SS Thistlegorm as a Diving Site

In my previous article, I shared the story of the SS Thistlegorm, which I can call the ‘Queen of Shipwrecks’ for the interested ones, and in this article, let’s look at the Thistlegorm as a diving point. SS Thistlegorm lies about 50km from Sharm El Sheik and 60km from Hurghada, in the North of the Red Sea, off the Sinai Peninsula.

Our journey started very early in the morning from Sharm El Sheik. After a short ride, we started our boat trip, which will last about 4 hours with the sunrise. If you want to sleep during the journey, you can find yourself a corner on the boat, if you ask me, take your tea and coffee and enjoy the view and the sunrise.

After a 4-hour journey, we reached SS Thistlegorm. Although buoys have been placed in the area many times for the mooring of boats, they have all been lost, so diving centers are directly moored to the wreck with the support of a diver.

SS Thistlegorm is at the limits of Sport Diving, that is, almost 30m/100ft depth. The shallowest point of the wreck is 16 meters and the deepest point is 32 meters deep. In order to be qualified to dive, you must have an Advanced Open Water or equivalent certificate from any internationally recognized organization and have a minimum of 50 registered dives. Leaving aside the number of certificates and dives, in order to dive this wreck safely; I strongly recommend you to be a diver who is comfortable underwater, who can take care of his buoyancy and equipment.

The first of the two dives to the shipwreck is around the wreck and the second dive is inside the wreck, so it is very important to have good buoyancy as almost all of the second dive is inside the wreck.

Although the current is not very strong at the diving point, it is generally manageable for divers at this level, but remember that you should always be prepared for changing conditions in the open sea.

Visibility varies between 15 meters and 30 meters depending on many different conditions.

Water temperatures are between 22C and 28C per year, which is suitable for a comfortable dive. Although the water temperatures are suitable for a comfortable dive, it is useful to go prepared to protect against the wind on the boat after the dive.

So what will you see? The SS Thistlegorm will offer you a dive you won’t forget. Apart from the story of the wreck and the cargo it carries, it is also home to an incredible underwater life that remains in the background.

When we start to descend, a variety of underwater life will be waiting for you, from a turtle that welcomes us with its giant size right next to the wreck, as if it were a host, to crocodile fish, sea rabbits and shoals of different types of fish.

In the cargo compartments of the wreck there are motorcycles, weapons and ammunition crates, pickup trucks and boots.

There are also motorcycle spare parts and repair tools in the cargo.

Before you go to SS Thistlegorm, make sure you are ready for such a dive and carefully choose the dive center you will dive with.

Although the SS Thistlegorm is a favorite of divers from all over the world, it is a shipwreck that buried nine sailors. We should show our respect to the sailors who lost their lives. Be careful not to move any parts or bring any ornaments to your home. Wrecks are no longer pieces of metal with their stories but they become part of human stories. Therefore, if you are diving a wreck with a story, take care to learn the story of that wreck.