Egyptian Cruising

Overview

North Wrecks itinerary with the visit to Salem Express and Dolphin House in the area of Safaga offers diving the world-famous wrecks in the North of the Red sea and pristine reefs which the Red Sea is so reach in. It suites both experienced divers and those new to SCUBA diving.

SELECT AN ITINERARY FROM THE LIST

Fusce vel sapien elit in malesuada semper mi.
Fusce vel sapien elit in malesuada semper mi.
Fusce vel sapien elit in malesuada semper mi.

Carnatic shipwreck

The Carnatic, a beautiful 90m 19th Century wreck that lies almost intact on Sha'ab Abu Nuhas Reef is accessible and appreciated by all levels of divers. Carrying a cargo of wine, gold and cotton, the ship was sailing the Indien route with a destination of Bombay when it hit the reef and sank. The picturesque dive can be done along the outside of the wreck past giant moray eels and other Red Sea reef fish that have made this wreck their home. In the holds you can see the remains of broken bottles and shoals of glass fish inhabiting them. To finish this fantastic dive you can head back along Sha'ab Abu Nuhas reef where you will be able to find many different types of coral and fish before ascending.
SS Thistlegorm shipwreck

SS Thistlegorm, one of the most famous wrecks in the world, set sail on her final voyage on 2 June 1941, destined for Alexandria, Egypt. The vessel’s cargo included: Bedford trucks, Universal Carrier armoured vehicles, Norton 16H and BSA motorcycles, Bren guns, cases of ammunition, and 3000 rifles as well as radio equipment, Wellington boots, aircraft parts, railway wagons and two LMS Stanier Class 8F steam locomotives and the cargo for the Allied forces in Egypt. The vessel was hit by a German bomber and sank. The Thistlegorm was discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau. The stern section of the wreck lies almost horizontal to the sea bed; the remainder of the wreck is nearly upright. Inside the wreckage, most of its cargo can be seen. Penetration is possible around the bridge and blast area. The large prop is still in position and the guns on the stern are in excellent condition. Artillery litters the blast area. The sea life around the wreck is impressive and rich.
Dunraven shipwreck

The Dunraven, a Victorian steam and sail-ship was carrying spices, gold and timber from India and sank in 1876 on its way from Bombay to England. Although it was stripped of her cargo by a team of archaeologists in the early eighties, the Dunraven still makes a very interesting dive.
This 72m English wreck lies at the southern point of Sha’ab Mahmoud, amongst the series of shallow lagoons and reefs. The hull lies upside down at a maximum depth of 29m. Completely covered with corals, the wreck has become home for a wide variety of marine life including glass fish, morays, groupers, goatfish and colorful napoleons.
Salem Express shipwreck

Salem Express wreck was a passenger ferry that operated between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. On the 17 December 1991 after hitting Hyndman reef she sank. Now the wreck is at a depth of 10-33m and can be seen from the surface. Plunging to the ship, it is impossible to forget the scale of the tragedy occurred here. The cars and the luggage of the passengers are still inside. Take only memories, leave nothing but bubbles - this proverb suites this wreck diving the best.
Panorama reef

Panorama Reef is one of the best diving sites near Safaga. A plateau is colonized by anemones, sponges and soft corals. Numerous clown-fishes, wrasses, groupers and antias fishes scurry along the plateau and inside few small caves, large predators ply around the reef in search of prey. The reef is easily recognizable due to a small lighthouse installed on it.
Shaab El Erg (Dolphin House, Poseidon's Garden, Light House)

Sha’ab El Erg, an area including some of the Red Sea’s famous dive sites such as Dolphin House, Poseidon’s Garden and the Light House with 13-25m depths will allure the divers with coral gardens and walls, abundance of coral fishes and pods of dolphins.
Abu Nuhas

This great reef, also known as the "ships graveyard", streches two miles to the north of Shedwan Island at the mouth of the Strait of Gobal. Abu Nuhas is a wreck divers dream come true boasting seven sunken ships of different eras resting close to each other and within comfortable diving depths of 30 metres or less. On the sheltered south side of the reef there are two beautiful Ergs known as Yellow Fish Reef which offer an excellent night dive.
Giannis D shipwreck

