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North Wrecks
MARRIOTT MARINA · BOTH ENDS
HISTORIC WRECKS
DIVES INCLUDED
MIN. CERTIFICATION
DEPTH RANGE
HISTORIC SHIPWRECKS
NIGHT DIVES
NITROX 32% INCLUDED
ROUTE OVERVIEW
The Best Wreck Diving Safari in the Northern Red Sea.
The North Wrecks is the ultimate Red Sea liveaboard route for wreck divers. Six historic shipwrecks spanning from 1941 WWII cargo ships to a 1991 passenger ferry — every dive day includes a wreck, and most include a night dive to experience the same hull in a completely different light.
The route runs north from Hurghada through the Safaga offshore reefs (Salem Express, Middle Reef, Panorama), then into the Strait of Gubal where the most legendary wrecks of the Red Sea cluster: SS Thistlegorm, Giannis D at Sha’ab Abu Nuhas, Rosalie Moller, and the Gubal Island sites. All levels of wreck diver welcome — from the relatively shallow Giannis D (4–27m) to the deep technical territory of the Rosalie Moller (mast at 17m, deck at 35–40m).
Night dives on this route are exceptional: the Thistlegorm becomes an eerie, torch-lit time capsule; Middle Reef transforms with hunting cephalopods; Tobi Arba’a’s pinnacles come alive with Spanish dancers and decorator crabs; and The Barge at Gubal Island is considered one of the finest night dives in the northern Red Sea.
🚢SS Thistlegorm — world’s most famous WWII wreck · dawn + night dive from liveaboard
⚓Giannis D — most accessible wreck at Sha’ab Abu Nuhas · 4–27m
💀Salem Express — Egyptian passenger ferry 1991 · emotional, powerful dive
🏴Rosalie Moller — WWII sister ship of Thistlegorm · sunk 48 hrs later · intact at 35–50m
🌙5 night dives — Middle Reef, Tobi Arba’a x2, Thistlegorm, The Barge at Gubal
Diver Requirements
Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent) with minimum 30 logged dives. Experience in wreck diving recommended. The Rosalie Moller is a deep dive — deck at 35–40m, bottom at 50m — requiring careful gas management and Nitrox is strongly recommended. Technical divers can explore the deeper sections with appropriate certification.
What's Included on This Route
DIVE SITES
Six Wrecks. Seven Nights. One Red Sea.
Every major wreck in the northern Red Sea on one liveaboard safari — from 1869 to 1991, from 5m to 50m, from cargo tiles to WWII motorcycles.
Sha’ab Sheer
Safaga area · Day 2, Dive 1 — check dive
A large horseshoe reef system over 1km long near Safaga with multiple dive sites. The east end features three ergs in a channel with superb caves, grottoes and a large brain coral garden. Excellent check dive — calm, sheltered south side, strong current on the exposed north.
Salem Express
Hyndman Reef, Safaga · Day 2, Dives 2 & 3
An Egyptian passenger RO-RO ferry that sank on 15 December 1991 after colliding with Hyndman Reef. Now encrusted with soft corals, glassfish in the holds and moray eels throughout. A dive that carries profound emotional weight — treated with respect by every diver who enters the water here.
Middle Reef
Safaga offshore · Day 2, Night dive
A very large circular reef east of Safaga with dozens of shallow ergs, hard coral gardens and caves. Exceptional for night diving — spider crabs, decorator crabs, octopus, cuttlefish and free-swimming squid are common. One of the best accessible night dive reefs in the Safaga area.
Panorama Reef — South Plateau
Safaga offshore · Day 3, Dive 1
One of the Red Sea’s finest offshore reefs. The south plateau descends from 18m to 30m, sheltered from the main current — giant gorgonians grow around a chimney at 30m, Anemone City on the southwest corner (5–20m), Napoleon wrasse on the plateau.
Panorama Reef — North Plateau
Safaga offshore · Day 3, Dive 2 · drift dive
The more exposed, current-driven side of Panorama Reef — a pristine hard coral garden with drift diving when conditions allow. Barracuda schools, tuna, eagle rays, white-tip and grey reef sharks in the blue. Drop in up-current and let it carry you along the wall.
Tobi Arba’a
Safaga area · Day 3 Dive 3 + Night + Day 4 Dive 1
Four coral pinnacles (“Four Columns”) rising from a sandy bottom. Exceptional for night diving — hunting octopus, sleeping parrotfish in mucus cocoons, Spanish dancers and decorator crabs. Dived on two consecutive days to experience the difference between day and night.
Giannis D — Sha’ab Abu Nuhas
Strait of Gubal · Day 4, Dive 1 · “The Wood Wreck”
The most photogenic and accessible wreck at Sha’ab Abu Nuhas (“Wreck Alley”). A 99.5m Greek cargo ship carrying timber, struck the reef at full speed on 19 April 1983. Lies on her port side in three sections — bow at 18m, stern at 27m, mast rising to 4m. Wheelhouse intact; engine room at 13m offers penetration through clouds of glassfish.
SS Thistlegorm
Sha’ab Ali · Day 4 Dives 2 & 3 + Night + Day 5
The world’s most famous wreck dive. A 126m British merchant ship sunk by German bombers at 01:30 on 6 October 1941. Holds contain Norton and BSA motorcycles, Bedford trucks, Lee-Enfield rifles, Wellington boots and two steam locomotives. From a liveaboard you arrive at dawn before day-trippers, dive multiple times across day and night.
Gobal Seghir (Small Gubal Island)
Strait of Gubal · Day 5, Dive 2 · aka Bluff Point
Small Gubal Island sits at the end of the busy Strait of Gubal shipping lane. Bluff Point on its eastern side is a steep wall dive with small passages teeming with marine life. The Ulysses wreck lies on the reef on the island’s southeast tip, from 5m to 25m, easy to explore with good coral coverage.
