Added by SeayooTeam

Location : Strait of Gubal
Access : Boat
Dive Type : 1
Max Depth : 30 m
Visibility : 15 m
Experience Level : Intermediate Scuba Diver

Dive Description : 

Text and designs by Shlomo Cohen

Between the large reef system of Sha'ab Ali on the one side, and the Sinai coastline on the other lies a stretch of sea 8km (5 miles) long with average depths of 30m (98 feet). Bounded by a further reef chain to the north, this area provides excellent mooring even for fairly large vessels. Here the Thistlegorm lay at anchor on the 6th of October 1941, and here her fate was sealed at 1.30 a.m. that tragic night.

The Thistlegorm had just completed an arduous journey around Africa, laden with military equipment of all kinds for the British troops in North Africa. She entered the calm zone alongside Sha'ab Ali, cast anchor, and lay in waiting observing all the necessary stealth drills. But these precautions were to be in vain. The Thistlegorm was discovered by a long-range German bomber based in Crete. Two of its bombs landed precisely on target, penetrating the number four hold. The resultant explosions ripped away the stern section, and nine crew members perished. For many years after the sinking of the Thistlegorm, British navy vessels would lower their flags as they passed this spot. But today, the Thistlegorm has returned from the dead to become the vital hub of wreck-diving in the Red Sea, and one of the most sought after wreck-dives in the entire world.

Part of the difficulty with the Thistlegorm lies in her vast size and her inexhaustible interest. Divers encountering the Thistlegorm for the first time are rather like children let loose in a gigantic toy shop. They rise from her depths with ecstatic—yet somehow confused—grins, and the feeling that they haven't even begun to appreciate the Thistlegorm's countless attractions. For the purposes of this description, I have explored and photographed the Thistlegorm extensively, in loving detail.

The Thistlegorm has a length of 126m (415 feet), with a 17.5m (58 feet) beam and a capacity of 4898 tons. She lies on a level sand plain at a depth of 30m (98 feet), although the remains of the ship's bridge extend up to depths of 17m (56 feet).



For much of the year visibility in the region of the wreck is moderate. A strong current washes through it from bow to stern. The current is subject to tidal variations, and may flow in the opposite direction during the afternoon. For this reason, safety procedures are crucial here. Experienced dive-operators usually lower a crew member to tie the dive-boat to the wreck, and also to check the direction of the current and its force. The dive may be planned accordingly. Always start your dive swimming against the current, return with the current to the rope lowered earlier and use it to climb to the water surface. Do not try to ascend in open seas. The fickle weather experienced here may have taken a turn for the worse, and you are likely to find yourself swept along by strong currents and high winds once you reach the surface. If possible, plan a number of dives here as there is too much to see in the space of a single dive. Taking the direction of the current into consideration, use your first dive for general reconnaissance. Devote any subsequent dives to the particular areas you wish to explore in more detail.

It is possible to swim underneath the deck, through the holds and beneath the partly collapsed bridge. Despite the damage it sustained, you can still visit the bridge to see the captain's bathroom. On the foredeck you will find some railway carriages, broken mast-beams and a number of mine-sweeping drones. The front holds contain trucks, motorcycles, tires and a huge assortment of other equipment. Observe the anchor chain running along the starboard bow. The starboard anchor lies at some distance from the hull, while the port anchor still hangs in its customary place.

The Thistlegorm's stern section leans on the port side, leaving the propeller wholly exposed. Here you will find the quarters and toilets which escaped the bombing relatively unscathed. Explore them with the assistance of a flashlight. Two guns are located on

the stern deck. The first is an anti-aircraft gun, the second a 3.5" gun. Number four hold bore the brunt of the explosion, and its contents—including ammunition, shells, trolleys, and Brengun carriers—were scattered for a considerable distance around. The degree of damage to this section of the ship reveals the double shelling that the Thistlegorm underwent.

The Thistlegorm was built in 1940 by J.L. Thompson and sons as part of the Albyn Line, and was requisitioned by the navy. Only the crazy exigencies of war could have crammed her full with such a huge cargo ranging from railway carriages and containers to trucks and motorcycles. In her holds you can still find heaps of tires, thousands of rifles, rubber boots, munitions, communication equipment, aircraft wings...the assortment appears endless. The Thistlegorm is the answer to every wreck-diving enthusiast's wildest dreams. This is undoubtedly the number one wreck-site in the world, surpassing even Truk Lagoon. And you can help to keep it that way by overcoming the temptation to take souvenirs home with you. Leave this time-capsule exactly as you found it!

 

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