Blue Hole, Abu Talha & SS Thistlegorm
From Dahab's canyons to the world's most famous wreck
Date
September 19–26, 2026
Duration
7 nights
Vessel
M/Y Celesta
Spots
18 of 24 remaining
From
€1,899 €1,400
The Experience
What Awaits You
The descent into Abu Talha begins in turquoise and ends in shadow. You follow the reef wall down past hard corals so densely packed they look sculpted, their colours sharpening as your eyes adjust — violet, amber, a green so vivid it seems lit from within. At 25 metres the sinkhole opens beneath you, a dark mouth in the reef floor, and the temperature drops a degree as you cross the threshold into the overhead environment. Your light catches the walls of the passage ahead: narrow, encrusted, barely wide enough for your sidemount tanks.
Two days later, the landscape has changed entirely. You are descending a shotline in open water, and the Thistlegorm assembles itself below — first the masts, then the superstructure, then the vast dark hull resting on sand at 30 metres. You enter Hold 1 and your torch finds them immediately: rows of Norton motorcycles standing upright in the gloom, rubber tyres still inflated after eighty years on the seabed. A lionfish hovers above one set of handlebars as if waiting for a rider.
On the surface between dives, you sit on the dive deck sorting deco bottles and running the numbers for tomorrow's profile. The Red Sea is flat and metallic in the late afternoon light. Someone is describing the Bedford trucks in Hold 2 — the motorbikes still loaded on their flatbeds, exactly where soldiers stacked them in 1941. The crew brings tea. The sun sets without ceremony, and the wreck waits below in the dark, unchanged.
The Itinerary
Day by Day
Embark in Hurghada
Board M/Y Celesta at Hurghada marina in the afternoon. Safety briefing, cabin assignments, and equipment setup. Welcome dinner on board as we prepare for an early departure towards the Sinai coast.
Check Dive at Sha'ab El Erg — Sail to Dahab
Morning check dive at Sha'ab El Erg (Dolphin House) — spinner dolphins in the sheltered lagoon, barracuda and rays on the outer reef. Equipment check and buddy pairing. After the dive, sail north towards Dahab through the Gulf of Aqaba. Afternoon briefing on the Abu Talha sites and dive planning for the days ahead.
Abu Talha — Coral Garden & Canyon Exploration
First of two days at Abu Talha. Transfer by jeep to the site — accessible only at high tide. Morning dives on the outer coral amphitheatre (5–20m), one of the Sinai's most colourful reef systems. Afternoon dives explore the canyon entrance and sinkhole at 25m. Technical divers begin mapping the overhead passages for deeper exploration on Day 4.
Abu Talha — Technical Canyon & Abu Helal Connection
Second day at Abu Talha. Technical divers push deeper into the canyon system — narrow overhead passages with limited exits connecting to the Abu Helal network. Sidemount and CCR divers explore the deeper sections to 50m+. Recreational divers enjoy additional dives on the pristine outer reef and shallower canyon features. The extra day here is what sets this itinerary apart.
Blue Hole & Dahab Canyon
Morning dives at the Blue Hole. Recreational divers enter through the Bells and cross the Saddle. Trimix-qualified divers descend to the Arch at 52–55m — the 26m tunnel exiting to the open Red Sea with infinite blue below. Afternoon dives at Dahab Canyon: the Fish Bowl at 14m, the main canyon, and the deep exit for technical divers. Sail south overnight.
Sail South — SS Thistlegorm
Arrive at the Thistlegorm wreck site in Sha'ab Ali. First dive: orientation of the 128m wreck — the exterior, the stern gun, the blast zone where two locomotives were blown off the deck. Second dive: penetration into the holds. Hold 1 with its rows of motorcycles. Hold 2 with Bedford trucks. The engine room. A night dive on the Thistlegorm is possible if conditions allow — the wreck transforms after dark.
Thistlegorm & Coastal Dives
Morning return to the Thistlegorm for a final penetration dive — Hold 3 (ammunition), the bridge, and anything missed on Day 6. Afternoon dive on a nearby reef or wreck as conditions permit. Final evening dinner on board, log-book session, and farewell gathering.
Checkout & Departure
Final breakfast on board. Checkout and disembark at Hurghada marina. Airport transfers provided. Departure at your leisure.
