SS THISTLEGORM – SINAI

NAME & LOCATION

East of the Sinai Peninsula, 40 kilometers from Sharm and on the edge of the Ras Mohamed National Park is where the world famous SS Thistlegorm found her final resting place.

The SS Thistlegorm has found her final resting place at the edge of the Ras Mohamed National park, just west of Sharm. On the east side the straight of Tiran with famous sites like Wilson and Jackson.
The SS Thistlegorm has found her final resting place at the edge of the Ras Mohamed National park, just west of Sharm. On the east side the straight of Tiran with famous sites like Wilson and Jackson.

Discovered originally by Jacques Cousteau in 1956 as he followed tips of local fishermen who had seen a funnel just below the surface. It was considered a world class find as many were seeking this wreckage that went down during the Second World War.

HISTORY SS THISTLEGORM

The SS Thistlegorm was a 126 meter army frater on its way to resupply the 4th infantry of the Royal British Army back in 1941. The Mediterranean Sea was under the control of Nazi Germany, hence this vessel left Glasgow, rounded Africa and entered the Red Sea from the South, intending to pass through the Suez Channel to go to Alexandria where the infantry was located.

  • Bommed by the Nazi’sthis is probably a top 5 wreck dive in the world. She sits at 30 meters of water and the majority of her cargo is still there. From trucks and motorbikes all the way to ammunition and airplane wings. And on top fall that some awesome life around like turtles, crocodile fish, scorpion fish, lion fish, bar fish… just to name a few.

As SS Thislegorm was asked to stay on safe anchoridge awaiting passage through the Sues Channel she was bombed by surprise. The Queen Mary was in the Red Sea with about 10.000 troops on board and that was the original target. Some Heinkel HE III aircraft dispatched from Greece to seek the Queen Mary during the night. Luckily for the Queen Mary and her troops she was not discovered, leaving the bombers with a load that they had to drop to make sure that they had sufficient fuel to return to Greece. So the pilots looked for an alternative and found the SS Thistlegorm. As they bombed her they hit her direct in the ammunition storage and the ship blew up creating an explosion so big that she lit up the night sky on the early hours of October the 6th of 1941. It is believed that because of this light the Rosalie Moller was spotted also sitting at safe anchoridge behind the Island of Gubal and she was bombed only a few days later.

  • The SS Thistlegorm had a single prop and a big one at that. The diver gives you an idea of its size.
  • A machine gun mounted on the stern of the SS Thistlegorm.
  • One of the locomotives of the SS Thistlegorm sitting just 15 meter to the side of this great wreckage.

Because the SS Thistlegorm  sank instantly and because she is sitting up straight with loads of goodies inside, she makes an excellent and world class dive Goodies to be found: motor bikes, armored cars, ammunition, train tenders, locomotive, airplane wings, trucks, riffles and much more.

BIODIVERSITY

Even though this is a wreck dive, the dive site offers a lot of marine life. Schools of yellowfin barracuda, a giant grouper, crocodile fish, lion fish scorpion fish, bat fish, nudibranchs, shrimps and much more.

  • A hawksbill turtle, commonly found on most reefs in the Red Sea, including some wrecks.
    A hawksbill turtle, commonly found on most reefs in the Red Sea, including some wrecks.
  • A long armed banded boxer shrimp is know to be a cleaner of for instance the local mural eel during its daily shower.
  • Only seen during the night and in this case on Thistlegorm, the Mauritia grayana. Notice the stunning shell that is used for protection and partly overgrown by the animal itself.
    Only seen during the night and in this case on Thistlegorm, the Mauritia grayana. Notice the stunning shell that is used for protection and partly overgrown by the animal itself.
  • 2 flabelinas probably reproducing as they are together. This species likes to be around wrecks and can be found sitting on certain vegetation.
  • Beautiful yellow and green cup corals that like to grow on stone walls and wrecks. In the day the ‘tentacles are not seen, however at night they come out.
  • Related to the lion and scorpion fish, this is the crocodile fish.Usually they can be found on the ground trying to hide into the background so that they can surprise their potential dinner. Can change color is the skin and had venomous spines.
  • Batfish are usually found in a group or school. They are very curious however also a bit scared of us. So approach gently and stay relaxed and you will find these beautiful fish swimming around you.
    Batfish are usually found in a group or school. They are very curious however also a bit scared of us. So approach gently and stay relaxed and you will find these beautiful fish swimming around you.
  • the bearded scorpion fish can change it colors as means to blend into the background.
    the bearded scorpion fish can change it colors as means to blend into the background.
  • A pink porcelain crab that ca be found in finger corals are usually best spotted at night.
    A pink porcelain crab that ca be found in finger corals are usually best spotted at night.
  • Urchin, often hiding in small holes in the reef at daytime. But as light starts to fade they come outside to feed.
    Urchin, often hiding in small holes in the reef at daytime. But as light starts to fade they come outside to feed.
  • The octopus is a master of disguise and extremely hard to find. A sudden movement or a change of light often triggers them to change colors.
    The octopus is a master of disguise and extremely hard to find. A sudden movement or a change of light often triggers them to change colors.
  • Famous around he world and native to the Red Sea, hence we do not hunt them here. At night they like to come out and hunt, being overly curious and seek company of night divers.
    Famous around he world and native to the Red Sea, hence we do not hunt them here. At night they like to come out and hunt, being overly curious and seek company of night divers.
DIVE SITE SPECS
Access:Year round, in the winter currents and wind pick up
Type of diving:Drift along deep walls and night dive from the boat.
Diver level:Advanced & comfortable with currents & depth.
Depth:From boat / zodiac
Current:0-40 meters
Visability:20-30 meters

WHAT TRIPS BRING YOU THERE?

These dives can be done by Liveaboard, where you combine the best dive sites in a weeks diving. The following trips offer it as part of their program: