Thistlegorm
Indian Ocean
Egypt
£2.50
Thistlegorm: The Underwater War Museum
The SS Thistlegorm is widely regarded as the most famous shipwreck in the world. In 1941, this British Merchant Navy vessel was anchored in the Red Sea, packed with supplies for the Allied forces in North Africa, when it was struck by German bombers. Today, it sits upright at 30 meters, effectively a frozen moment in World War II history. Divers don't just swim around a hull here; they explore open holds stacked with Bedford trucks, crates of Enfield rifles, aircraft parts, and even steam locomotives. It is a haunting, fascinating dive where the tragedy of war has been reclaimed by the beauty of the reef.
Why We Chose This Sticker Design
This design features the single most photographed object in the entire Red Sea. We focused on the iconic cargo that makes this wreck legendary: a vintage World War II motorcycle (reminiscent of a BSA or Norton) standing upright in the hold. To capture the atmosphere of the wreck, we surrounded the bike with stacked cargo crates and the debris of the hold. We balanced the rusty history with the vibrant life that now calls the ship home, adding schools of orange Anthias that swarm around the wreckage.
Diving Thistlegorm
The SS Thistlegorm is one of the most famous wreck dives in the world. A British armed merchant ship, she was carrying supplies for the Allied campaign in North Africa when German bombers found her at anchor in the Gulf of Suez on 6 October 1941. She sank with her cargo aboard, and that cargo is why divers still travel to see her: motorcycles, Bedford trucks, rifles, aircraft parts and two steam locomotives blown clear of the hull. She lies at 16 to 32 metres and is usually dived from a liveaboard or a long day trip out of Sharm el-Sheikh.
- Best time to dive
- Year-round, with calmest conditions in spring and autumn
- Difficulty
- Advanced — depth and current, often dived as two dives
- Water temperature
- 21–29°C
- Visibility
- 15–30m, variable with current
Top dive sites
- •Holds 2 and 3 — The motorcycles, trucks and cargo — the reason to come
- •The locomotives — Blown clear of the wreck and lying on the seabed
- •The stern — Anti-aircraft gun and the bomb damage that sank her
What you’ll see
Frequently asked questions
What experience do I need to dive the Thistlegorm?
Advanced Open Water is the usual minimum. The wreck sits between roughly 16 and 32 metres, and the current across the site can be strong enough that divers descend and ascend on a line. Most operators run her as two dives — one around the exterior and one in the holds — and nitrox is popular for the extra bottom time. Moving through the holds is overhead diving, so a torch and a guide who knows the route matter.
How do I get to the Thistlegorm?
She lies at Sha‘ab Ali in the Gulf of Suez, well offshore, so there is no shore access. Most divers reach her by liveaboard on a northern Red Sea itinerary, which has the advantage of diving her early before the day boats arrive. Long day trips also run from Sharm el-Sheikh and, less commonly, Hurghada, but expect several hours on a boat each way. Liveaboards also allow a dawn or dusk dive, when the site is at its quietest.
