It wouldn’t be far-fetched to classify the Red Sea as an aquatic graveyard. Back in the days, after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the Red Sea became an extremely important stretch of maritime transportation. However, the installation of lighthouses and beacons didn’t keep up with the increase of the shipping activity. The reefs and shoals became hazards during navigating and eventually instrumental in sinking an unknown number of vessels. We are also talking vicious currents, treacherous coral reefs, narrow corridors and even warfare with wrecks as a result. It is as if diving a ‘tomb when wreck diving in Egypt, with the Red Sea floor scattered with the remains of hundreds of wrecks.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Red Sea reefs feature fascinating shipwrecks, colonized by nature and sea organisms and now serving as backdrops for an array of coral species and fish.

Aida

In September 1957 the Aida found her Waterloo at Big Brothers Island in heavy climatic conditions. The ship collided with rocks and tumbled down, only to come to a standstill at an extreme angle, stretching from 25 meters to 60 metres from bow to stern. It was on a foraging mission to supply military personnel with provisions on Big Brothers island. Fortunately, there were no casualties since the crew timely abandoned the vessel. Peculiarly enough, despite its awkward position and fierce weather conditions, the Aida is virtually intact, including the foremast!

Now that the wreck has become one with the reef after having been down since 1957, invading Vanikoro sweepers turned it into their residence, together  with an almost hallucinating and amazing range of various fish. During diving in the Red Sea you will notice the coral growth is impressive, almost making for a dramatic kaleidoscopic effect.  Fishlife at the scene has been described as ‘prolific’ and, together with the abundance of hard and soft corals, picture ‘the best of both worlds’. 

Numidia

In July 1901, the steam cargo ship Numidia was on her way from Liverpool to Calcutta. It was her second voyage only and turned out to be her last one as well. Its journey ended at Brothers Islands when it ran aground on Big Brothers, virtually directly below the lighthouse.

Eventually, the Numidia slipped away to finally end up perpendicularly with the reef. Its bow is located at 8 meters. The rest of the vessel dropped down to some 80 meters.

Wreck diving in Egypt is in intriguing and surprising. The wreck, agonisingly close to the Aida by the way, won’t disappoint you. The oxygen, constantly generated from prominent local currents, has triggered impressive growth of hard and soft corals. Marine life here developed into a myriad. Barracuda and trevally are plenty in presence. You may even anticipate roaming grey sharks or the occasional thresher shark. All in all, this wreck offers exciting diving for all dive certification levels.