Dunraven Wreck

Dunraven in photographs

These undated photographs are an archive view of the wreck. Interior scenes do not establish safe access after the structural damage reported in 2023.

Source: Camel Dive Club’s Dunraven gallery, checked 3 November 2026.

A Victorian wreck beside Beacon Rock

The Dunraven lies upside down beside Beacon Rock at Sha’ab Mahmoud in Egypt’s northern Red Sea. The roughly 80-metre British steamship combines recognisable wreck features with coral and reef life, making the surrounding reef as interesting as the ship itself.

It is reached by boat from the Sharm El Sheikh area or on some northern Red Sea liveaboard itineraries. Its depth and damaged structure mean it should not be described simply as an easy wreck that anyone can enter.

History and layout

CDWS dates the ship’s construction to 1873 and its grounding to 25 April 1876, on the return voyage from India. The vessel lies inverted and broken amidships, with the bow around 17 metres and the stern around 30 metres. These are reference depths, not a required dive profile.

The propeller and rudder, the upturned hull and the adjoining reef help explain the site’s shape. Look for these exterior landmarks from a suitable distance rather than trying to follow an old interior tour. The shallower bow and deeper stern make depth awareness particularly important.

The wreck’s identification was not immediate. In his account published by DAN, Howard Rosenstein recalls an exploratory visit in 1977 and the later identification through the ship’s name on recovered plates and at the stern. He also acknowledges earlier discovery claims. Discovery and identification were separate stages in the wreck’s history.

Dunraven: illustrated 3D overview

This historical interpretation shows Dunraven’s inverted hull, bow, broken midships area and stern. It does not reconstruct the structural damage reported in 2023 or establish present access.

For information only — do not use this diagram to plan or navigate a dive. It does not replace the licensed operator’s current briefing.

Reference: CDWS historical wreck illustration. The source informs the broad features; the artwork is not a measured survey.

Reading the wreck’s shape

Dunraven lies upside down beside the reef, with a shallower bow and a deeper stern. This historical perspective illustrates those broad relationships; it does not map the present damaged areas or identify stable parts of the hull.

Enlarge illustration

1. Bow: the shallower end of the inverted hull.
2. Midships: a break separates the principal hull sections.
3. Stern: the deeper end, with the propeller and rudder area.

For information only — do not use this diagram to plan or navigate a dive. CDWS reported detached hull material and further fractures in November 2023. The source illustration has no stated survey date; this drawing cannot identify stable sections, available entrances or exits. Stay clear of damaged areas and follow the operator’s current assessment.

Original Divezone illustration based on the undated wreck view and layout description published by CDWS, inspected 4 November 2026. Reef relief, plate seams and surface texture are symbolic. The November 2023 structural warning makes this a historical orientation image, not a current condition survey.

Marine life and photography

The marine life is excellent around the Dunraven, especially for the small stuff. Camel Dive Club describes coral growth, batfish, nudibranchs and pipefish, with occasional ghost pipefish sightings. Goatfish and morays also feature in its account. These are possibilities to look for, never promised encounters.

The nearby reef can add colour and variety when the guide’s plan and conditions permit. Macro photography rewards patience, but keep fins and equipment clear of coral and metalwork, and do not approach a fractured section for a better picture. Conditions and the group’s limits determine how much of the wreck is appropriate to visit.

Meet the reef

Life around Dunraven

Coral-covered steel and the nearby reef support both larger fish and small animals. Camel Dive Club documents the groups below; what you see depends on the dive and conditions.

Choose an animal

BatfishMoray eelsNudibranchs

Batfish

Camel’s photographs show batfish beside the stern, and its site account describes schools around the coral-covered hull. Watch from outside the wreck and leave room for fish to move freely.

Moray eels

Giant morays appear in Camel’s Dunraven account. A sighting is a reason to pause at a suitable distance, not to approach damaged metalwork or enter a confined space.

Nudibranchs

Nudibranchs are among the small animals documented on the coral-encrusted hull. Look carefully from stable water without resting equipment or hands on the reef or wreck.

Goatfish and pipefish are also documented here; ghost pipefish are an occasional possibility rather than an expected sighting.

Illustrations represent animal groups and do not document a sighting. Source: Camel Dive Club’s Dunraven description.

Conditions, experience and boat access

Beacon Rock offers some shelter, but the journey and site remain weather-dependent. PADI notes that the location can still be rough. Suitable depth certification, recent experience, buoyancy and the conditions on the day matter more than a blanket beginner label. Your operator should explain the planned maximum depth and where the group will stay clear of damage.

Camel normally schedules wreck excursions at least weekly, subject to weather and minimum numbers; it does not guarantee Dunraven on a particular date. Confirm the actual site, departure marina, transfers and cancellation arrangements. A fixed two-hour crossing from every Sharm departure point would be misleading.

For a liveaboard, check the named itinerary rather than assuming Dunraven is always the first dive of a northern safari. Our Red Sea liveaboard guide explains the wider planning choices; Thistlegorm is a different wreck with its own access requirements.

For non-divers

The wreck is a scuba destination. A boat accepting passengers does not automatically provide a supervised snorkelling programme at Beacon Rock. Confirm passenger acceptance, the full fare, supervision and alternative reef stops before joining. A quoted diving price should not be treated as the companion’s total fare.

Dunraven on film: a 2018 historical view

Josep Mª Castellví’s film shows an earlier dive on the wreck. Published in September 2018, it predates the structural-damage warning discussed above. Treat the footage as historical context, not as a route to copy or evidence that any interior passage remains suitable today.

Play Dunraven film · 2018

Film and preview: Josep Mª Castellví · S.S. Dunraven on Vimeo. Published 29 September 2018.

Where is Dunraven?

The CDWS reference for Dunraven (Beacon Rock) is 27°42′11″ N, 34°07′18″ E, approximately 27.703056° N, 34.121667° E. This locates the site for trip planning; it is not a mooring, entry point or navigation instruction.

Open a larger area map on OpenStreetMap ↗

Dunraven questions

Sources

Checked 24 October 2026: CDWS structural warning; CDWS history and depths; CDWS location reference; Camel marine life and departures; Howard Rosenstein’s discovery account in DAN; PADI site and conditions.

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