Wreck Diving from Hurghada: El Mina to the Thistlegorm

Few places pack this much rusting history into day-trip range. Here is how we plan wreck diving for our guests, from first wreck to bucket-list.

El Mina - your first wreck

An Egyptian minesweeper lying 20 minutes from the harbor at 25-30 meters. The hull is intact enough to feel like a real ship, glassfish cloud the superstructure, and there is no penetration needed. Open Water divers with some experience can enjoy it from the top; Advanced divers get the full tour.

Abu Nuhas - the ships graveyard

Four classic wrecks on one reef about 90 minutes out: the Giannis D with its famous tilted engine room, the coral-covered Carnatic from 1869, and the two "lentil wrecks" Chrisoula K and Kimon M. Depths run 5 to 28 meters. This is where the PADI Wreck Diver specialty happens, and honestly one of the best wreck days anywhere.

SS Thistlegorm - the legend

A British WWII cargo ship sunk in 1941 with trucks, motorbikes, rifles and locomotives still in her holds. It is a very early start and a long day from Hurghada (about 150 EUR with two dives), and worth every minute for a prepared diver. Depth 16 to 32 meters, sometimes current. We take Advanced divers with recent experience.

What certification do you need?

• El Mina and reef-top wrecks: Open Water plus a bit of experience.
• Abu Nuhas and Thistlegorm: Advanced Open Water (or a Deep adventure dive) because of depth.
• Going inside beyond the light zone: PADI Wreck Diver specialty - lines, reels and real training, not bravado.

Respect the wrecks

These are war graves and time capsules. We do not take souvenirs, we do not kick silt into the holds, and we brief every wreck's history before we drop. It makes the dive better, not just safer.