Arguably the world's most famous wreck dive — cargo holds still packed with WWII trucks, motorbikes and locomotives.
SS Thistlegorm was a British armed merchant freighter (126 m) carrying WWII military supplies — trucks, motorbikes, rifles, Wellington boots, two locomotives — when she was bombed by German Heinkel He-111s in the Strait of Gubal, Egypt, on 6 October 1941. Discovered by Jacques Cousteau in 1955.
Deck at 17 m, sand at 33 m. The cargo holds are still packed with vehicles. Penetration is straightforward and produces some of the most iconic wreck photographs ever taken — Norton motorbikes in rank, Bedford trucks in lines, locomotive wheels in the open.
Advanced Open Water + Wreck specialty for full enjoyment. Liveaboards from Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada include her as the centrepiece of every northern Red Sea trip. Currents are strong — every shop briefs current management. Mar–May and Sep–Nov are calmest.
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1 destination across Red Sea — peak seasons vary by location, so plan your trip around the right destination AND the right month.
Real, curated expeditions — or a custom trip built around the best season and destination to encounter ss thistlegorm.
Browse our curated, small-group dive trips — fixed dates, vetted partner operators, zero agency fee. Or tell us your dates and we'll build a custom trip around the best season and destinations to encounter ss thistlegorm.
Tell us when you can travel and your certification level — we'll match the right destination, the right season, and the right trip for diving with ss thistlegorm.
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