SS THISTLEGORM

BEST WRECK DIVE IN THE WORLD!

A wreck dive on the SS Thistlegorm is one of the most exciting dives in the world. The Thistlegorm is without exception the most famous wreck in the Red Sea with its interesting history adding to the unforgettable experience of diving this well preserved wreck.

Diving On The SS Thistlegorm:

For this trip we leave from the port of Sharm el Sheikh in the early morning. On board we can enjoy breakfast, and a cup of coffee or tea whilst we sail the hour and a half to the site of the wreck. We do our first dive around the wreck taking in its awesome size. The second dive allows us to explore inside the SS Thistlegorm to see the infamous motorbikes, trucks and other relics. After our two dives we leave the area and enjoy lunch while we head towards Ras Mohammed National Park. Our third dive will be at one of the world class Ras Mohammed dive sites Yolanda or Shark Reef. After this dive we head back to the Sharm el Sheikh port where we finish up, having spent another successful day diving the Red Sea in Egypt.

History:

During World War II, the Allies used large freighters to ship supplies to troops stationed in North Africa. The SS Thistlegorm was one of those freighters and could carry a load of up to 9000 tons. On the day it was bombed the ship was nearing the end of a long and dangerous journey from England, via the Cape of Good Hope, towards North Africa. The cargo on board, a mix of military equipment, including; uniforms, ammunition, jeeps, motorbikes and trucks all destined for the British Eighth Army in North Africa. On October 6, 1941 the ship was anchored close to the Suez Canal, near the reef Shaab Ali. Unfortunately this made it an easy target for an air attack and consequently German planes, departing from Crete began bombing the site around 1:30 pm. Two bombs hit the SS Thistlegorm’s ammunition room and the ship sank almost immediately.

It was Jacques Yves Cousteau, who discovered the wreck in 1956. However the exact location was lost, and it took until 1991 for the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm to be rediscovered.