Destinations
Loading...The SS Thistlegorm Wreck is one of the best dive sites in the world and is actually considered by many as THE best Wreck dive in the World! The SS Thistlegorm is a World War 2 ship wreck located in the North of Red Sea in the Strait of Gubal. It is a former 128m long British transport ship sunk in 1941 after a German air attack.
What is really great on the SS Thistlegorm Wreck are the artefacts that you can see underwater. There are 2 locomotives, 2 tanks, Army Trucks, jeeps, Motorbikes, Boots, stacks of rifles, and various spare parts for planes and cars. It is like diving within a piece of History! There are so many things to see that you need at least 2 dives to explore the entire shipwreck! It is really the perfect spot if you like wreck diving! Penetration is possible into the holds to discover the various items. You can also still see the ship anti aircraft gun.
Diving Conditions
The SS Thistlegorm Wreck lies now in 30m of water. The deepest point is the prop, about 32m deep and the shallowest part is only 16m deep. Current can sometimes be quite strong on this spot and can make the dive quite challenging. The visibility is often good but can be reduced by the silt in the water depending on the current and weather conditions. This dive is reserved to Padi Open Water Advanced and CMAS 2* because of the depth below 20m.
Marine life
The marine life around the Wreck is really great and you can encounter Batfishes, a resident turtle, Barracudas, Snappers, schools of Jacks and all the usual reef fishes of the Red Sea.
Access
As it is the most famous dive site in the Red Sea, it can get VERY crowded meaning it the same underwater with various dive groups in the same spot. So try not lose your dive buddy amongst the crowds!
The best is to explore the SS Thistlegorm during a Liveaboard tour. You will be there early in the morning before all the day trips boats from Sharm El Sheikh arrive. If you dive this wreck from Sharm El Sheikh, you will need to get up very early as it takes about 4 hours to reach the dive site! Day trips usually include 2 dives on the shipwreck before heading back to Sharm El Sheikh. Night diving is also possible if the conditions are right.
I usually use this website to book in advance my Liveaboards in the Red Sea as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because they have an easy booking system.
History
The SS Thistlegorm has been constructed in 1940 in Sunderland in UK. She was used during WW2 to transport various war supplies and armed with a Gun. She made 3 trips to America, Argentina and Dutch Antilles before her final voyage. The 6th of October 1941 she was hit by two bombs and rapidly sunk killing 9.
In 1952, Jacques-Yves Cousteau re-discovered the SS Thistlegorm Wreck after following fishermen’s information. In 1956, the National Geographic made a first documentary about this wreck. You can watch this amazing video of one of the first dives on the SS Thistlegorm in the 1950’s just after it was discovered by Cousteau.
In 1991, Sharm El Sheikh became a popular scuba diving destination and soon the dive operators began to explore again the shipwreck.
You can dive SS Thistlegorm Wreck all year long. Access: from the Shore. See the map of SS Thistlegorm Wreck on the right for the exact location.
Fishes you may spot while diving SS Thistlegorm Wreck
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Crocodile Fish
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Napoleon Wrasse
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Trevally
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Turtle
... and more fishes & sea life, Dogtooth Tuna, Jack
Photos
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Turtle Flying To The SurfacePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Crocodile Fish RestingPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Turtle Playing With DiversPhoto by Matthieu Billaud -
Crocodile Fish Huge CreaturePhoto by Rich Guest -
Turtle Swimming Back ViewPhoto by Matthieu Billaud -
Crocodile Fish Komodo IslandPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Turtle Swimming Or FlyingPhoto by Matthieu Billaud -
Napoleon Wrasse FishPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Turtle Checking Us OutPhoto by Rich Guest -
Huge Fish Napoleon WrassePhoto by Yann Hubert
Diving Reviews for this region
Sharm El Sheikh
Magnificent Reefs at Ras Mohammed and one of the best dive site in the World, the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm.
When is the best time of the year to dive the Red Sea?
Hello,
I will be on holidays in Egypt from the 20th to the 29th of April. During that time I would be in Hurgada from the 25th (arriving in the afternoon) and leaving on the 27th (late afternoon).
During that time I would like to know if would be possible to go to:
– 2 Brothers;
– SS Thistlegorm.
Do you have any offer that time and how much would be?
Best regards,
Alex
Hi Alex,
Sorry but I believe you misunderstood our website as we are not a dive center or diving agency. Divezone is a blog, an informative website and a place to review your diving experiences, the liveaboard boats you’ve been onboard and much more.
Thus, your best option to have an answer to your question is to find a dive center in the area that you’re interested in and check with them in terms of availability and prices.
Safe travels & bubbles Alex,
hoping to read your reviews here in a near future!
Sorry, send the pasted the wrong text.
What I wanted to ask was if it is a beginner level or not.
Sorry, send the pasted the wrong text.
What I wanted to ask was if it is a beginner level or not.
Very nice wreck inside the wreck is much to see ,for sure I go back to dive here again. We had a strong current that was a pity both it’s an amazing experience.
I have been diving 5 times on the Thistlegorm. After watching Cousteau’s movie “The world of silence” , i absolutely wanted to see this wreck. It is relatively easy to dive on this wreck , because you almost always see an exit. So even with a beginner accompanying yourselves, it is possible if there is not too much current and with a good visibility. Trucks are AEC, Bedford, Morris Commercial, motorcycles BSA , and maybe Triumph and other vehicles. With my last dive on the wreck , a railroad tankwagon was prone to fall in the hold below.
Diving the SS Thistlegorm was one of the best experience I ever had as a scubadiver. I think a picture speaks a thousands of words, so I’m pleased to share my experience showing the pictures I have been made with my underwater camera (Canon G10) in 2013.
Gallery: Amphotography LINK REMOVED
75 YEARS UNDERWATER(The Thistlegorm revealed)
The most comprehensive account ever produced-on this popular shipwreck, with material from otherwise never disclosed documentation, revealing some new material about her final journey, cargo and captain. Detailed tours of the wreck will enhance anyones’ first visit and revealing for those who think they know the wreck 152 pages of A4 text archive material and photos.
LINK REMOVED
Hello Peter!
As links aren’t allowed in the comments, may I suggest that you tell our readers what to google to find it, or a website where it’s displayed without the link.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for reading Divezone!