Prepare to be astonished by the fascinating World War II ear ship that rests at the bottom of the seabed in the Strait of Gubal. As one of the most legendary wrecks in Egypt's red sea, this is a sit you must not miss during your luxury yacht charter vacation.
Diving down to the seabed towards the SS Thistlegorm is one of the most thrilling pastimes. Built in 1940, the SS Thistlegorm was a 126m long freighter that was responsible for carrying military equipment during World War II. The wreck draws in many visitors and locals alike who share the same passion for diving, history and exploration.
Every SS Thistlegorm dive treats guests to a wartime history lesson, everything about this wreck dive is simply amazing
As you swim around the wreck, you will begin to notice the array of cargo that has been resting on the sea bed since the freighter went down. Gaze in awe at the eerie artifacts including locomotives, tanks, army trucks, jeeps, wellington boots and even motorcycles. The more time you spend exploring the area, the more detailed and interesting artifacts you will witness.
Built by Joseph Thompson & Sons shipyard in Sunderland for the Albyn Line and launched in April 1940, the SS Thistlegorm was a privately owned vessel that had been partly financed by the British Government and classified as an armed freighter. She carried out three successful voyages after her launch.
So how did the SS Thistlegorm sink? There was a build-up of Allied troops in Egypt during September 1941 and German intelligence (Abwehr) suspected that there was a troop carrier in the area bringing in additional troops. Two aircraft were dispatched from Crete to find and destroy the troop carrier, and targeting the largest ship in the area, the aircraft dropped two bombs on the Thistlegorm.
Most of the cargo remained within the ship, which is what makes this dive site one of the most memorable across the globe, the only major exception being the steam locomotives from the deck cargo, which were blown off to each side of the wreck.
If you're interested in visiting this wreck dive and would like to incorporate a trip into your Egypt yacht charter itinerary, please speak with your preferred yacht charter broker.
To find out more about chartering in the region, check out our in-depth Egypt and the Red Sea yacht charter guide for more information.
