Diving the SS Thistlegorm wreck, Egypt

The SS Thistlegorm is a 126 m / 415 feet long wreck sunk in World War II in the Red Sea in the Strait of Gubal. It is one of the best wreck dives in the world being within recreational limits and very well preserved.

My dive

I took the day trip from Sharm El-Sheikh and after leaving early in the morning we were ready for the first Thistlegorm dive at 10:30 am. For the first dive we covered the outside of the wreck including the stern, the enormous propeller and the anti aircraft guns that are sitting at 32 m / 105 feet. The bow sits upright at 16 m / 52 feet so part of the dive is at shallower water. The ship is in very good shape and all the parts are in place.

For the second dive we got to penetrate the shipwreck and explore the holds. Lots of Bedford trucks and Norton motorcycles can be seen. All of them still sit in the original position and have been preserved great underwater.

Inside and outside of the wreck is full of sealife including Fusiliers, Anthias and Trevallies.

Check my Thistlegorm diving experience in the following clip

Getting there

Thistlegorm sits on the bottom of the Red Sea at similar distance from both Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada. A 3-4 hours boat trip is needed from both resort areas so an early start (4 am) is needed. You will need to plan in advance with your dive centre as the number of boats travelling the big distance is limited.

There is also the option to dive a liveaboard. You can dive the wreck in the morning to avoid the crowds coming with the day boats.

When to visit Thistlegorm

The shipwreck can be dived all year round but best time is March to May and September to November with water temperature up to 27°C / 81°F. Visibility is good with values around 20 m / 65 feet.