Scuba Diving in the Strait of Gubal

Diving in the Strait of Gubal is wreck diving above all else. The strait sits at the northern end of the Red Sea where the Gulf of Suez narrows into a shipping bottleneck between the Sinai Peninsula and the Egyptian mainland, and the combination of busy shipping lanes, shallow reefs, and bad weather over the centuries has produced one of the densest concentrations of recreational wreck dives anywhere in the world. The SS Thistlegorm, the WWII British transport ship sunk by German bombers in 1941, is the headline. But the strait also holds the Abu Nuhas reef, nicknamed the "wreck graveyard," where four major wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, Kimon M) sit within a small area on the reef's north side, plus the Rosalie Moller, the Dunraven, and several lesser-known wrecks.

The geography matters. Two outcrops, Beacon Rock (Sha'ab Mahmoud) and Shag Rock, flank the main shipping channel and have claimed many ships over the decades. The shallow waters of the Gulf of Suez average just 80 m (260 ft) and create unpredictable currents that have caught even modern vessels off guard. Most of the strait's dive sites are reached by day boat or liveaboard from Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, or El Gouna, with northern wreck route liveaboards being the most efficient way to cover multiple wrecks in a single trip.

This is firmly advanced-diver territory. The wrecks sit at 16–32 m (52–105 ft), currents can be strong, and most operators require Advanced Open Water certification with 30–50 logged dives for the Thistlegorm specifically. Penetration of the cargo holds is possible at multiple wrecks but should only be attempted with appropriate training and a guide.

Top Dive Sites

The best dive sites in the Strait of Gubal are the major wrecks. Five of them are world-class, and most divers come specifically to dive them.

SS Thistlegorm

The SS Thistlegorm is a 128 m (420 ft) British WWII transport ship sunk on 6 October 1941 by two German Heinkel He 111 bombers in the Strait of Gubal. She sits upright on a sandy bottom at Sha'ab Ali, with the propeller at 32 m (105 ft) and the bow at 16 m (52 ft). The cargo is still in the holds: BSA and Norton motorcycles, Bedford trucks, Universal Carrier armoured vehicles, Lee-Enfield rifles, Wellington boots, aircraft wings for Westland Lysanders, and two LMS Stanier Class 8F steam locomotives blown 30 m (100 ft) clear of the wreck by the explosion (they now sit on the seabed on either side of the hull). Rediscovered by Jacques Cousteau in 1955 and publicised again in the early 1990s, she's now the most-dived wreck in the Red Sea. Most operators run two dives, one outside the wreck for orientation, one inside the holds for the cargo.

Depth: 16–32 m (52–105 ft) | Level: Advanced (50+ logged dives recommended)

Giannis D

The Giannis D is a 100 m (330 ft) Greek cargo ship that struck the north side of Abu Nuhas reef on 19 April 1983 carrying timber. She now lies on her port side, with the stern intact at 24 m (80 ft), the bow intact at 8 m (26 ft), and amidships crumpled to a wreckage field. The tilt makes the dive disorienting and visually striking; your brain takes a few minutes to adjust. The engine room penetration at 13 m (43 ft) is one of the most accessible in the Red Sea, with multiple exits and good light. The mast rises to 4 m (13 ft) and makes a perfect safety stop spot. This is the most-photographed Abu Nuhas wreck and one of the most beginner-friendly major wrecks in the region.

Depth: 4–24 m (13–80 ft) | Level: Intermediate

Carnatic

The Carnatic is the oldest diveable wreck in the Red Sea, a British P&O steam-and-sail passenger ship that struck Abu Nuhas on 12 September 1869 carrying gold sovereigns, wine, and cotton bound for India. She broke up over two days and sank with 31 lives lost. Today the wreck sits at 18–27 m (60–90 ft) on her starboard side, encrusted with 150 years of coral growth and broken into sections that make easy swim-throughs. Clouds of glassfish fill the bow section and groupers, lionfish, and the occasional barracuda patrol the structure. This dive feels less like wreck diving and more like diving an artificial reef. The ship itself is barely recognisable beneath the coral coating.

