Diving Liveaboard in Hurghada | Professional Diving

RAS MUHAMMED NATIONAL PARK

If Ras Mohammed is the most spectacular diving area near Sharm El Sheikh then Shark and Yolanda reefs are its prized diving spots. This dive is best done as a drift dive starting from Shark Reef and continuing to Yolanda Reef. These are 2 twin mountain-like peaks rising up from a sandy sea bed that is spread out deep below the surface. Being not far from "Anemone City", which is a good drop-in location, the site's eastern side is a sheer, vertical wall, illuminated by swarms of orange and purple anthias and black and white pullers dancing about the purple and orange soft coral trees. Every possible fish species of Sharm El Sheikh is found here, including hammerheads, gigantic tuna and a menagerie of other pelagics. An ever present school of barracuda and snappers are residents and it's a great place for scuba divers to see Napoleon wrasse. Finish your dive above the wreckage of the Yolanda. British standard toilets, bath tubs and pipe tubes remain on and forever as part of the shallow reef to a depth from 10 - 25m. Here are literally thousands of jackfish, batfish, all kinds of sting rays and giant moray eels.

ABU NUHAS

Due to its exposed location, just off the northern coast of Shedwan Island at the edge of the Straight of Gubal the Shaab Abu Nuhas is a navigation hazard. Evidenced by several wrecks on its northern slope, it is well known as a "ship's graveyard". The wrecks of Ghiannis D., Carnatic, Chrisoula K. and Kimon M. are lying like a chain side by side at the reef.

GIANNES D

The wreck of the Giannes D is probably the most famous and photogenic amongst the wrecks of Abu Nuhas. The cargo ship, transporting timber, ran to the reef in 1983 and sank. Now the 100m long wreck is lying close to the reef in a depth of 27m. Midships it is completely destroyed, iron parts of the hull and remains of the timber are scattered around and provide good shelter for giant moray eels. The bow and stern are still intact. The engine room with its two huge diesel engines and other premises in the stern section are easy to enter and to explore, but due to the oblique position of the Giannis D the diver's sense of balance might be disturbed! Be careful whilst diving along the deck rail and through the bridge if there is a heavy swell, the suction can pull you through doors or windows! It is recommendable to ascend along the main mast, which reaches up to 5m and enjoy the marine life around the wreck during the safety stop. Groups of batfish, fusiliers and sometimes a big napoleon will accompany you.

Type: Cargo ship (Sawn Softwood)
Date Sunk: April 1983
Cause Sunk: Ran aground on reef
Depth: 6-27 m
Built: Japan, 1969
Length: 99,5 x 16 m

CARNATIC

The wreck of the Carnatic is the oldest one of the four wrecks at Shaab Abu Nuhas. The cargo ship, transporting wine bottles and copperplates, sank 1869 after its collision with the reef. Now the 90m long wreck is lying on its port side in a depth of 28m, reaching up to 17m. As the wooden floor rotted away the entire hull looks like a skeleton, covered with soft corals. The free view into the holds shows huge clouds of glass fish and numerous lion fish. When you decide to grope your way through the holds, take care, not to destroy the beautiful coral coverage or not to come in touch with the lion fish and remains of broken wine bottles on the ground.

Type: Cargo boat (Bottles of wine)
Date Sunk: September 1862
Cause Sunk: Ran aground
Depth: 17-27 m
Built: London, 1869
Length: 89,8 x 11,6 m

CHRISOULA K (MARCUS)

The Chrisoula K was supposed to sail to Jeddah, carrying Italian floor tiles when it hit the reef of Abu Nuhas in 1981. The 100m ship sank at the reef slope, its bow at 4m and the stern at 25m. Due to the frequent strong currents and heavy swell the wreck got a bit unstable over the last years. So the stern is now nearly separated from the main body. The cargo of tiles still remains in the hold, easy to look at also from outside the wreck. There are some areas to dive through but always be aware of obstacles like broken beams or iron.

