SS Thistlegorm - Sha'ab Ali
SS Thistlegorm - Sha'ab Ali
Built in Sunderland, UK in 1940, SS Thistlegorm was a British merchant ship classified as an armed freighter, sailing from England around the cape of Africa and up through the Suez and destined for Alexandria, Egypt. On the night of October 6th 1941, during the Second World War, in a surprise attack by a pair of Heinkel HE-111 bombers two 2.5 tonne high explosive bombs were dropped and sank the ship. In the 1950s Jacques Cousteau found the wreckage with the help of the local fishermen.
The cargo the SS Thistlegorm was carrying now makes this ship an underwater museum that we as divers get the privilege to still see. Inside the holds are Bedford Trucks, Universal Carrier armoured Vehicles, Norton 16H and BSA motorcycles, Airplane wings for Westland Lysanders, cases of ammunition, Lee Enfield MK III Rifles and wellington boots, outside you can find 4 Bren Gun Carriers, Lms Stanier Class 8 F Steam Locomotives with coal and water tenders, a 3-inch light anti- aircraft gun and a 4-inch cannon from WW1 which was only ever test fired once.
To get to this amazing “Old Lady” the boat must leave early from port as the trip can take up to 3.5 hours. 2 dives are offered on the wreck one outside and one inside. The currents around the wreckage can be strong and the average depth for the dive is 24 metres and always below 18 metres for these reasons we ask divers to have proficient buoyancy levels, hold a certification to 30 metres and dive on Nitrox for the 2 dives.
The flora and fauna on and around the wreck is also a sight to see. The nudibranchs seem larger, the jacks play in the currents, crocodile fish lie on the deck making the ship feel alive again.
The cargo the SS Thistlegorm was carrying now makes this ship an underwater museum that we as divers get the privilege to still see. Inside the holds are Bedford Trucks, Universal Carrier armoured Vehicles, Norton 16H and BSA motorcycles, Airplane wings for Westland Lysanders, cases of ammunition, Lee Enfield MK III Rifles and wellington boots, outside you can find 4 Bren Gun Carriers, Lms Stanier Class 8 F Steam Locomotives with coal and water tenders, a 3-inch light anti- aircraft gun and a 4-inch cannon from WW1 which was only ever test fired once.
To get to this amazing “Old Lady” the boat must leave early from port as the trip can take up to 3.5 hours. 2 dives are offered on the wreck one outside and one inside. The currents around the wreckage can be strong and the average depth for the dive is 24 metres and always below 18 metres for these reasons we ask divers to have proficient buoyancy levels, hold a certification to 30 metres and dive on Nitrox for the 2 dives.
The flora and fauna on and around the wreck is also a sight to see. The nudibranchs seem larger, the jacks play in the currents, crocodile fish lie on the deck making the ship feel alive again.
_58699_lg.jpg)
 - Copy_397d8_lg.jpg)
