The Dunraven, a steam and sail-powered vessel used to transport spices and timber, went down in March 1876 during a voyage from Bombay to Newcastle. This wreck, discovered in 1979, has rapidly become one of the chief diving attractions of the Red Sea. I was fortunate enough to be part of the diving team that first explored the Dunraven, a process documented in the framework of the popular BBC series, "The World Around Us." Initially, we knew nothing whatsoever about the identity of the wreck. But as filming proceeded, so did our detective work. Gradually, we pieced together clue after clue until we had unlocked the mysteries of the Dunraven.

On that fateful night in 1876, the Dunraven hit the reef, and quickly capsized and sank. This sequence of events was reconstructed from the fact that her portholes were left open—a sure indication that there was very little time for the crew to react. The ship cracked down the middle, and her two halves came to rest on the sea floor. Most of her contents, broken on impact, have settled by now, so the wreck's interior is dominated by large empty spaces. The vessel has a total length of 82m (269 feet) and a breadth of 9.7m (32 feet).

The Dunraven lies at the end of a long horseshoe reef�A�, with the stern at a depth of 28m (92 feet) and the bow at 18m (59 feet) below the surface. A beacon signal�B�has been erected on the reef, which is known as Beacon Rock.

Do not anchor above the wreck itself but slightly to the north at the entrance to the horseshoe lagoon where there is a permanent buoy. Proceed by dinghy to the coral formation adjacent to the wreck. Start exploring the Dunraven from the stern�C�at which point you can easily make your way to the propeller. Relics are most likely to be found near the rear entrance to the wreck. Take care. Digging stirs up a lot of silt, so make sure you are technically equipped for excavations. Inside the wreck you will need a strong underwater light.

Enter the main section of the wreck through the engine room�D�, then exit to reach the bow�� . We do not advise continuing further, as the passage is narrow and dangerous.