Type: Cargo ship (Tiles)
Date Sunk: August 1981
Cause Sunk: Ran aground
Depth: 4-27 m
Built: Germany, 1954
Length: 98 x 14,8 m

KIMON M

The cargo ship Kimon M. loaded with lentils, ran to the north eastern part of Shaab Abu Nuhas in 1978. After few days of being stuck on the reef, storm and waves pushed the ship down, the bow broke off; the main body sank on its starboard side to a depth between 6-32m. Due to currents and storms most sections of the wreck became instable. Only the stern with its huge propeller is still quite intact and easy to dive. The penetration of the wreck is not recommended, it is too dangerous. But because of its size it's also impressive, to just dive around and have a look from outside. You will find a school of batfish accompanying you and sometimes a huge napoleon observing the scenery.

Type: Cargo ship (Lentils)
Date Sunk: December 1978
Cause Sunk: Ran aground on reef
Depth: 6-32 m
Built: Germany, 1952
Length: 106.4 x 14,8 m

ROSALIE MOLLER

In 1941 on its way to Alexandria the Rosalie Moller, loaded with coal, was at anchor between the islands Gubal and Queisum when it was attacked by German bombers. It was just a few days after the sinking of the Thistlegorm, when 2 bombs hit the vessel and ripped a huge hole in the hold on the starboard side. Now the 110m long wreck is standing upright, as if "parked", on the sand in about 50m depth. As there is no reef as a reference, the divers have to descend along a mooring line to reach the deck in 25m. The marine life that can be observed over there is amazing. Thousands of glass fish on the deck and around the bridge, among which large shoals of jacks, snappers and tuna can be spotted. Big groupers and huge lion fish have settled in the bow and stern section. The deck is still quite intact, it is easy to explore its deckhouses and swim up the ladders leading to the bridge. At the bow you can find the giant port side anchor still up. In the stern section the enormous propeller and rudder are worth visiting as well. Probably due to some improperly mooring of diving boats the stern mast is broken down. Meanwhile, the funnel is fallen to the port side; it bears a large "M" on it, the emblem of the shipping company Moller.

Type: Cargo boat (Coal)
Date Sunk: October 1941
Cause Sunk: Bombed in air strike
Depth: 17-50 m
Built: Scotland, 1910
Length: 108,2 m

SS THISTLEGORM

Thistlegorm is Gaelic for Blue Thistle. In 1941 the British vessel was carrying a cargo of war supplies: rifles, motorbikes, train carriages, and trucks. It was attacked from the air while anchoring and hit by a German bomb on the port side. This hit ignited the cargo tank ammunition, the explosion ripped a huge hole in the hull and the vessel sunk. The big wreck, 126 meters long, is the most famous and impressive in the Red Sea. The stern lies on its port side, separated by the damaged part of the hull. The main body is standing upright on the sandy ground in 30m depth. The stern guns and the cargo (trucks, motorbikes etc.) in the hold are still in good condition. The marine life around the wreck is really impressive. Big schools of barracudas, tunas, and jacks surround the superstructures and chase fusiliers. Frequently huge napoleons pass by and down the stern; close to the huge propeller, big groupers can often be seen. The currents can be strong, sometimes in different directions at the surface and at the wreck.

Type: Cargo ship (War supplies)
Date Sunk: October 1941
Cause Sunk: Bombed in air strike
Depth: 10-31 m
Built: United Kingdom, 1940
Length: 131.6 x 17,7 m

DUNRAVEN

In 1876 on its way back from Bombay, the British steamship Dunraven loaded with cotton, wood and spices hit Shaab Mahmoud (South Sinai) at Beacon rock, caught fire and sunk. The 80m wreck is lying upside down in two sections next to each other, along the base of the reef in a depth between 18- 29m. Its port side is partially dug in the sand of the reef slope. As it is covered with hard and soft corals, it looks a bit like a part of the reef. The dive around the wreck offers a lot of marine life. Moray eels as well as stone fish and crocodiles found their habitats here. Close to the large propeller a big Napoleon sometimes patrols and watches divers. In the starboard side some large openings in the hull allow to penetrate. Huge shoals of glassfish surround the steam engine, the boilers and remains of the steering gear.

Type: Cargo ship (Cotton, wood, spices)
Date Sunk: January 1876
Cause Sunk: Ran aground
Depth: 27 m
Built: Newcastle, 1873
Length: 79,6 x 9,8 m

NORTH EGYPT DIVE SITES AND WRECKS