Hurghada Dive Site

SS Thistlegorm - Hurghada Dive Site

SS Thistlegorm is one of the most requested wreck routes in the Red Sea. It stays visible here so guests can explore the idea, but Diving Star plans it only through special request and route-specific coordination.

This route is handled only on special request - not part of the standard daily diving rotation. Minimum group size, weather window and experienced divers required.

Level: Advanced
Depth range: 16m - 32m
Travel time: Full special-request route

SS Thistlegorm dive site in Hurghada, Red Sea

Dive profile at a glance

Level

Advanced

Depth range

16m - 32m

Travel time

Full special-request route

Reef profile

Famous Red Sea wreck route handled separately from standard boat rotation

What divers usually notice

Iconic wreck route
Full-day special planning
Advanced divers
Request-based scheduling

Who this dive site suits

An advanced-level dive - recommended for Advanced Open Water divers with good buoyancy, air management and experience in similar profiles.

Dive route profile

SS Thistlegorm is a British WWII cargo ship that sank in 1941 carrying supplies for Allied forces in North Africa. She sits upright on sand at 30 metres, with the main deck between 16 and 24 metres. The signature attractions are the still-visible cargo holds - motorcycles, trucks, locomotives and ammunition - plus the bow, stern guns and propeller. Diving Star runs two dives on Thistlegorm days: the first is usually external and includes the bow and stern area, the second focuses on the cargo holds and superstructure with optional limited penetration for trained divers.

Marine life you may encounter

Marine life on Thistlegorm is secondary to the wreck but very much present - large groupers, schools of jacks and batfish around the deck, tuna in the blue, and occasional sightings of eagle rays over the sand. The wreck is an artificial reef of exceptional scale.

Best season to dive this site

Spring and autumn are ideal. The site is a long boat transfer from Hurghada (typically 2.5 to 3 hours each way), so surface conditions matter more than on near-shore dives. Winter is often cancelled for wind.

Typical conditions

Visibility usually 15 to 25 metres. Current can be strong on Thistlegorm, which is why schedule and tide are coordinated before the run. The site demands good buoyancy, gas discipline and briefing attention. Nitrox 32 is strongly recommended for both dives.

Planning and practical notes

Diving Star confirms the dive plan on the morning of departure based on wind direction, current and the certification level of divers on board. Two dives per day is standard for daily diving, with a lunch break on board between dives. Equipment rental is EUR 20 per day for certified divers who are not travelling with their own set.

Practical diving tips

Do not rush the cargo holds. The depth and history invite a fast descent and a full sweep, but the richer experience comes from moving slowly, especially around the motorbike hold and the locomotives on the sand beside the wreck. Thistlegorm is often described as a once-in-a-diving-lifetime route, so plan it deliberately.