A beautiful large offshore dropping reef offering a range of dive options and certainly providing some great photo opportunities on the right day.
Elphinstone sits in very deep water. With a plateau at the south end beginning at 20m and running down in an "arrowhead" formation to 35m at its southern most point and another plateau at the north end this reef is always an excellent dive (even when you don't see the whale shark). The current here is somewhat unusual in that it normally runs from south to north, so the best option is to enter the water from the on the south plateau.
Morning dives are best made by heading up the east side and afternoon dives up the west side. This takes maximum advantage of the position of the sun and therefore the light on the reef.

The south plateau is a good place to look for silky sharks, white-tip sharks and grey reef sharks. Shoals of black snapper tend to stay closer to the reef wall and whilst the sharks and large lone barracuda skulk further out cruising effortlessly in the current. Oceanic white-tip sharks also tend to be frequent visitors. These open water sharks are true pelagic and if you are lucky enough to see them, encounters can be extremely close. They have a tendency to be very curious of divers and from time to time "bump" or "nose" divers, especially near the surface. Quite an experience!! The upper 15m of the reef is teeming with life. Purple and pink soft corals adorn the upper plateaus and along both the east and west walls the drop offs are vertical. Large gorgonian fan corals favour the 20-30m depth range, arcing gracefully in the current. All manner of marine life inhabits this reef - jacks, tuna and trevallie patrol, whilst blue lunar fusiliers glint in the blue water. Then of course there is always the chance you may see a whale shark!!!
Currents can range from neglible to very strong here, so for safety we require divers to have demonstrated good bouyancy control before diving Elphinstone Reef.

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