Deep in the silent waters of the Red Sea lies a time capsule from 1941. The SS Thistlegorm is not just a shipwreck; it is a museum of World War II history frozen in time. Consistently voted as one of the top 3 wreck dives on the planet, exploring this British vessel is a rite of passage for every advanced diver.
The Tragic History
On October 6, 1941, the SS Thistlegorm was anchored near the Strait of Gubal, waiting to deliver essential supplies to the British Eighth Army in North Africa. In the dead of night, two German Heinkel He 111 bombers spotted the ship. Two bombs struck hold number 4, igniting the ammunition cargo and sending the mighty ship to the bottom of the sea, where it remained undiscovered until Jacques Cousteau found it in the 1950s.
(Discover the full historical timeline on the SS Thistlegorm Wikipedia page).
What You Will See Underwater
Diving the Thistlegorm is like swimming through a history book. The cargo holds are still packed with the supplies intended for the war effort:
Bedford Trucks: Rows of military trucks still parked inside the hold.
BSA Motorcycles: Dozens of vintage motorcycles stacked on top of the trucks.
Locomotives: Two massive steam locomotives were blown off the deck by the explosion and sit on the sea floor.
Wellington Boots & Rifles: Personal items that remind us of the human element of the war.
Dive Profile & Requirements
Because the wreck sits at a depth of 30 meters and is often subject to strong currents, this is not a dive for beginners. To join our Safari Trip, you need to hold an Advanced Open Water certification (or equivalent) and have at least 20 logged dives. Nitrox is highly recommended to extend your bottom time and explore more of this massive 126-meter-long vessel.
