preserve the place or raise awareness. There's so much we can do to help...
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