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Egypt

Thistlegorm Wreck

Depth range
16–32 m52–105 ft
Difficulty
Advanced
Entry
Boat entry
Visibility
15–30 m49–98 ft
Water temperature
21–28°C70–82°F

Dive-site story

What makes this site worth diving

German bombers sunk the SS Thistlegorm in October 1941. Today, the 128-meter British armed freighter sits on a sandy seabed at 30 meters near Sha'ab Ali in the Gulf of Suez, its wartime cargo preserved inside. Holds contain BSA motorcycles, Bedford trucks, Lee Enfield rifles, and stacks of munitions. At the split stern, tilted slightly upright, a 4.7-inch anti-aircraft gun points into open water. Regular tidal currents sweep the wreck, bringing jacks, barracuda, and resident giant morays that shelter within the twisted iron.

WWII cargo holds containing BSA motorbikes, trucks, and ammunition boxes

Steam locomotives blown off the deck resting on the seabed nearby

Stern gun platform and propeller at 32 meters depth

Location

Find the site

Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.

Plan this dive with care

  • Currents can be severe; use shotlines for ascent and descent
  • Penetration requires fine buoyancy control due to silt accumulation and sharp metal hazards
  • Strict monitoring of bottom time and gas supply is essential given the average depth

Seasonality

Best time to dive

  • J
  • F
  • MBest
  • ABest
  • MBest
  • JBest
  • J
  • A
  • SBest
  • OBest
  • NBest
  • D

Spring and autumn bring comfortable air, warm water, and milder winds.

Marine life

What you may encounter

Marine-life likelihood and typical months
SpeciesLikelihoodJFMAMJJASOND
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicusCommon
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracudaCommon
CrocodilefishCymbacephalus beaufortiCommon
Bluefin TrevallyCaranx melampygusCommon
Hawksbill Sea TurtleEretmochelys imbricataSeasonal

Marine forecast

Current and next 48 hours

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Thistlegorm Wreck — Egypt | DIVEROUT