Fishing Boat + El Mina

Drop down to 30 metres and the stern of El Mina emerges from the blue — propellers frozen in place, rudder still intact, the outline of a warship taking shape as you approach. Follow the hull forward past encrusted railings and feather stars until the blast hole opens up at midship, torn metal edges softened by decades of coral growth. Beyond the damage, the bridge superstructure rises, and this is where the dive transforms: a massive cloud of glassfish fills the structure, pulsating as a single organism, parting just enough for you to push through. Lionfish hang at the edges, picking off stragglers. Continue to the bow and the forward anti-aircraft gun appears, still angled skyward. Ascend along the superstructure to 17 metres, then cross to the fishing boat at 15 metres — wooden ribs and planks scattered on sand, sheltering pipefish and juvenile reef fish among the debris.

El Mina is a real warship. Not a vessel scuttled to create a dive site, not a cargo ship that ran aground — a 580-ton minesweeper destroyed in combat, with the blast damage to prove it. That history charges every moment of the dive with something artificial reefs cannot replicate. The glassfish aggregation at the bridge intensifies the atmosphere: a shimmering curtain that reshapes itself around you, backlit by whatever light penetrates from above. Pair that with the fishing boat at half the depth — an entirely different wreck character, wooden and organic, slowly returning to the sea — and you get two distinct experiences on a single tank. Hurghada operators run this site daily, which speaks to its consistency: the wrecks deliver regardless of season.

Gas management matters on this dive. The temptation to linger at 30 metres around El Mina's stern and blast hole is strong, but the fishing boat and ascent still need air. Plan conservatively — visit the deeper sections first and use the fishing boat at 15 metres for off-gassing. Nitrox extends your bottom time meaningfully at these depths. Visibility near the harbour is less predictable than at offshore reefs, so be prepared for reduced clarity on some days. The wreck is a war grave and operators treat it accordingly — keep your distance from the hull, avoid contact with the structure, and resist the urge to enter confined spaces. Day trips typically include hotel pickup from Hurghada, Makadi, El Gouna, or Sahl Hasheesh, with equipment and lunch provided.