Explore Thistlegorm

The SS Thistlegorm is a 128 metre long World War II British transport ship which sunk in 1941 following a German air attack. She is located 40 kilometres off the coast of Sharm El Sheikh in the Red Sea, in the South Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. During the time she has been submerged, she has become one of the best wreck dives in the world due to multiple reasons; the depths make it accessible to most divers as it lies, on her side, between 16 metres and 32 metres, divers are able to access it and explore the insides and aside from the ship there are also 2 tanks, jeeps, motorcycles and rifles, there is still even the anti-aircraft gun. There is so much history to explore here and she is still all in great condition and there is something different to see at every turn. The contrast between this large wreck with the vibrant colours of the tropical waters of the Red Sea makes it even more of a spectacle. She has created its own ecosystem over time, she is encrusted with coral and schools of fish surrounding these corals. There is so much to be explored here that it is always done in two dives from a boat, and sometimes that doesn’t feel like enough! This dive into history is the epitome of wreck diving.

Upcoming Events

Red Sea Cruise – North and Wrecks

Red Sea Cruise – North and Wrecks

Aboard the luxurious Vita Xplorer, from November 7 to 14, 2026, we will set sail on the most classic and popular itinerary in the Egyptian Red Sea: the north, with its shipwrecks and Ras Mohammed National Park.Enjoy a unique diving experience aboard the Vita Xplorer, a modern cruise ship designed to offer comfort, safety, and fun to diving enthusiasts of all levels. The itinerary in the northern Egyptian Red Sea is one of the most iconic in the world: a perfect balance of historic wrecks, colorful walls, coral gardens, close encounters with marine life, and some of the most thrilling dives in the entire Red Sea. Our Red Sea Dive Safari aboard the Vita Xplorer features an itinerary in the northern Red Sea that combines exploration of the most famous wrecks—from the Thistlegorm to the Dunraven, from the Giannis D. to the Carnatic—with the teeming walls of Ras Mohammed National Park, featuring dives scheduled for the best times of day to fully enjoy the biodiversity, coral formations, and unique atmosphere of these iconic sites. On board the vessel, equipped with comfortable cabins, bright common areas, fine dining, and services tailored to divers, the experience is enhanced by the support of expert guides and support vessels, ensuring comfort, safety, and the opportunity to explore the reefs and wrecks of the Red Sea in an exclusive setting.SS ThistlegormThe SS Thistlegorm deserves special attention, as it is considered the most fascinating wreck in the Red Sea: sunk in 1941 and now resting at a depth of about 30 meters, its holds still contain perfectly recognizable motorcycles, trucks, ammunition, and military vehicles—all perfectly recognizable—which have been transformed by time and marine life into an extraordinarily evocative underwater museum, where the interplay of history, natural light, and marine life creates an iconic dive that remains etched in the memory of every diver.The boatThe Vita Xplorer diving cruise combines history, nature, adrenaline, and relaxation in a trip that’s ideal for wreck enthusiasts, underwater photographers, divers looking to improve their skills, and anyone who wants to discover the best of the Red Sea in absolute comfort.We’ll take you aboard the Vita Xplorer, a modern 40-meter-long dive cruise ship designed to offer maximum comfort and functionality during dives in the Red Sea. The boat can accommodate up to 24 divers in 12 air-conditioned cabins, all equipped with private bathrooms with showers, and divided into various types to meet the needs of every guest. The common areas are spacious and inviting: an air-conditioned indoor lounge where you can relax between dives, a dining area for onboard meals, and three sundecks where you can enjoy the sun, the sea breeze, or simply relax while taking in the view of the Red Sea. Designed for the most discerning divers, the boat features a large diving platform that makes entering and exiting the water easy, areas equipped for gear management, outdoor showers, and two support Zodiac boats for convenient access to dive sites. On board, you’ll find compressors, Nitrox, and facilities dedicated to technical diving, as well as the option to rent equipment. With an experienced crew, thorough briefings, and impeccable organization, the Vita Xplorer guarantees a top-tier diving cruise experience, combining professionalism, safety, and a refined atmosphere in which to enjoy a week of unforgettable dives.Aboard the Vita Xplorer, your week of diving will not only be an extraordinary experience among the wrecks and reefs of the Red Sea, but also an ideal opportunity to expand your diving skills. Thanks to the itinerary dedicated to the wrecks of the North—including the Thistlegorm, the Dunraven, the Carnatic, and the wrecks of the Gubal Strait—you can choose to participate in the SSI Wreck Diving course, which introduces you to the fundamental techniques for safely exploring wrecks, understanding their structure, reading currents, and managing your buoyancy in the confined spaces around the ship.Continuing EducationFor more experienced and motivated divers, the trip also offers the opportunity to complete the SSI Advanced Wreck Diving course, which includes more in-depth training on limited penetration procedures, the use of reels, and communication and safety techniques inside wrecks. With a realistic training environment, an ideal dive profile, and the support of certified instructors, the cruise on the Vita Xplorer provides the perfect setting to transform an interest in wrecks into true technical expertise, allowing you to return home not only with memories but also with new certifications and greater mastery of advanced diving.