The Giannis D, called by uw photographers "the most photogenec wreck", was built in 1969 by a Japanese shipping company Kuryshima, hit the reef of Abu Nuhas in1983 and slowly sank over six weeks, lying now at a maximum depth of 28 metres. The wreck is broken up in the centre, but the bow and stern remain intact. At the stern on the sea floor you can penetrate and travel up towards the top of the wreck to a pocket of trapped air. Many wildlife has made this wreck their home, where you can find incredible schools of thousands of glassfish occupying the bridge, batfish, lionfish hovering over the wreckage, stonefish, emperor angelfish, wrasses, moray eels, imposing giant parrotfish groups and many antihas. Occasionally bottlenose dolphins appear in the area which gives this wreck a unique aura.
Chrisoula K shipwreck

The Chrisoula K, a 90m freighter got underway from Italy with a cargo of floor tiles destined for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and hit the reef of Abu Nuhas in 1981. The wreck now sits in an open, sandy space with the main body being upright and the cargo of tiles still in place. There is a straightforward penetration with plenty of easy swim-throughs and access to areas worthy of exploration but deep inside the stern, the engine room offers some serious penetration diving for the experienced wreck divers. At the seabed, the large propeller and rudder are still virtually undamaged. The wreck now covered with hard corals and being a home for the reef fish offers a variety of different dives for all levels of experience.
Kimon M shipwreck

The Kimon M, a cargo ship, departed for India in 1978 laden with a cargo of 4,500 tons of lentils for her final voyage. On December 12th 1978, with engines at full speed the Kimon M drove hard onto the northeast corner of Sha'ab Abu Nuhâs Reef and came to rest at the base of the reef. Through the hole in the port side it is possible to access the engineering compartment with an easy swim-through viewing the piping and gauges, following the hull of the ship aft to the stern at 30-32 meters where the propeller and rudder are found on the bottom and continuing forward to the rear of the superstructure there is access to the bridge and accommodation areas.
It is also impressive to dive around the massive wreck from outside in the company of batfish and napoleons.
Shaab Mahmoud

Sha'ab Mahmoud, a small reef partially rising up over the water surface, is marked by a light-house. Table corals, turtles, shoals of sweetlips and double-bar brims make this reef interesting to dive. The Dunraven ship sank here in 1876 and is a famous wreck to visit.

