Northern Red Sea Wreck Safari

8–30m

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.

10–30m

A steep wall dive following the coastline of Gubal Seghira with passages, inlets, caves, and cavelets in the rock. Wide variety of hard and soft corals, with notable black coral bushes at depth. Marine life includes turtles, rays, barracuda, and bottlenose dolphins. Constant current makes this an excellent drift dive. The nearby Barge wreck at 14m is the Red Sea's premier night dive.

3–32m

Four wrecks on a single reef — the Red Sea's most notorious ship graveyard. The Carnatic (1869, 25–27m) lies on her port side with rotted-away decks allowing safe swim-throughs. The Giannis D (1983, 6–27m) with penetrable bridge and engine room full of glassfish. The Chrisoula K — 'the Tile Wreck' (1981, 4–28m) with Italian floor tiles still in the holds. The Kimon M — 'the Lentil Wreck' (1978, 15–32m), the deepest and quietest.

4–28m

A 91m Victorian-era iron steamer lying on her port side since striking Gubal Seghir on 16 August 1887. She was carrying general merchandise for Penang and China. The stern is beautifully rounded with rudder and propeller intact at 28m. Original bollards, winches, and railings remain. Richly draped in soft corals and home to abundant marine life.

20–35m

A long plateau extending north from Abu Ramada Island, gently sloping from 20m before transforming into a vertical wall. Napoleon wrasse and morays are near-guaranteed. The drop-off attracts turtles, jackfish, and sharks in the early morning. Usually done as a drift dive due to strong currents — experience beyond entry level recommended.

17–50m

A 108m WWII cargo ship sitting perfectly upright on the seabed. Bombed October 8, 1941, by Heinkel He 111 bombers from KG 26 — the same Luftwaffe squadron that sank the Thistlegorm two nights earlier. Carrying 4,680 tons of Welsh coal for the Royal Navy. Not found until 1993. Masts at 17m, main deck at 35–40m, hull bottom at 50m. Portholes with glass intact, kitchen pots in place. Low visibility creates a ghostly atmosphere unlike any other Red Sea dive.

14m

A 35m steel wreck at Bluff Point on Gubal Island, thought to have sunk during the 1973 war. The Red Sea's premier night dive — cuttlefish, octopus, hunting lionfish, Spanish dancers, and an extraordinary density of shrimp with eyes reflecting torchlight like constellations.

86–108m

A Louisiana-built offshore supply vessel from 1978 (55m, 294 GRT), now sitting upright and perpendicular to the reef wall of Shabrour Umm Gammar. Pilothouse at 95m, open work deck at 86m, stern at 108m. The deepest tec-accessible wreck in the Hurghada region. The descent follows the reef wall until the wreck materialises from the blue at 65m. Requires hypoxic trimix and CCR.

65–83m

A 125m RoRo ferry originally named Trekroner, built 1970 in Denmark (7,697 GRT). Caught fire after a boiler explosion en route from Jeddah in May 1994. Not discovered as a dive site until August 2006 by the team at Tekstreme Diving. She sits near Giftun at 65–83m — a substantial wreck in remarkably intact condition, rarely visited. Trimix required.

5–40m+

Access weather-dependent — not guaranteed, particularly in November. When conditions allow: deep walls on all sides with a plateau at 30–40m drawing hammerhead schools, oceanic whitetips, thresher sharks at the southern cleaning station, and grey reef sharks. Walls smothered in sponges, anemones, and soft corals. Strong, unpredictable currents throughout — SMB required.

8–80m+

Access weather-dependent. The SS Numidia (1901), a 138m British cargo ship carrying 7,000 tons including railway wheels for Indian railways, lies at a near-vertical angle down Big Brother's reef face. Every surface blazes with spectacular coral in vivid reds, oranges, yellows, and purples. Bridge and accommodation at 8–12m, propeller at ~80m. Widely considered one of the finest wreck dives in the world.

30–60m+

Access weather-dependent. The Aida II (sank 1957), a 75m Egyptian lighthouse supply vessel built 1911 in Nantes, France. Struck Big Brother's reef during fierce storms while delivering supplies. Bow at 30m, stern descending steeply to 60m+. All crew and passengers rescued — no casualties. Richly covered in corals. The propeller is accessible to technical divers.

14–40m+

An isolated underwater mountain 90 minutes from Hurghada. North Umm Gammar: table corals, butterflyfish, and Spanish dancers. The southeastern wall drops to depths where tuna, barracuda, and reef sharks patrol. Shabrour: a separate reef with drift dives and coral gardens — and the Gulf Fleet 31 deep below on its slope.