Giannis D

Overview

The Giannis D is the most photogenic of the four diveable wrecks at Abu Nuhas, the notorious "ship's graveyard" reef in the northern Red Sea. Lying on her port side and broken into two dramatic sections, she offers one of the most accessible and atmospheric wreck dives in Egypt — shallow enough for newer divers to enjoy, intact enough for confident wreck divers to penetrate, and so good-looking that her stern, bridge and funnel are among the most-photographed sights in the region. Day boats run out from Hurghada and El Gouna, and she is a fixture of northern wreck liveaboards.

The Dive

The wreck rests on the sloping sand off Abu Nuhas reef, broken amidships so that the bow and stern lie separately. The shallowest point is the mast, rising to a safety-stop-friendly 4–5m, while the bulk of the wreck descends through the mid-range to the stern section sitting on the seabed at around 20–24m, with the deepest scattered structure near 27m. The most rewarding part is the stern: its tiered bridge and funnel look, as one guide puts it, like the layers of a wedding cake, and the engine room, accommodation and bridge are all penetrable for divers with the training. Be aware that the wreck's steep list can be disorienting once you are inside.

The gentle depth profile and easy mast safety stop mean confident Open Water divers can enjoy the exterior, though the offshore boat ride and any penetration push this toward Advanced Open Water territory.

Marine Life

Decades on the reef have turned the Giannis D into a thriving artificial reef. Glassfish and anthias swarm the holds and superstructure, while groupers, lionfish, scorpionfish and moray eels have moved into the steelwork. Schooling snapper and fusiliers drift around the wreck, and the surrounding reef adds the usual rich Red Sea cast of butterflyfish, wrasse and the odd patrolling barracuda.

History

The Giannis D was a 100m general cargo ship built in Japan in 1969 as the Shoyo Maru. After two changes of ownership she passed to a Greek company and was renamed. On 19 April 1983, steaming through the Strait of Gubal with a cargo of timber, she struck the Abu Nuhas reef at full speed. She held together for several days before breaking apart and sinking — joining the Carnatic, Chrisoula K and Kimon M on a reef that has claimed ships for well over a century.

Good to Know

Abu Nuhas dives best from spring to autumn, when the crossing is most comfortable; visibility commonly runs 10–30m. Access is by day boat from Hurghada (around 25 miles) or El Gouna (20 miles), or as a liveaboard stop — Sharm-based boats can reach it but face a three-hour-plus haul. The site is exposed and can get choppy in wind, so pick settled conditions, mind your orientation inside the wreck, and save the mast for a scenic safety stop.