Depth: 18–27 m (60–90 ft) | Level: Intermediate

Chrisoula K (Tile Wreck)

The Chrisoula K is a 98 m (320 ft) Greek freighter that hit Abu Nuhas on 31 August 1981 carrying Italian floor tiles, which are still piled in the cargo holds today and give the wreck its nickname, the "Tile Wreck." She sits more or less upright with the stern at 26 m (85 ft) and the bow in shallow water at 3 m (10 ft), and is slowly separating amidships. Multiple swim-throughs and easy penetration of the cargo holds make this a favourite for wreck-photography divers. Watch for fallen beams and poles inside, and stay aware of glassfish clouds that can briefly disorient you in the corridors.

Depth: 3–28 m (10–92 ft) | Level: Intermediate to Advanced

SS Dunraven

The SS Dunraven is an 80 m (260 ft) British steamship that struck Sha'ab Mahmoud (Beacon Rock) in April 1876 on the way home from India carrying wool, cotton, and spices. The cargo caught fire before she sank, and all the crew survived. The wreck wasn't located until 1979 and now lies upside down in two sections at the base of the reef, with the bow at 18 m (60 ft) and the stern at 28 m (92 ft). Penetration is possible through three large holes in the hull, and the boiler room is the highlight of the interior, large enough for comfortable swim-throughs and packed with glassfish. The site is closer to Sharm El Sheikh than the Thistlegorm and is often the back-up site when Thistlegorm conditions are bad.

Depth: 18–28 m (60–92 ft) | Level: Advanced

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Best Time to Dive

The best time to dive the Strait of Gubal is March to May and September to November, when winds are light and crossings to the Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas are most reliable. Summer (June to August) brings the warmest water and calmest seas but the hottest air temperatures and the most crowded wrecks. Winter (December to February) is the trickiest. Strong northerly winds frequently cancel Thistlegorm day trips from Sharm, though Abu Nuhas from Hurghada and El Gouna is more sheltered and stays diveable more days of the year.

Diving Conditions

Marine Life

Marine life in the Strait of Gubal is mostly wreck-associated. The wrecks themselves act as artificial reefs after decades on the seabed, attracting dense fish populations and macro life that wouldn't otherwise concentrate on the sandy or coral-rubble bottoms around them.

Resident turtles: Year-round, especially around the SS Thistlegorm. Two green turtles have lived around the Thistlegorm for years and are regular sightings on the wreck. They're habituated to divers but should not be approached or touched.

Glassfish swarms: Year-round, especially around all wrecks. Every major wreck in the strait (Thistlegorm, Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, Dunraven) holds dense swarms of glassfish (golden sweepers) that fill the engine rooms, swim-throughs, and cargo holds. They're a wreck-diver photographer's favourite subject.

Pelagic visitors. Schools of barracuda, jacks, and tuna occasionally pass the wrecks during summer. Eagle rays cruise the open water between Abu Nuhas wrecks, and Napoleon wrasse are common at all sites year-round.

• Wreck residents: Crocodilefish, scorpionfish, lionfish, moray eels, batfish, and groupers populate every wreck. The Carnatic in particular hosts large groupers and resident lionfish; the Giannis D's engine room often holds octopus and giant moray.
• Coral growth: The Carnatic's hull is now coated in soft and hard corals from 150 years of submersion. The other wrecks (less than 50 years old) have lighter coral coverage but still significant sponge, anemone, and soft coral growth.

Practical Information

Dive Prices

• Fun dives: $90–$120 USD per two-tank day trip to the Thistlegorm or Abu Nuhas (longer crossings raise the cost vs local Sharm or Hurghada sites)
• Liveaboard: $1,300–$2,000 USD per 7-night northern wrecks route covering Thistlegorm, Abu Nuhas, Rosalie Moller, and Dunraven
• Park/permit fees: Generally no separate fees for Strait of Gubal sites, though the Dunraven sits within the Ras Mohammed park boundary and the $15 USD park fee may apply

Getting There

The Strait of Gubal is reached by day boat or liveaboard from three hubs: Sharm El Sheikh (3–4 hour crossing to the Thistlegorm), Hurghada (similar crossing time to Abu Nuhas), and El Gouna (slightly closer to Abu Nuhas). The Thistlegorm specifically is most often dived from Sharm or on a northern wrecks liveaboard departing from Hurghada. Day trips from Sharm typically depart at 4–5 AM to arrive at the wreck before the liveaboard fleet drops in around 7 AM.