EGYPT (RED SEA)Diving site
SS Thistlegorm
27.8137, 33.9208
Resting on the seabed of the Red Sea near the Strait of Gubal, the SS Thistlegorm is one of the world's great wreck dives — a British WWII cargo ship sunk by German bombers in 1941 while carrying supplies to Allied troops. Divers descend to find her holds still packed with motorcycles, trucks, rifles and railway rolling stock, an eerie underwater time capsule of the war.
Swimming through the broken decks, past the intact cargo and encrusted machine guns, is as much a history lesson as a dive. Marine life has colonised the steel, drawing schooling fish and the occasional turtle over the artificial reef.
Usually reached on a day boat or liveaboard from Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada, it is best suited to experienced, certified divers.
Know before you go
Strong currents and the wreck's depth make this an advanced dive, so go with a reputable operator and be honest about your certification and logged experience.