Diving the Thistlegorm — A Practical Guide to Egypt's Most Famous Wreck

The SS Thistlegorm is a British WW2 cargo ship sunk by German bombers in 1941 in the Strait of Gubal. She still holds her cargo — motorbikes, rifles, train carriages — and she's the single most-dived wreck in the Red Sea.

Depth profile

The wreck rests at 30m, with the deck at 18–22m. Most divers do two dives: an outside pass to see the cargo through the holes, and a careful penetration of one or two cargo holds.

Certification level

AOWD with deep dive specialty is the floor. Wreck specialty is strongly recommended for any penetration.

Choosing a trip

Two main options:

• Day-trip from Hurghada/Sharm: ~2.5 hours each way, two dives, long day.
• Liveaboard (4–7 nights): the Thistlegorm is the headline of most northern Red Sea routes; you'll dive it morning + night.

What to expect underwater

Currents can be strong. Visibility ranges 15–25m. Bring a torch — even daytime cargo holds are dim.