Wreck diving
Hurghada offers quite a variety of wrecks. Due to the central location of Hurghada it is possible to reach all the following wrecks within full day trips.
S.S. Thistlegorm:
Type: cargo boat / Building year: 1940 / Sinking: 06.10.1940 / Depth: max. 31 meters / Length: 131 meters / Width: 18 meters
Cargo: reinforcements for the British troupes in the 2nd World War (Bedford cars, BSA WDM 20 motorcycles, airplane parts, weapons and ammunition)
The S.S. Thistlegorm was carrying reinforcements for the 8th army which was fighting against Erwin Rommel and his German corps in Africa. In the night of the 6th of October 1940 the ship was anchoring in the protection of the Sha’ab Ali reef when a German Heinkel HE 111 bomber found it. The S.S. Thistlegorm was hit in the 4th hold loaded with grenades and ammunition. This hit caused a huge explosion tearing the hull in two pieces. In 1956 the Thistlegorm was rediscovered by Jacques Cousteau and became famous through the movie "Silent World".
Rosalie Moller:
Type: cargo boat / Building year: 1910 / Sinking: 06.10.1940 / Depth: max. 51 meters /
Length: 110 meters / Width: 16 meters
Cargo: 4700 tons of coal as reinforcements for the British steam engines and locomotives
The Rosalie Moller became a victim of the German Heinkel in the same night as the S.S. Thistlegorm. It was sailing in the same convoy but anchored further away, close to the island of Gubal. A 2000 kg bomb hit the ship between the 3rd and the 4th hold. Because it got hit below the water line the Rosalie Moller sank almost immediately. Today it lays in an upright position in a depth of about 50 meters.
Attention: Due to the depth this wreck dive is reserved for experienced divers and is only possible with Nitrox (28% or 32%).
The Wrecks of Abu Nuhas:
Ghiannis D:
Type: cargo boat / Building year: 1969 / Sinking: 19.04.1984 / Depth: max. 21 meters / Length: 99 meters / Width: 16 meters
Cargo: precious woods (Teak an Mahogany)
The Ghiannis D. crashed into the reef of Sha’ab Abu Nuhas on the 19th of April 1984. It could hold itself half swimming on the surface for six weeks but during a storm it broke into three pieces and sank. Bow and stern are still in a very good condition but the middle part is only a heap of rubble. Today the wreck leans toward its port in an angle of 45°.
Carnatic:
Type: steam boat / Building year: 1862 / Sinking: 14.09.1869 / Depth: max. 28 meters / Length: 89 meters / Width: 13 meters
Cargo: 230 passengers, wine bottles and coins of about 40.000 Indian Pounds
The Carnatic was on the way from Suez to Bombay when it crashed into the reef during a storm. One day later, on the 14th of September 1869 the ship broke into two pieces because of the weight of the water already inside. Today the Carnatic lays on its bow side in an angle of 90°.
Chrisoula K.
Type: cargo boat / Building year: 1953 / Sinking: 1981 / Depth: max. 24 meters / Length: 101 meters / Width: 15 meters
Cargo: 3700 tons of tiles
The Chrisoula K. was on the way from Italy to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia when it crashed into the reef of Abu Nuhas due to a navigation mistake. It could hold itself for a couple of weeks on top of the reef before it broke apart and sank. The bow of the ship stood on top of the reef for five years before the weather conditions destroyed it completely.
Kimon M.
Type: cargo boat / Building year: 1852 / Sinking: 12.12.1987 / Depth: max. 31 meters /
Length: 106 meters / Width: 14 meters
Cargo: 4500 tons of lentils
The exact circumstances of the misfortune that caused the sinking of the Kimon M. are not known. The ship was on the way from Iskender, Turkey to Bombay, India. It is supposed that it crashed with full speed into a wreck already sunken in front of the reef.
El Mina
Type: minesweeper / Building year: 1955 / Sinking: 06.02.1970 / Depth: max. 30 meters /
Length: 58 meters / Width: 8,50 meters
The wreck of the El Mina lays directly in the harbor of Hurghada. The minesweeper was anchoring when it got hit on its stern side by an Israeli Mirage III and sank on the same day.
Excalibur
Type: safari boat / Building year: unknown / Sinking: 15.12.1995 / Depth: max. 22 meters /
Length: 35 meters / Width: 7 meters
The Excalibur was anchoring when a short circuit caused a fire. Even though the shore was close by, help came too late. The boat sank on the morning of December 15th in 1995. Today it lays in an upright position in a depth of 22 meters.
MS Balena
Type: safari boat / Building year: unknown / Sinking: 12.04.2001 / Depth: max. 10 meters /
Length: 41 meters / Width: 7 meters
For 28 years the MS Balena was a provision ship before it was reconstructed as a safari boat. It sank on the 12th of April 2001 close to the shore.
Because the ship lays in a shallow area it is perfectly suitable for a third dive. We offer this dive during our "Mini Wreck Tour".
Hebat Allah
Type: cargo boat / Building year: unknown / Sinking: 07.08.2004 / Depth: max. 45 meters / Length: 51 meters / Width: 8 meters
The Hebat Allah is the first artificial wreck in the Red Sea. It was sunk on the 7th of August 2004 and lays now in a depth of 45 meters. Before that the ship was standing on a reef off the shore of Hurghada.
Attention: Due to the depth this dive is for experienced divers with Nitrox certification only.
Fischkutter:
Es gibt ein neues Wrack vor Hurghada, einen alten Fischkutter.
Nachfolgend die erste Eindrücke über und unter Wasser.