The Carnatic, a beautiful 90m 19th Century wreck that lies almost intact on Sha'ab Abu Nuhas Reef is accessible and appreciated by all levels of divers. Carrying a cargo of wine, gold and cotton, the ship was sailing the Indien route with a destination of Bombay when it hit the reef and sank. The picturesque dive can be done along the outside of the wreck past giant moray eels and other Red Sea reef fish that have made this wreck their home. In the holds you can see the remains of broken bottles and shoals of glass fish inhabiting them. To finish this fantastic dive you can head back along Sha'ab Abu Nuhas reef where you will be able to find many different types of coral and fish before ascending.
SS Thistlegorm, one of the most famous wrecks in the world, set sail on her final voyage on 2 June 1941, destined for Alexandria, Egypt. The vessel’s cargo included: Bedford trucks, Universal Carrier armoured vehicles, Norton 16H and BSA motorcycles, Bren guns, cases of ammunition, and 3000 rifles as well as radio equipment, Wellington boots, aircraft parts, railway wagons and two LMS Stanier Class 8F steam locomotives and the cargo for the Allied forces in Egypt. The vessel was hit by a German bomber and sank. The Thistlegorm was discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau. The stern section of the wreck lies almost horizontal to the sea bed; the remainder of the wreck is nearly upright. Inside the wreckage, most of its cargo can be seen. Penetration is possible around the bridge and blast area. The large prop is still in position and the guns on the stern are in excellent condition. Artillery litters the blast area. The sea life around the wreck is impressive and rich.
The Dunraven, a Victorian steam and sail-ship was carrying spices, gold and timber from India and sank in 1876 on its way from Bombay to England. Although it was stripped of her cargo by a team of archaeologists in the early eighties, the Dunraven still makes a very interesting dive.
This 72m English wreck lies at the southern point of Sha’ab Mahmoud, amongst the series of shallow lagoons and reefs. The hull lies upside down at a maximum depth of 29m. Completely covered with corals, the wreck has become home for a wide variety of marine life including glass fish, morays, groupers, goatfish and colorful napoleons.
Salem Express wreck was a passenger ferry that operated between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. On the 17 December 1991 after hitting Hyndman reef she sank. Now the wreck is at a depth of 10-33m and can be seen from the surface. Plunging to the ship, it is impossible to forget the scale of the tragedy occurred here. The cars and the luggage of the passengers are still inside. Take only memories, leave nothing but bubbles - this proverb suites this wreck diving the best.
Panorama Reef is one of the best diving sites near Safaga. A plateau is colonized by anemones, sponges and soft corals. Numerous clown-fishes, wrasses, groupers and antias fishes scurry along the plateau and inside few small caves, large predators ply around the reef in search of prey. The reef is easily recognizable due to a small lighthouse installed on it.
Sha’ab El Erg, an area including some of the Red Sea’s famous dive sites such as Dolphin House, Poseidon’s Garden and the Light House with 13-25m depths will allure the divers with coral gardens and walls, abundance of coral fishes and pods of dolphins.
This great reef, also known as the "ships graveyard", streches two miles to the north of Shedwan Island at the mouth of the Strait of Gobal. Abu Nuhas is a wreck divers dream come true boasting seven sunken ships of different eras resting close to each other and within comfortable diving depths of 30 metres or less. On the sheltered south side of the reef there are two beautiful Ergs known as Yellow Fish Reef which offer an excellent night dive.
The Giannis D, called by uw photographers "the most photogenec wreck", was built in 1969 by a Japanese shipping company Kuryshima, hit the reef of Abu Nuhas in1983 and slowly sank over six weeks, lying now at a maximum depth of 28 metres. The wreck is broken up in the centre, but the bow and stern remain intact. At the stern on the sea floor you can penetrate and travel up towards the top of the wreck to a pocket of trapped air. Many wildlife has made this wreck their home, where you can find incredible schools of thousands of glassfish occupying the bridge, batfish, lionfish hovering over the wreckage, stonefish, emperor angelfish, wrasses, moray eels, imposing giant parrotfish groups and many antihas. Occasionally bottlenose dolphins appear in the area which gives this wreck a unique aura.
The Chrisoula K, a 90m freighter got underway from Italy with a cargo of floor tiles destined for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and hit the reef of Abu Nuhas in 1981. The wreck now sits in an open, sandy space with the main body being upright and the cargo of tiles still in place. There is a straightforward penetration with plenty of easy swim-throughs and access to areas worthy of exploration but deep inside the stern, the engine room offers some serious penetration diving for the experienced wreck divers. At the seabed, the large propeller and rudder are still virtually undamaged. The wreck now covered with hard corals and being a home for the reef fish offers a variety of different dives for all levels of experience.
The Kimon M, a cargo ship, departed for India in 1978 laden with a cargo of 4,500 tons of lentils for her final voyage. On December 12th 1978, with engines at full speed the Kimon M drove hard onto the northeast corner of Sha'ab Abu Nuhâs Reef and came to rest at the base of the reef. Through the hole in the port side it is possible to access the engineering compartment with an easy swim-through viewing the piping and gauges, following the hull of the ship aft to the stern at 30-32 meters where the propeller and rudder are found on the bottom and continuing forward to the rear of the superstructure there is access to the bridge and accommodation areas.
It is also impressive to dive around the massive wreck from outside in the company of batfish and napoleons.
Sha'ab Mahmoud, a small reef partially rising up over the water surface, is marked by a light-house. Table corals, turtles, shoals of sweetlips and double-bar brims make this reef interesting to dive. The Dunraven ship sank here in 1876 and is a famous wreck to visit.

Important
Note

The time, sites and ports of this itinerary are subject to change at any time without prior notice due to weather conditions or other factors. Direct transfers to/from the yacht are always included. Egyptian Cruising Company reserves the right to cancel the booking for the safety of passengers if it is not possible to change the time and route due to poor weather conditions.

North Wrecks and Safaga

Overview

Dive Sites