Also known as: Sha'ab Abu Nuhas, شعب أبو النحاس
Four shipwrecks spanning 1869-1983 on one triangular reef in the Strait of Gubal, from 3m to 32m depth.
Last updated July 2026
Four cargo ships from four different decades lie scattered around a submerged reef the size of a small village. Liveaboards typically start with the deepest: Kimon M at 32m, a 106m freighter on its side where pipefish now thread through holds that once carried lentils1. Then Giannis D, tilted about 45 degrees and broken into sections, with its funnel "D" marking still legible through the soft coral2. Chrisoula K comes next, its bow rising to within 3m of the surface, Italian floor tiles still stacked in the cargo hold. Carnatic, often regarded as the oldest diveable wreck in the Red Sea, rounds out the circuit at 18-27m3. Its wooden decking rotted away over a century ago, leaving iron ribs standing open like a cathedral frame, every surface thick with soft coral.
The reef's position tells the story. Abu Nuhas, "Father of Copper," juts into the main shipping channel between the Suez Canal and the southern Red Sea. Ships ran aground here for over a century. The result is a wreck collection spanning 114 years, each ship preserved at a different stage of decay and marine colonization. Carnatic's iron skeleton hosts the densest soft coral coverage. Giannis D's intact engine room at 13m offers the easiest penetration. Glassfish pour through every hold in thick curtains, giant morays occupy the darker cavities, and batfish circle the superstructures. Divers who don't care about wrecks often leave Abu Nuhas reconsidering. The biology alone rivals the best reef sites in the region.
Currents run strong where the Suez Canal outflow hits the northern corner of the reef. Plan your entry accordingly. Dive Kimon M first while your gas supply is fresh. Inside Carnatic, broken glass from the ship's cargo lies on the seabed alongside collapsed beams. Bring a torch for any penetration. Multiple boats moor here at the same time; deploy an SMB well before surfacing. The reef itself is worth a dive after dark: the 3-5m zone comes alive with hunting lionfish, squid, and Spanish dancer nudibranchs. A 5mm wetsuit is adequate even in January.
What makes this dive site stand out.
Carnatic (1869), Kimon M (1978), Chrisoula K (1981), Giannis D (1983) within one mooring
Chrisoula K bow visible from the surface, Kimon M stern at 32m
Decades of soft coral growth and glassfish colonies inside wreck holds
On the standard Northern Red Sea route with Thistlegorm and Brothers Islands
27.5670°N, 33.9170°E
Summary
Moderate for individual wrecks at mid-depth. Advanced for Kimon M at 32m. Currents can be strong at the northern corner.
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
Multi-day safari boats with this site on their itinerary.
41m, 26-guest wooden liveaboard running Master Liveaboards' full Egyptian Red Sea catalogue from Hurghada and Port Ghalib, from northern wrecks and Tiran through the offshore Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone to the far-south Rocky, Zabargad and St John's reefs.
38m, 26-guest wooden sister to Blue Horizon running the identical Master Liveaboards Egyptian Red Sea catalogue, from northern wrecks and Tiran through the offshore Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone to the Deep South, from Hurghada and Port Ghalib.
26-guest sister of Superior with Junior and Executive suites, ranging across Emperor's Egypt catalogue from northern wrecks and offshore Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone to the Deep South.
13-cabin, 26-guest wooden liveaboard running Emperor's northern Red Sea wreck-and-reef weeks from Hurghada, plus offshore Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone.
Red Sea Explorers' largest liveaboard: 37.5m, 28 guests across 14 cabins, running the same GUE-leaning offshore and deep-south Egypt route catalogue.
36m, 22-guest steel liveaboard with a dedicated camera room and gas-blending deck, running the Brothers, Daedalus, Deep South and Fury Shoal weeks.
Red Sea Explorers' tech flagship: a 37m, 22-guest steel liveaboard with a full trimix/CCR fill station and scooters for offshore and deep-south Egypt safaris.
43m, 24-guest liveaboard built 2016, running Blue Planet's named Egypt routes from Hurghada and Port Ghalib, from northern wrecks and Tiran through Brothers, Daedalus and the Zabargad-Rocky Deep South, with free nitrox.
Book a guided dive at this site.
Norwegian-founded PADI IDC in Hurghada with 40+ years of Red Sea operations, daily boat dives, house reef, and liveaboard safaris.
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Marine park fees of approximately 5-10 EUR/day apply for diving in the Hurghada area.
Most liveaboard itineraries include two to four dives at Abu Nuhas, covering three of the four wrecks. Diving all four thoroughly requires at least two days. The standard sequence runs deepest to shallowest: Kimon M first at 32m, then Giannis D, Chrisoula K, and Carnatic.
Liveaboard is strongly preferred. The journey from Hurghada takes 90 minutes to 2.5 hours each way, which eats into dive time. A liveaboard gives access to early-morning and evening dives when day-trip boats are gone. Most Northern Red Sea liveaboards combine Abu Nuhas with the SS Thistlegorm and Brothers Islands.
Chrisoula K has the shallowest access, with the bow at 3-5m. The Giannis D engine room at 13m is also manageable. Both are within OW limits, though AOW is the practical recommendation for Abu Nuhas given the currents and depth range across the site.
The reef sits directly in the main shipping lane between the Suez Canal and the southern Red Sea. Its surface is very close to the waterline and hard to spot, especially at night. Captains transiting the canal reportedly relaxed vigilance too early after clearing the strait.
May to October offers the warmest water (up to 28 degrees C) and calmest weather. The site is diveable year-round. Winter brings cooler water around 22 degrees C but similar 15-30m visibility. Strong winds occasionally make specific wrecks inaccessible regardless of season.
Yes. The shallow reef at 3-5m transforms after dark. Lionfish hunt actively, squid appear in open water, and Spanish dancer nudibranchs emerge. Night diving is typically done from a liveaboard moored at the reef.
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