Wreck Diving

Special wreck trips

If you want to dive the famous wrecks of Abu Nuhas, the Thistlegorm or the Salem Express, we can arrange these activities for an add-on charge to your dive package. These wreck excursions depend on calm weather and a minimum of 6 participants. Please, let us know if you are interested, so we can try to organize one during your stay here.

Thistlegorm

This British built ship was bombed and subsequently sank overnight on 6th Oct 1941. She came to rest on the sea bed at a depth of 30m. Discovered by Jacques Cousteau in 1955 and then lost again, she was finally rediscovered in           
1974, and when the site co-ordinates were made public in 1992, divers started to visit her on a regular basis. By this point, GPS made trips more hit than miss! Stacked with supplies for the army who were positioned in Cyprus, she had to go in via the Suez due to the occupation of the Mediterranean. A small hold up in the Suez Canal meant SS Thistlegorm waited on a safe anchorage point and prepared to continue her journey the next morning. It was never to be. One of the best wrecks in the world, its one you shouldn’t miss if you are in Sharm. With Two dives on Thistlegorm (one orientation and one penetrating the wreck) and an optional third dive, this is one memorable dive day

El Mina

Thee El Mina is evidence of the war between Egypt and Israel. The El Mina was a minesweeper, which was in the port at anchor, when it was hit and sunk by an Israeli bomb.          
The El Mina can be explored in peace, whilst that area is just 60 m long. Beginning at the deepest place, one can clearly recognize by the air defense cannons that the El Mina was not intended for passenger transportation. Over the starboard side one approaches the explosion site within the bow. Here is the only suitable entrance into the El Mina. On the foredeck is the base of a cannon, which has been sheared off.

Salem Express

The Salem Express was with 1105 gross register tons and a length of 100 meters one of those typical, large ferry boats, which are often used in the Middle East. It was equipped with two engines, and the drive was carried out by two shafts and propellers.     
It was a tragic navigational mistake, which caused the demise of the Salem Express. The ship came from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and wanted to call at the port of Safaga. Only eleven kilometers away from the port of destination, the ferry ran aground at full speed on the westernmost coral block of the Hyndman reef.

Other wrecks

Liveaboards are able to access wrecks which the daily boats cannot reach. Check our section on diving safaris for information on some alternative wreck dives and for pure wreck safaris