Thistlegorm

The SS Thistlegorm is a British World War II merchant vessel lying in the northern Red Sea, sunk on 6 October 1941 after being attacked and bombed by two enemy aircraft while at anchor awaiting safe passage to resupply British forces with rifles, ammunition, trucks, motorbikes, and other military cargo. The explosion was violent enough to tear the ship in two, and the stern section lists approximately 45 degrees to port, while most of the hull rests upright on the seabed.

The wreck sits with its shallowest point at 11 metres from the surface, dropping to a flat sandy bottom at around 30 metres. Cargo holds and the blast area contain the military equipment that went down with her — motorbikes, trucks, rail cars, and ammunition — much of it still visible today. Divers should be aware that unexploded ordnance remains inside the wreck and is in a state of decay; silting out from poor buoyancy control is also a recognised hazard in the confined spaces.

The wreck is reached by boat, with the dive conducted over two dives on a full-day trip. Divers must be certified to 30 metres, and an Advanced Open Water qualification is required. Strong currents are a consistent feature and represent a primary hazard at the site. Water temperature ranges from 20 to 30°C across the season, with the main diving window running May through October, and visibility is generally good.