Apart from diving the numerous coral gardens and reef walls found near the coast line of Hurghada, the area also offers some of the best wreck dives in the country. For those planning on sampling wreck diving Hurghada, here are some of the popular sites worth a trip or two.
Nearest to the coast line is the El Mina wreck dive site. This site is also known as the ‘Harbour Wreck,’ in connection to its location within the harbour of Hurghada. This particular wreck is made up of an Egyptian minesweeper sunk by an Israeli bomber in 1969. With a depth of 30 meters, most of the dives organized in this site are done by more experienced divers. The area also experiences decreased visibility and strong currents in some days, making it dangerous for novices. The wreck itself can be penetrated, though this is not recommended due to tight spaces within. However, it is possible to peer through several holes to have a glimpse of its interiors. The ship’s structure is relatively small, and divers can swim from stern to bow several times in a single dive. The wreck is home to a number of sea urchins and moray eels. It is interesting to note that a sister ship is anchored in the harbor, providing some sort of comparison for divers interested in attempting a dive to this site.
Another interesting wreck dive site is located at the Sha’abrur Umm Gamar, the final resting place of Colona IV, a charter boat that sunk in 1995. The wreck is said to be 66 meters down the sea floor, and is visited only by experienced divers. Because this wreck is relatively new, only a few corals are anchored to it. Because the boat is quite small, precise information are needed before organizing a dive to it. Most dive centers in Hurghada are capable of taking interested divers to this site, with slightly varying fees.
Most dive centers can also organize dives to the wreck known as the Suzanna. The original name of the vessel is Excalibur, a sailboat that got burned and sunk in the 1990s for unknown reasons. Resting 22 meters down on the sea floor, this site is quite accessible to all types of divers, even those taking open water courses. Current is minimal and visibility ranges from excellent to medium. The wreck still stands upright, and the damage sustained in the fire can still be discerned. Fishes that made this wreck home include the glassfish, barracuda, and lionfish. This dive site is accessible either by boat or through beach entry.
Still yet another interesting diving destination is the solemn wreck of the Salem Express, a tragic loss that sunk in 1991, along with hundreds of its passengers. Interested individuals should know beforehand that traces of its passengers can still be discerned, like suitcases, stereos, and remnants of clothing. Diving in this site is not for everyone, as the vessel’s tragedy looms very large in the mind of every diver circling it.
Located further away from the city and taking several hours to reach are the wreck sites of Carnatic, a steam vessel, and the cargo vessel named Ghiannis D.
The most recent addition to this list of wreck sites Hurghada is the resting place of MY Balena, a safari boat that sunk in 2001. Located just 9 meters down on the sea floor, the site is also just a few minutes away from the shores of Hurghada. This makes it quite an ideal site for novices, with the proliferation of soft corals on the vessel’s surface and abundance of barracudas darting in and out of its body providing added visual delights.
