Quick answer
The SS Thistlegorm is a British cargo ship sunk by German bombers in the Gulf of Suez in October 1941 while carrying supplies for Allied forces in North Africa. Lying upright at about 30 metres with trucks, motorbikes and ammunition still in its holds, it is one of the world's best-known wreck dives, usually reached on a long day trip from Sharm el-Sheikh or on a liveaboard.
What happened to the Thistlegorm?
The Thistlegorm was a new British merchant ship, built in Sunderland and launched in 1940, sunk at anchor on 6 October 1941 by German bombers while waiting to enter the Suez Canal. She had sailed around the Cape of Good Hope carrying supplies for the Allied campaign in North Africa, but the canal was blocked by another sunken ship, so she waited for days at the Sha'ab Ali anchorage in the Gulf of Suez.
In the early hours, aircraft searching for troopships found her instead. A bomb struck the hold containing ammunition, and the explosion tore open the stern section. Nine men died. The wreck was located by Jacques Cousteau's team in the 1950s, then largely forgotten until dive boats from Sharm el-Sheikh began visiting in the early 1990s.
What can you see on the wreck?
The holds are still packed with wartime cargo, which is what makes the Thistlegorm unique: rows of Bedford trucks, BSA and Norton motorbikes, Bren gun carriers, rifles, tyres, rubber boots and shells.
- Hold 1: trucks, motorbikes and boots, many with intact tyres and handlebars.
- Hold 2: motorbikes stacked on trucks, with spare parts and aircraft components.
- The deck: railway wagons and a tank-like Bren carrier; steam locomotives carried as deck cargo were blown onto the seabed beside the hull.
- The stern: the twisted section torn open by the explosion, with the anti-aircraft gun and a heavy machine gun still mounted.
The whole wreck is coated in soft corals and patrolled by batfish, tuna, trevally and turtles. Nothing may be removed: decades of souvenir hunting have already taken their toll.
Who can dive the Thistlegorm?
You need to be a certified diver, comfortable at around 30 metres and in current; most operators ask for Advanced Open Water or equivalent and some recent experience. Open Water divers limited to 18 metres can see the upper deck and superstructure with a guide, but miss much of the wreck.
Penetrating the holds is straightforward along the main routes, but it still means diving under cover, so you will need good buoyancy and to follow your guide closely. Currents can be strong and visibility varies. Nitrox helps extend bottom time. It is not a snorkelling site. Our scuba diving in Egypt guide explains certification levels, and our travel insurance guide covers dive cover.
Day trip from Sharm or liveaboard?
A day trip is the simplest option; a liveaboard lets you dive the wreck three or four times, including at dawn or dusk when the day boats have gone.
| Day trip from Sharm | Liveaboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Around 4–5am pick-up | Usually from Sharm or Hurghada |
| Dives | Two, usually wreck plus a reef | Three or more, often including a night dive |
| Crowds | Busy mid-morning | Early and late dives are quieter |
| Best for | Divers based on land | Keen divers covering the northern wrecks |
See our Red Sea liveaboards guide for routes that also include the wrecks of Abu Nuhas.
How is a Thistlegorm dive day planned?
Expect a pick-up before dawn, a crossing of about three hours, two dives on the wreck or one on the wreck and one on a reef, and a return to Sharm in the late afternoon. Leaving early is the only way to reach the site before the busiest period, when a dozen or more boats can be tied to the wreck's moorings.
- First dive: usually a tour of the outside, from the bow and the anchor chain along the deck to the shattered stern, the guns and the locomotives on the sand.
- Second dive: inside the holds on the upper and lower levels, following lines of trucks and motorbikes by torchlight.
- Surface interval: lunch on board; many boats stop at a Ras Mohammed reef on the way home instead of a second wreck dive.
The descent and ascent are made on mooring lines, which matters when the current is running. Listen carefully to the briefing, as guides choose the route through the holds on the day.
Best time to dive
Dives run year-round, but spring and autumn bring the calmest seas and comfortable water, between about 23°C and 27°C. In winter the crossing can be rough and water drops to about 21–22°C, so wear a 5–7 mm wetsuit; summer brings warm water but strong north winds in some weeks. Trips are cancelled in bad weather, so leave a spare day in your plans.
Practical tips
Book with an established Sharm dive centre, check that the boat carries oxygen and a first-aid kit, and take seasickness tablets before the early start.
- Bring a dive torch: the holds are dark.
- Expect a mooring fee; check what is included in your price.
- Log your certification card, insurance details and passport.
- Combine with Ras Mohammed, which many boats visit on the way back.
- Check Smartraveller or SafeTravel before booking.
SS Thistlegorm Wreck: FAQs
How deep is the Thistlegorm?
The seabed is at about 30 metres; the main deck is at about 16–20 metres and the highest parts of the wreck are shallower still.
Can beginners dive the Thistlegorm?
Newly certified Open Water divers can sometimes join to see the deck with a guide, but most operators prefer Advanced Open Water or equivalent and recent dives.
Can you snorkel the Thistlegorm?
No. It is too deep and in open water with currents. Snorkellers should choose Ras Mohammed or the Tiran reefs instead.
Why is the Thistlegorm so famous?
Few wrecks still hold their wartime cargo so intact: trucks, motorbikes and weapons sit in the holds where they were loaded in 1941.