{"id":112,"date":"2018-03-26T14:38:36","date_gmt":"2018-03-26T14:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/divebooker.com\/blog\/?p=112"},"modified":"2026-07-22T12:32:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T12:32:02","slug":"best-wrecks-in-the-red-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/divebooker.com\/blog\/best-wrecks-in-the-red-sea\/","title":{"rendered":"Wreck Diving in the Red Sea: The Best Wrecks and What to Expect [2026 Updated]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wreck diving in the Red Sea puts some of the most famous shipwrecks on the planet within reach of ordinary certified divers. From the SS Thistlegorm’s WWII cargo holds to the ghostly hull of the Salem Express, the Red Sea has an unusual number of well-known, accessible wrecks within recreational diving depths, especially along Egypt’s coast.<\/span><\/p>\n

This guide breaks down wreck diving in the Red Sea site by site: depth, current, required experience level, and what you’ll actually see, so you can work out which wrecks fit your certification before you book a trip.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Red Sea Wrecks at a Glance<\/b><\/h2><\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Wreck<\/th>\nMax depth<\/th>\nMinimum certification\/experience<\/th>\nAccess<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
SS Thistlegorm<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n16\u201330m<\/td>\nOpen Water (Advanced recommended for the holds)<\/td>\nDay boat or liveaboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rosalie Moller<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n17\u201350m<\/td>\nAdvanced Open Water + deep\/wreck specialty<\/td>\nLiveaboard only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Salem Express<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n8\u201330m<\/td>\nOpen Water<\/td>\nDay boat or liveaboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dunraven<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n18\u201330m<\/td>\nOpen Water (Advanced recommended)<\/td>\nDay boat or liveaboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Giannis D<\/strong><\/a> (Abu Nuhas)<\/td>\n6\u201324m<\/td>\nOpen Water<\/td>\nDay boat or liveaboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carnatic<\/strong><\/a> (Abu Nuhas)<\/td>\n16\u201324m<\/td>\nOpen Water<\/td>\nDay boat or liveaboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Numidia<\/strong><\/a> (Big Brother)<\/td>\n8\u201380m<\/td>\nOpen Water for the shallow bow; technical for the full wreck<\/td>\nLiveaboard only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kingston<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n4\u201325m<\/td>\nOpen Water<\/td>\nDay boat or liveaboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Umbria Wreck<\/strong><\/a> (Sudan)<\/td>\n5\u201338m<\/td>\nOpen Water (Advanced recommended for the deeper holds)<\/td>\nLiveaboard only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SS Maidan Wreck<\/strong><\/a> (Rocky Island)<\/td>\n80\u2013120m<\/td>\nTechnical\/rebreather divers only<\/td>\nLiveaboard only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Compare<\/span> Red Sea<\/span><\/a> dive trips to see which of these wrecks are on the itinerary before you book.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

The Best Wrecks to Dive in the Red Sea<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

These are the most iconic, historically significant, and rewarding wrecks in the Red Sea. Here is what makes each one worth adding to your dive log.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

SS Thistlegorm<\/b><\/a><\/h3><\/div>
\"Coral-encrusted<\/span><\/div>

The<\/span> SS Thistlegorm<\/span><\/a> is the wreck that put Red Sea wreck diving on the map, and is the dive that so many northern Red Sea itineraries are built around. If you only dive one wreck in the Red Sea, this should be it. This British merchant navy ship was sunk by a pair of German Heinkel He11 bombers on 6 October 1941 while carrying a huge WWII cargo of trucks, motorcycles, train carriages, and rifles, most of which still lies exactly where it settled on the seabed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The wreck sits at 16\u201318m at the top and around 30m at the seabed, making it accessible to Open Water divers on the exterior, while the cargo holds and engine room reward divers with Advanced certification and some wreck-penetration experience. Visibility is generally good (20\u201330m), though currents at this exposed spot in the Strait of Gubal can pick up without warning, so it’s worth knowing your limits and working with conditions on the day. Expect large schools of batfish, barracuda, and the odd passing turtle around the superstructure. Tip: book an early-morning slot if you can, since the Thistlegorm gets crowded and the light is best before mid-morning.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Rosalie Moller<\/b><\/a><\/h3><\/div>