Wrecks
Chrisoula K
Another Greek ship which sank in 1976, now laying in 30m is fully laden with stone floor tiles and sometimes called the ‘tile’ wreck for obvious reasons. Early morning divers may find a white tip reef shark sleeping under the rudder at the stern. Be weary of very limited and small entry/exit points into the engine room, however, penetration of the wreck is not recommended due to the unstable nature of the wreck. GPS 27°34’.92’’N, 33°55’.76’’E
Carnatic
A British P & O steamer which struck the reef in 1869. and sank the next day as the weather worsened. She was a passenger and mail ship and is sometimes known as the ‘wine’ wreck for the numerous bottles once found in the holds, sadly not many now remain to be seen. Rumor has it that she sank with forty thousand pounds sterling of gold bullion, much of which was never recovered. She lays in 29m and now the whole hull is draped in multicoloured soft corals and the inner areas are full of glass fish complete with red mouthed grouper sentinel. One davit supports a beautiful table coral. The wreck is now home to large grouper, octopus and morays and jacks and tuna cruise overhead. GPS 27° 33‘45“N, 33° 55‘37“O
Ghannis D
This Greek freighter hit the reef in April 1983 and over the course of two weeks slowly broke in two and sank. She is the most dived wreck here, Laying in 28m and leaning to port with a fully intact stern section and an impressive engine room packed with glass fish. Locally known as the 'wood' wreck for the cargo it was carrying when it sank. The bow is also very interesting but is a long swim out. She is a great wreck for penetration but beware of disorientation due to the angle at which she lays. Be weary of the many lion fish and scorpion fish that call this wreck home and watch out for the strong surges in and around the wreck in rough weather. GPS 27° 34‘25“N, 33° 55‘75“O
Thistlegorm
Sunk by German bomber planes in World War Two, SS Thistlegorm has lain at the bottom of the sea for over sixty years. Located in the Straits of Gubal, Northern Red Sea this famous vessel has been the subject of much activity and drama during its two lives as both a seagoing merchant ship and as a world-class diving site.
Despite extensive public knowledge and interest in Thistlegorm, it will continue to inspire a sense of mystery. Jacques Cousteau's visit in 1955 remains the subject of much discussion and like the legend himself Thistlegorm continues to attract speculation and controversy from beyond the grave.
Located on a bed of just thirty metres in good visibility this is the perfect wreck dive where much of the original cargo still remains. The bow is just fifteen metres below the surface and the propeller at twenty-seven. Measuring over four hundred feet long.
Divers can explore the ship's holds where time has seemingly stood still. Motorbikes, trucks, guns and wartime cargo, never to reach its destination, lay stacked where it was loaded back in 1941.
Kimona M
Not a lot is known about this wreck except that it struck the reef in 1981 and is locally known as the 'lentil' wreck for the cargo she carried. Lying in 31m and completely on its starboard side exposing its huge hull on one side and gaping cargo holds on the other. Growth on the hull is fairly sparse due to the position and current. Large morays live in the scattered remains of wreckage on the starboard side and bat fish circle the topside. Most of the fish in the vicinity of the wreck are overweight from dining on the lentils leaching from the sacks once contained in her holds. GPS 27°34’.98’’N, 33°55’.88’’E
Rosalie Moeller
Build in 1910 as Francis and namechange to Rosalie Moeller in 1931. Length around 330 feet. Sunk at the 8th of October 1941 just 2 days after the Thistlegorm. Mostlikely hit by a bomb on the right side it went down in the red sea. This wreck lies at the north side of gubal island in a depth from 90 to around 150 feet.
Traveltime from El Gouna is around 2,5 hours and can only be discovered by experienced divers. As the wreck is not frequently visited its nealy untouched and corals start growing. Sometimes bad visibility and medium to strong current. GPS 27° 39‘00“ N, 33° 46‘30“ O