Kingston Wreck

A shallow steamship with a reef worth lingering over

The Kingston wreck lies at Shag Rock in the Strait of Gubal, in Egypt’s northern Red Sea. For years divers called it Sarah H or Sara H; those names refer to the same wreck, not another ship nearby.

The coral along the hull offers wonderful photographic opportunities. This is a dive where the machinery, open framework and surrounding reef share the attention, rather than a tour of an intact ship. Shallow water brings light, but it does not remove the need to judge the current and surface conditions.

The ship and its loss

Kingston was a British cargo steamship built in 1871, approximately 78 metres long and 10 metres wide, carrying coal on its final voyage. It was lost at Shag Rock in February 1881. Historical summaries disagree on the precise sinking day: CDWS describes grounding on 22 February followed by sinking later, while Blue Force gives an earlier sequence. The month and year are more dependable than presenting one disputed date as settled.

What the dive looks like

The stern and midships are the most recognisable parts. CDWS describes an upright hull, propeller and rudder around 17 metres, exposed beams where wooden decks have disappeared, boilers and a spare propeller. The bow area is much more broken up against the reef. Its listed overall depth range is approximately 4–19 metres; your briefing should identify the actual profile for the day.

With suitable conditions, a visit can combine the wreck with Shag Rock’s coral slope. There is no universal direction or compulsory circuit: current, entry point and the pickup plan determine how much reef can sensibly be included. Remain outside enclosed spaces unless the dive is specifically planned within your wreck training and equipment.

Current, experience and photography

Emperor Divers warns that strong current is possible and recommends visiting only in good conditions. Do not assume the hull always provides shelter or that a shallow wreck is automatically suitable for every beginner. Comfortable buoyancy matters both around the metalwork and above the living coral.

The reef and coral growth are good reasons to bring a camera, but leave room for the group and keep fins and equipment clear of the wreck and reef. Turtles and passing pelagic fish are possible encounters, not fixtures of the dive. Nothing should be collected or disturbed.

Getting there

Kingston is reached by boat. Northern Red Sea liveaboards may include it, and Emperor lists it as a possible part of a Thistlegorm overnight trip. That is not confirmation of a daily excursion or a fixed crossing time from every Sharm marina. Ask whether Kingston itself is scheduled and what happens if conditions prevent the dive.

A mixed group should confirm whether non-divers are accepted, the passenger fare and any supervised snorkelling at the actual stops. A shallow wreck does not establish that its boat operation is suitable for snorkellers.

Location reference

The CDWS directory places Shag Rock (Kingston) at 27°46′26″ N, 33°52′14″ E, or approximately 27.773889° N, 33.870556° E. This reef-site reference is not an entry point, mooring or navigation instruction.

Kingston in a northern wreck film

Aqualized’s The Famous North Red Sea Wrecks, uploaded in December 2009, includes Kingston in a wider compilation with Carnatic, Giannis D, Chrisoula K, Kimon M and Dunraven. It gives historical context for a northern wreck safari; the entire film is not Kingston. Older footage does not establish today’s wreck condition, access or suitable dive profile. Treat any enclosed-space sequences as specialist diving, not a recreational route to copy.

Play northern wrecks film · 2009

Film and preview: aqualized · The Famous North Red Sea Wrecks on Vimeo.

Kingston wreck questions

Sources

Checked 24 October 2026: CDWS wreck description; CDWS coordinates; Emperor access and conditions; Blue Force history and photography.