Wreck Safari

Let's start with Dunraven, a 270ft/85m steam and sail driven cargo vessel built in the UK in 1873 and wrecked on Sha'ab Mahmoud in 1876. She now lies upside down and makes an easy warm up dive to our week.

Then over to Shag Rock and the Kingston wreck, another British cargo vessel, built in 1871 and sunk ten years later. She lies upright in shallow water and is teaming with life. Excellent for photography.

Next stop Abu Nahas, across the channel, a wreck diver's paradise with four spectacular wrecks on one reef: Giannis D, Carnatic, the Tile Wreck and the Unknown Wreck. Here the boat will anchor in sheltered waters behind the reef while the Zodiac takes you out to the wrecks on the exposed side. Some of you will want more than one day here.

After that, we steam on to Gubal Island where we do a night dive on the Old Water Barge. Here you'll also see the truly excellent yet undived wreck of the Ulysses, which is heaving with life in sometimes furious currents.

If you are an experienced diver and seek a challenge, we will take you to the Rosalie Muller. She was sunk in the same week as the Thistlegorm, by the same guys, and lies upright in 50 metres of water. She's still in perfect condition, with navigation lights and port holes. It is a dark and challenging dive as the wreck jumps out at you from the gloom below, unless it is totally obscured by the huge schools of fish living here.

Back across the channel we'll dive the Carina above Shag Rock, weather permitting. Then it's time for the famous World War II wreck of the Thistlegorm with its interesting cargo of supplies to the army in Africa.

The straits of Tiran has a huge wreck, the Million Hope, lying upright in 25 metres with her cranes and bridge above water. This wreck sank as recently as 1996 and she provides an excellent opportunity to study the growth of coral already established here.

Across the straits, near Tiran island, lies the well-broken wreck of the Kormoran, a large bulk carrier that is now smashed to bits by the often huge seas coming in here.