Itineraries are indicative. Actual routes and dive sites may vary based on weather, currents, and sea conditions. Our crew will optimise the route in real-time to give you the best possible experience.
Dive Sites
Where You'll Dive
Sites visited depend on weather, currents, and conditions. Our crew will optimise the route in real-time to give you the best possible diving.
Sha'ab El Erg (Dolphin House)
Rec8–30m
A horseshoe-shaped reef between Hurghada and El Gouna, home to a resident pod of spinner dolphins. Morning dives offer near-guaranteed encounters in the sheltered inner lagoon. The outer reef drops off to 30m with barracuda, tuna, and blue-spotted rays. Visibility regularly exceeds 40m. The ideal check dive.
Abu Talha Canyon
Rec & Tec5–50m+
A site 17 minutes north of Dahab by jeep, accessible only at high tide in calm conditions — keeping the corals in pristine condition. The outer coral garden (5–20m) is an amphitheatre of extraordinary colour and variety. The inner canyon is technical: a sinkhole at 25m, hard coral walls dropping to 50m, narrow overhead passages connecting to the Abu Helal network. Excellent for sidemount, CCR, and overhead environment training. We spend two full days here.
Dahab Blue Hole
Rec & Tec5–130m+
A submarine sinkhole approximately 130m deep, one of the world's most iconic dive sites. Recreational: enter through the Bells, follow the wall south, cross the Saddle at 7m. Technical: the Arch at 52–55m, a 26m-long tunnel opening to the open Red Sea. On clear days, the light pouring through the tunnel entrance is otherworldly.
Dahab Canyon
Rec & Tec14–54m
A tectonic fissure with three openings. The Fish Bowl at 14m is a coral dome creating an enclosed aquarium of glassfish and lionfish. The main canyon at 22m is framed by walls with spectacular light effects from the sun filtering through. Technical divers can follow the fissure to 52–54m and the deep exit into open water. Good buoyancy control essential.
SS Thistlegorm
Rec & Tec16–32m
A 128m British Merchant Navy cargo ship sunk by Luftwaffe bombers on October 6, 1941, while carrying military supplies to the British Army in North Africa. Hold 1: rows of Norton and BSA motorcycles. Hold 2: Bedford trucks with motorcycles on their backs. Hold 3: ammunition, grenades, anti-tank mines. Hold 4: the blast zone with hull peeled back. The stern: the 4.7-inch anti-aircraft gun still pointing skyward. Two dives minimum.
Gallery
A Glimpse of the Journey
What's Included
- 7 nights full-board on M/Y Celesta
- All meals and non-alcoholic beverages
- Up to 4 dives per day (conditions permitting)
- Professional dive guides for rec and tec groups
- Marine park fees
- Airport transfers (Hurghada)
- Dive planning and briefings
- Weights and belts
Not Included
- International flights
- Nitrox, Trimix, and specialty gas fills
- Equipment rental
- Visa fees
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
Pricing
Choose Your Cabin
Shared Double — Lower Deck
Shared twin cabin on the lower deck. Comfortable and practical — ideal for buddies or solo travellers happy to share.
Shared Double — Upper Deck
Shared twin cabin on the upper deck with more natural light and easier deck access.
Private Room — Lower Deck
Private cabin on the lower deck for single occupancy. Your own space to decompress between dives.
Private Room — Upper Deck
Private cabin on the upper deck with natural light and direct deck access. The best single-occupancy option.
Suite
Spacious suite with double bed, additional seating area, and en-suite bathroom. Price is per person based on double occupancy.
The Vessel
M/Y Celesta
Celesta is not a chartered boat we rent by the week. She is ours — a 36m, wood-hulled vessel built in 2026 to our specifications. Every detail, from the spacious dive deck with full Nitrox, Trimix, and CCR support to the Scandinavian-designed interiors, was chosen with one purpose: to create the finest platform for serious diving in the Red Sea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What certification do I need for this trip?
Why do you spend two full days at Abu Talha?
Is the Thistlegorm suitable for recreational divers?
Is Nitrox included in the trip price?
What is the water temperature in September?
Ready to Dive?
Secure Your Place
18 of 24 spots remaining on the Blue Hole, Abu Talha & SS Thistlegorm. Get in touch and we'll take care of the rest.
We reply within hours, not days. Ask us anything.
€1,899 €1,400
per person, shared cabin · + Flights + Gases · 18 spots left