Gobal Kebir (Big Gubal) — The Barge
Big Gubal Island · Day 5, Dive 3 + Night dive
The Barge wreck south of the Big Gubal Island lighthouse is one of the best night dives in the northern Red Sea. By night the skeletal frame shelters octopus, moray eels hunting in the open, lionfish, nudibranchs and sleeping reef fish. Divers enter directly from the boat moored alongside.
Rosalie Moller
North of Sha’ab Abu Nuhas · Day 6, Dives 1 & 2
The less-known, more intact sister ship of the Thistlegorm — sunk by German bombers just 48 hours later on 8 October 1941. Lies upright on an even keel: mast at 17m, deck at 35–40m, propeller at 50m. Pots and pans still hang in the intact galley. Because it’s less visited, marine life is outstanding. Nitrox strongly recommended.
Sha’ab El Erg
Near Hurghada · Day 6, Dive 3 + Night · dolphin lagoon
A resident pod of spinner dolphins uses this lagoon as a socialising and resting area — encounters most mornings before day-trip boats arrive. The outer reef has good hard corals, seahorses and seasonal manta rays. Night dive reveals blue-spotted rays, octopus and hunting lionfish.
Giftun Island
Giftun National Park · Day 7, Dives 1 & 2 · no night dives
The Giftun Islands are a protected National Park just off Hurghada. The north wall of Big Giftun features a spectacular drift dive past gorgonian fans, huge groupers and tuna. A relaxed final dive day — long bottom times on Nitrox, excellent visibility. Ideal for underwater photography before the return to Hurghada.
ITINERARY
Day by Day
All itineraries are subject to weather, coast guard permits and captain’s discretion. Site order may change to ensure safety and best conditions.
DAY 1
Embarkation
HURGHADA · MARRIOTT MARINA · FROM 18:00
Board M/Y Aphrodite from 18:00 — a 10-minute transfer from Hurghada Airport (HRG). Welcome briefing, cabin allocation, safety brief and dive equipment set-up. Overnight in port. Departure the following morning after coast guard clearance.
⚓ Board from 18:00🌙 Overnight in Marina↳ Depart after clearance
DAY 2
Sha’ab Sheer · Salem Express · Middle Reef Night
SAFAGA AREA
Depart Hurghada after coast guard clearance (~09:00) and head south to the Safaga reefs. Check dive at Sha’ab Sheer, then two dives on the Salem Express — the most emotionally significant wreck on the route. Night dive at Middle Reef: caves and erg gardens alive with cephalopods after dark.
DAY 3
Panorama Reef · Tobi Arba’a Night
SAFAGA OFFSHORE · PANORAMA REEF
Two dives at Panorama Reef — the south plateau first (sheltered, giant gorgonians at 30m), then the north plateau as a drift dive (barracuda schools, grey reef sharks, eagle rays). Third dive at Tobi Arba’a by afternoon light. Night dive back at Tobi Arba’a: Spanish dancers, hunting octopus.
DAY 4
Giannis D · SS Thistlegorm Night
SHA’AB ABU NUHAS · SHA’AB ALI · STRAIT OF GUBAL
North into the Strait of Gubal. First dive at Giannis D on Sha’ab Abu Nuhas: penetration through the wheelhouse and engine room. Then sail to Sha’ab Ali for SS Thistlegorm — two dives at dawn before day-trippers arrive. The night dive on Thistlegorm is a defining liveaboard experience.
DAY 5
Gobal Seghir · The Barge Night
GUBAL ISLAND · STRAIT OF GUBAL
Dive at Gobal Seghir (Small Gubal Island) — Bluff Point wall dive plus optional Ulysses wreck at 5–25m. Then Big Gubal Island for the third dive and night dive at The Barge: one of the best night dives in the northern Red Sea. Divers enter directly from the stern of M/Y Aphrodite.
DAY 6
Rosalie Moller · Sha’ab El Erg Night
ROSALIE MOLLER · SHA’AB EL ERG
Two dives on the Rosalie Moller — the intact WWII coal freighter sunk 48 hours after Thistlegorm. Mast at 17m for recreational divers, deck at 35–40m for advanced, propeller at 50m for technical. Nitrox makes a real difference here. Third dive and night at Sha’ab El Erg: spinner dolphins at the lagoon.
DAY 7
Giftun Island — Final Dive Day
GIFTUN NATIONAL PARK · HURGHADA
Two relaxed final dives at Giftun Island National Park — the north wall of Big Giftun for a drift past gorgonian fans and Napoleon wrasse, Small Giftun for a calmer coral garden. Long bottom times on Nitrox, unhurried pace. Return sail to Hurghada Marriott Marina for farewell dinner on board.
DAY 8
Disembarkation
HURGHADA · MARRIOTT MARINA · AFTER BREAKFAST
Check-out after breakfast. Transfers to Hurghada Airport (HRG) — 10 minutes.
MARINE LIFE
Marine Life on the North Wrecks Route
Wreck diving and rich marine life go together — every historic shipwreck on this route has become an artificial reef supporting extraordinary biodiversity.
Sha’ab El Erg lagoon · Day 6 & night
All night dives · especially The Barge
Sleeping in Thistlegorm holds (night)
Panorama Reef · Rosalie Moller
Panorama Reef north · open water
All wreck sites · active at night
Giannis D engine room · The Barge
Panorama Reef · Giftun Island
BOOK YOUR SAFARI
Book the North Wrecks from Hurghada
The most wreck-intensive Red Sea liveaboard safari from Hurghada — Salem Express, SS Thistlegorm, Giannis D, Rosalie Moller and more. Check open departure dates on M/Y Aphrodite.
[email protected] · +20 114 004 1188