Carnatic Wreck
Conditions
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Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Carnatic Wreck lies on Sha'ab Abu Nuhas Reef in the Red Sea. The ship left Suez for Bombay in September 1869 with 34 passengers, general cargo, Royal Mail and unfinished coins for the Indian Mint. She struck the reef on 12 September 1869, broke in two after two days and sank, with the loss of 5 passengers and 26 crew. The coins were later recovered, so the rumour that she carried gold is not true.
Known as the Bottle Wreck because of the many wine bottles found there, the Carnatic lies parallel to the reef on her port side at 25 to 27 metres. The wooden superstructure has rotted away, leaving a steel hull with iron cross-members that divers can enter. The bows have a large ring and a curved support where a figurehead was once mounted, and the stern has lifeboat davits, seven square windows, a rudder and a large propeller. The site is graded beginner, with depths from 5 to 32 metres.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
StingrayStingrayReported here · unconfirmed
GlassfishGlassfishReported here · unconfirmed
Jack / amberjackJack / amberjackReported here · unconfirmed
Red Sea AnemonefishAmphiprion bicinctusReported here · unconfirmed
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicusReported here · unconfirmed
Red Sea BannerfishHeniochus intermediusReported here · unconfirmed
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose DolphinTursiops aduncusReported here · unconfirmed
Freckled HawkfishParacirrhites forsteriReported here · unconfirmed
Halfmoon AngelfishPomacanthus maculosusReported here · unconfirmed
Bluespotted Fantail RayTaeniura lymmaReported here · unconfirmed
Indian Sailfin TangZebrasoma desjardiniiReported here · unconfirmed
Indian LionfishPterois milesReported here · unconfirmed
Round BatfishPlatax orbicularisReported here · unconfirmed
BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
GrouperGrouperConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
LionfishLionfishConfirmed present · 4 independent sources
Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
OctopusOctopusConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
NudibranchNudibranchReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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