Diving the Brothers Islands: Egypt’s Twin Pinnacles of the Red Sea

Torben Nicolai Lonnenne 2025Uncategorized

In the southern Red Sea, about 60 miles off the Egyptian coast near El-Quseir, two tiny islands rise from the deep: the Brothers Islands. Remote, wild, and only accessible by liveaboard, these are among Egypt’s most legendary dive destinations.

Big Brother & Little Brother

The larger island—Big Brother—stretches only 1300 feet (400 m) long. Its only residents are a crew of rotating Egyptian soldiers, fulfilling tours of duty by manning the lighthouse. Just north lies Little Brother, even more compact, but equally famous among divers.

These islands aren’t your typical sandy islets. They’re true pinnacles, dropping vertically into hundreds of feet of water. No lagoons, no beaches—just sheer walls covered in coral.