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Red Sea — Sharm El Sheikh · boat

SS Thistlegorm

Editorial plate — compiled from published sources, not yet confirmed by a verified diver. Dived here? Verify this plate.

Sha'ab Ali, Strait of Gubal

27.81410°N, 33.92150°E

A WWII British freighter bombed in 1941, its holds still stacked with trucks, motorcycles and rifles; one of the world's best-known wreck dives.

Depth
15–33 m

Typical 24 m

Vis
15–25 m

22–28 °C

Current
strong
Health
Unscored

Awaiting verified ratings

Geo (surface approx.)
27.81410°N, 33.92150°E

Coordinates from a cited source.

Entry / access
boat

The Thistlegorm was sunk by German bombers on 6 October 1941 while anchored waiting for the Suez Canal, killing nine crew. She sits upright at about 30 m with her stern blown apart from the bow, a locomotive lying beside the hull. Typical trips do an outside orientation dive and a guided penetration of the holds, where vehicles and munitions remain. Day boats leave Sharm El Sheikh before dawn for the long crossing.

Difficulty
advanced

Advanced Open Water (30 m) or equivalent; wreck training for hold penetration; Nitrox advised

Best season
—
Last reviewed
20 Oct 2026 by editorial

Hazards

  • high · Strong current on the wreck
  • medium · Silted holds and interior penetration
  • medium · Wartime munitions in the cargo (do not touch)
  • low · Heavy diver traffic from day boats and liveaboards

Marine life

Typical: hawksbill turtle, batfish, trevally, crocodilefish, lionfish, sweepers, soldierfish, fusiliers, blackspotted sweetlips

Durable site rating

Multi-axis score

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Condition reports

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Living record

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Questions people search

How deep is SS Thistlegorm?

15–33 m (typical 24 m).

Is SS Thistlegorm suitable for beginners?

advanced — Advanced Open Water (30 m) or equivalent; wreck training for hold penetration; Nitrox advised

Sources

Where sources disagree

Rediscovery by Cousteau dated early 1950s (Wikipedia) vs 1956 (Dive The World); max depth 30 m (Wikipedia, Circle Divers) vs 33 m (Dive The World).

Listed by: Circle Divers

Related sites

Other advanced plates in Red Sea — Sharm El Sheikh.

Durable multi-axis scores sit on the rating plate. File a timestamped condition report, CoralWatch colour, or debris card on today's report. Public averages stay verified-only. Book at an Andaman dive centre.