Like the pyramids onshore, Red Sea delivers on an epic scale

Perched impossibly upright on a vertical reef wall, festooned in a vibrant mix of soft corals and sponges and patrolled by an array of pelagic predators, the shipwreck of the cargo vessel Numidia is simply breathtaking.

This colossus, which has been embedded into the north point of the island Big Brother since 1901, promises to be the star turn during a week’s diving on board Red Sea Aggressor. But it’ll have stiff competition from some of the world’s most pristine soft-coral growth on nearby Little Brother, and the likelihood of thrilling encounters with sharks such as oceanic whitetips, hammerheads and threshers at the vast Daedalus Reef.

Big Brother and Little Brother — two pinnacles of rocky reef that protrude out of the Egyptian Red Sea some 60 miles offshore — are the only games in town; there’s simply nothing else around apart from these two barren outcrops, which rise up from the depths and lie about a mile apart. Both are magnets for fish of all shapes and sizes, though Big Brother has the added draw of the Numidia and a second shipwreck, the Aida.

Similarly remote, Daedalus is a gigantic circular reef barely breaking the surface of the Red Sea, and its sheer walls are famed for shoaling hammerheads and massive manta rays, not to mention the odd appearance by roaming whale sharks.

Elphinstone might not be as distant — it’s possible to see the Egyptian mainland in the distance — but this long, narrow reef, which has vertical walls down the sides, has plenty of colorful coral to see, and it boasts an ace in the hole: majestic oceanic whitetip sharks patrolling the area.

We were certainly on the right boat to explore these open-to- the-elements dive sites. The 120-foot-long yacht has been outfitted to the highest standards and offers a comfortable base from which to explore the Red Sea. The salon is sumptuously furnished, the sun decks have plenty of room for everyone, and the Aggressor RIBs are equipped with boarding ladders to make getting back in easier after an hour or so of incredible diving.

Trip Highlights

Day 1 Make time to meet the crew and your fellow passengers, get into the liveaboard way of life, and take your first “hit” from the addictive Red Sea diving experience.

Day 2 I defy anyone to not be left blown away by the sight of the Numidia, a monster freighter embedded perfectly upright into the north point of Big Brother.

Day 4 Nothing beats hanging in the blue at 100 feet off the north face of the enormous Daedalus Reef, surrounded by curious shoaling hammerhead sharks.

Day 6 Get your game face on for close encounters — and I mean really close — with predatory oceanic whitetips off the southern plateau of Elphinstone.

Red Sea Aggressor

Total passengers: 20

Cabins: seven deluxe staterooms, two master staterooms

Total crew: 12

Length: 120 feet

Beam: 26 feet

Trip Tips

Why Weight? The Red Sea is saltier than most other seas and oceans, so be sure to do a thorough weight check. As a rough guide, you will generally need a couple of pounds more than you usually use.

Can’t-Miss Views After a great day of diving, nothing beats relaxing on the sun deck with an ice-cold bottle of Sakara Gold (the premier local beer) to watch the sun set and see firsthand how the Red Sea gained its name.

Catch My Drift Due to their location, the marine-park reefs can sometimes be swept by extremely strong currents. Always carry a delayed surface-marker buoy and know how to launch one proficiently.

Culture Vulture You can’t travel all the way to Egypt and not venture out to some of the ancient attractions. The Aggressor team can assist with visits to the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Nile River.