Wreck diving
Despite the many similarities in diving, we differ somewhat in our underwater interests. Marcel is more focused on macro life, and Edwin is a more enthusiastic wreck diver.
On this page we like to share some specific wreck dives we made during our BrotherDive trips but also separately made by Edwin.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Where applicable we make use of various ‘sketchfab’ 3D models to give you a great impression of the wrecks.
All credits go out the the creators of the sketchfab photogrammetry models.
Below you'll find an overview of the wrecks we dived
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Jake seaplane wreck (Palau - Micronesia)
During our BrotherDive trip to Palau in 2022, met an American diver Brett Eldridge. Together with Brett we dived the wreck of a The Aichi E13A (aka ‘Jake’) Seaplane.
Brett is an enthusiastic wreck divers and experienced in making photogrammetry models. He shot hundreds of photos of the wreck during our dive.
The fabulous result can be seen here!
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The El Mina / El Miniya (Hurghada - Egypt)
This article is part of the “Get wrecked” series written by Edwin and originally published in the diving magazine of Lucky Divers Rotterdan (The Netherlands)
The El Mina (which is Arabic for harbour) got its name from the fact that it sank near the harbour of Hurghada.
Her real name is “El Miniya” and is also known as “The Harbour Wreck”
The ship was sunk in 1970, while at anchor, by Israeli bombers during the 6 day war. This Egyptian minesweeper is approximately 70 metres long and 9.5 metres wide. She lies on her starboard side in 32 metres of water at the stern and approximately 26 metres at the bow.
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The Mohamed Hasabella (Hurghada - Egypt)
The Mohamed Hasabella, was an Egyptian fishing vessel of the type that is still often used in this area today.
The wreck is not very old, and the story behind the ship is probably only known to the local fishing population. To reach the wreck you have to swim from the back (near the mooring rope) of the El Mina 1 for up to 2 minutes (45 meters) in a southerly direction.
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The Carnatic (Abu Nuhas - Egypt)
The Carnatic was once a magnificent 90 metre long British P&O (Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company) sailing / steamer. The ship was launched on 8th December 1862 at the shipyard of “Samuda Bros of London”.
It was a passenger and mail ship, the mail on this voyage was intended for the British troops in India.
But it also carried bales of cotton, copper ingots, soda water, 40,000 sterling in gold coins and a cargo of the finest wine. Because of the latter this ship is also known as the ‘wine wreck’.
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The Salem Express (Safaga - Egypt)
A dive on the Salem Express is a dive with contradictions because the ship is officially registered as a grave monument.
The Salem Express lies on her starboard side near the Hyndman reef at a depth between 12 and 30 meters.
The wreck, a former Roll on Roll off Ferry, is no less than a 100 meters long. The ship was built in 1966 and sank in December 1991, after an unfortunate collision with the Hyndman reef.
Diving on the ship has been officially permitted since 1995, the wreck is open to divers although parts of the ship are inaccessible.
The bow and the screws are completely intact and the wreck is surrounded by marine life.
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Thistlegorm - Sha'ab Ali - Egypt
This is one of the most famous wrecks in the world. Located in the northern section of the Red Sea (+/- 40km from Sharm el-Sheikh) , the SS Thistlegorm is a 124-metre long British steamship from the Second World War. It was sunk in 1941 following a German air attack.
She was packed to the gunwales with a cargo of supplies destined for the British fifth army based in Alexandria. Armoured Bren-Gun carriers, BSA motorcycles, jeeps, trucks, rolling stock, aeroplane parts, stacks of rifles, radio equipment, munitions, and a plentiful supply of Wellington boots can all be seen during your dive.
The Thistlegorm is a paradise for wreck enthusiasts.
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Giannis D (Abu Nuhas - Egypt)
The Giannis D. had been built and launched in 1969 in Japan under the name of ‘Shoyo Maru’, and renamed the Markus. The ship was sold again in 1980 to the Dumarc Shipping and Trading Corporation, Piraeus, Greece, and renamed the “Giannis D”. It measures 99.5 meters long and 16 meters wide.
It crashed against the north-western corner of the reef of Abu Nuhas on 19th April 1983
With bridge deck and engine room at the stern, this section provides the diver with the most interesting features. Externally, the propeller and rudder are found on the seabed.
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Patrol boat - (Hurghada - Egypt)
These are the remains of the small Egyptian patrol boat.
Starting around 27 meter till 35 meters of depth and scattered all around. And parts of it have slid down to 110 meters.
Actualy there is not much else to see that a little debris and the 2 engines.
The twin engines of the police patrol boat are laying on top of the wreck.
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Military museum (Hurghada - Egypt)
In September 2023 the Hurghada underwater museum was inaugurated, the result of collaboration between the government and the Egyptian Armed Forces and the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA).
This museum includes 15 old military vehicles of the Egyptian Army, from different eras and origins.
The locations are: Erg Gamea, Shaab Elsakala and Urog Eltaweel.
We discus the last one ‘Urog Eltaweel’
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Chrissoula K / Marcus (Abu Nuhas - Egypt)
The “Tile wreck”, the great mystery of the “Chrisoula K” and the “M.V. Marcus”…
The large, semi-open cargo space allows for great swim-throughs, where you can see the ship’s cargo of Italian floor tiles, some of them still neatly stacked. The superstructure is covered in both hard and soft corals, and has considerable marine life.
The bow sits at 4m deep and the stern about 27m. The body of the wreck is still in good condition. Exploring the captain’s cabin and the engine room are exciting for the adventurous diver.
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Kimon M (Abu Nuhas - Egypt)
The Kimon M or “the Lentil Wreck” is actually one of two ships that wrecked here while transporting lentils. The other is the SeaStar, but that lies at 90 meter of depth.
The Kimon M is the largest and deepest of the four wrecks possible for recreational divers on Abu Nuhas.
It sank in 1978 on its way from Turkey to India. It measures approximately 120 metres but now has lost some of that to the sea.
Its deepest part is just over 30 meters and its shallowest is around 15 metres.
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MS Balena (Hurghada - Egypt)
The Balena is just a short distance from the beach at Giftun Beach Resort.
You can see it from the surface and is at it’s most only 10 meters deep.
But don’t let this trick you, it’s one of the most beautifull wrecks if it comes to flora, founa and marine life!
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Excallibur - (Hurghada - Egypt)
The Excalibur (or Suzanna) was a live-aboard vessel or safari boat which sank in 1995. The reason for her sinking is not sure but traces of fire have been found.
She lies on her side in a small sand lagoon and has many openings which can be explored.
It has become an artificial reef, teeming with vibrant marine life.
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Tank wreck site - Sharm el Sheikh
Very little is known about the tank graveyard, an abandoned trove of British-made military trucks and equipment in Ras Peter, Sharm el Maya, at the bay entrance of the Sharm el Sheikh Port, used by international cruise ships.
Around 5 “Bedford trucks” and 30 “Bren Carrier MK-1” tanks, also called a Universal Carrier were dumped in the sea here.
But one thing is sure, it’s an interesting historical dive.
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Yolanda - Sharm el Sheikh - Egypt
Ever since the Jolanda crashed on the reef its cargo still lies in shallow water.
The Jolanda was carrying mainly sanitary fixtures, bathtubs, toilets and even an old BMW, these are still visable in the shallow part of the reef.
The wreck itself has slipped down to a depth of 160 meter and was re-discovered in 2005.
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USS Liberty - Tulamben - Bali - Indonesia
The USS Liberty wreck has put North Bali – specifically, the small village of Tulamben, firmly on the scuba diving map.
Correctly named the USAT Liberty, this site attracts excited divers from far and wide, all drawn by the promise of exploring one of Indonesia’s best and most accessible shipwrecks.
The shipwreck’s accessible depth, ranging from 5 to 30 meters, accommodates divers of different experience levels.
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SS Numidia- Big brother island - Red Sea - Egypt
he Numidia’s maiden voyage was on 28 February 1901 departing from Glasgow sailing to Calcutta, making the return trip soon afterwards. The second voyage of the ship would, however, prove to be her last.
It lies at a steep angle, its stern at the deeper end, perched on the northern reef of Egypt’s Big Brother Island
The SS Numidia is one of the most spectacular and captivating wrecks to dive anywhere in the world.
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Juan Escutia (C56) - Puerto Morelos - Mexico
The C-50 Shipwreck in Puerto Morelos is a dive that you cannot miss. This underwater jewel offers one of the best diving in the Riviera Maya, full of marine life and mystery that will leave you fascinated.
The C-50, also known as Juan Escutia of the Mexican Navy, is a Gunboat class ship that originally served the Mexican Navy. This 56 meter long vessel was deliberately sunk in 2000 to create an artificial reef.
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BOUY #6 wreck - Palau - Micronesia
If you’re looking for an exciting dive site, then the Buoy #6 wreck in Malakal Channel, just 2 miles (3.5 km) from Koror, is an excellent choice. The wreck is a small fishing vessel and n WWII converted to a submarine chaser.
This wreck is a true habitat for all kind of underwater creatures.
It’s fully covere with hard and softcorals and therefore one of the most colorfull wrecks in Palau, offering excellent photographic opportunities.
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IJN Teshio Maru - Palau - Micronesia
Lying just off one of Palau’s natural channels, the Teshio Maru is a beautifully intact and lesser-known Japanese freighter that rewards divers with open structure, vivid marine life, and a sense of quiet grandeur.
This 114-meter cargo vessel was part of Japan’s wartime logistics fleet and met her end like so many others during Operation Desecrate One.
She now rests at a depth of 10 to 30 meters, making her one of Palau’s most approachable wreck dives, especially for those who want extended bottom time without pushing into technical limits.
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Helmet wreck - Palau - Micronesia
The name Helmet Wreck is prolific amongst the dive shops in Palau due to the fused rows of helmet stacks still present in the stern hold.
Its official identity is still unknown, but that only adds to the mystique.
The ship was sunk during Operation Desecrate One (March 30 – March 31 1944) by the U.S. Army.
It’s a time capsule of World War II, filled with preserved artifacts, eerie relics, and thriving marine life.
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Hafa Adai Shipwreck - Palau - Micronesia
The “Hafa Adai wreck”, this is non war wreck and sunk in purpose during the mid 70’s and now it’s habitat by schools of fish and colorful hard and soft coral, also we found the residence blue dragon nudibranch all over the place and many other type of reef fish.
Despite being a very popular wreck among divers, very little is known about it.
Iro maru - Palau - Micronesia
Information about this wreck will be available soon!
Kyokuzan Maru - Coron - Philippines
Information about this wreck will be available soon!