L’Aquila di Mare, Viale Ovidio, 3, 67100, L’Aquila, AQ, ITA
November 7, 2026
$1,616.63
€1,400.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Thistlegorm

Of course, the main, and only type of diving which is done here is wreck diving, and wreck diving will be done! The wreck needs at least two dives for the divers to really be able to experience the wreck at its full potential. Divers need to have at least a PADI Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent to dive here due to the depths of the wreck but also due to the currents which can unexpectedly become stronger. There are opportunities to penetrate the ship from multiple access points so divers need to feel comfortable in enclosed spaces and narrow passageways, and be able to deal with poor visibility if sediment gets kicked up inside.

The dive site is located 40 kilometres off the coast, out in the sea, and it usually takes around 3 hours to reach the dive site. It is reached either by liveaboards or by day trip boats which, for the large majority, depart from dive centres and dive resorts in Sharm El Sheikh. This is not a dive site visited for dive courses.

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Thistlegorm

The Red Sea is known for its overall pleasant diving conditions so luckily this dive site is accessible year round. The water temperatures here vary between 21 degrees Celsius in the coldest months, December to February, and reaches up to 28 degrees Celsius in the summer months of July to September. The visibility is also usually great here ranging between 15 metres and 25 metres. The dive site is located out in the middle of Red Sea which does mean that it can be affected by the weather, mainly wind, but it rarely gets to a point where the dive site becomes inaccessible, but it can be a bumpier ride to get there. The marine life which is usually spotted here is here year-round as well.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Thistlegorm

The main spectacle here is of course the Thistlegorm wreck herself, lying on her side on the sea bed and over time having become encrusted with numerous corals. Because of the large amount of other items such as jeeps and motorcycles also scattered over the sea bed, there are so many nooks and crannies for different species of fish to hide. The smaller reef, including large schools of Trevally, which live among the corals here, attract larger species such as Barracuda, Tuna and Snapper, who see this as an ideal hunting ground. Some of the spectacular species here include large schools of Batfish, which will follow divers around with their curious nature, and Hawksbill Turtles who are the king and queen of this wreck.

Thistlegorm is visited for the wreck, and after divers have done two dives, they will usually do a third dive in Ras Mohammed dive site which is nearby, which is where divers will get their flourishing marine life fix. Ras Mohammed is known to be one of the most thriving marine environments in the Red Sea and is teaming with life colours and species of all shapes and sizes. By visiting here, after seeing one of the most impressive wrecks in the world, divers can also experience one of the best reefs in the world.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

1.2k Sightings
J
19
F
20
M
55
A
87
M
97
J
89
J
206
A
155
S
127
O
182
N
141
D
71

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

519 Sightings
J
10
F
11
M
24
A
45
M
38
J
24
J
91
A
41
S
35
O
86
N
81
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

327 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
22
A
21
M
19
J
14
J
52
A
32
S
36
O
46
N
45
D
30
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

206 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
10
A
11
M
15
J
12
J
33
A
23
S
30
O
23
N
28
D
21
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

92 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
11
M
0
J
12
J
0
A
12
S
15
O
13
N
17
D
12
Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

57 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
13
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
10
O
22
N
12
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

2.3k Sightings
J
44
F
43
M
130
A
201
M
153
J
120
J
335
A
256
S
186
O
331
N
291
D
183

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

1.2k Sightings
J
15
F
16
M
76
A
93
M
95
J
78
J
178
A
107
S
100
O
196
N
153
D
93

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

1.2k Sightings
J
16
F
15
M
78
A
84
M
95
J
78
J
182
A
115
S
85
O
201
N
165
D
85

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

1.1k Sightings
J
18
F
18
M
57
A
92
M
89
J
88
J
161
A
133
S
93
O
153
N
139
D
99

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

1.1k Sightings
J
17
F
21
M
52
A
93
M
95
J
73
J
161
A
120
S
88
O
177
N
147
D
95

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

1.1k Sightings
J
19
F
16
M
65
A
93
M
85
J
75
J
164
A
95
S
84
O
190
N
141
D
89

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

1k Sightings
J
25
F
14
M
53
A
89
M
81
J
79
J
163
A
93
S
72
O
173
N
119
D
73

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

775 Sightings
J
13
F
11
M
66
A
97
M
77
J
68
J
126
A
65
S
55
O
81
N
84
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

715 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
51
A
73
M
53
J
51
J
107
A
56
S
46
O
120
N
100
D
48

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

638 Sightings
J
10
F
10
M
39
A
36
M
51
J
48
J
101
A
65
S
42
O
109
N
75
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

608 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
36
A
61
M
39
J
42
J
91
A
67
S
51
O
88
N
86
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

525 Sightings
J
17
F
17
M
32
A
42
M
33
J
24
J
58
A
44
S
46
O
69
N
91
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

515 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
32
A
46
M
35
J
30
J
88
A
51
S
33
O
67
N
87
D
46

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

480 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
16
A
34
M
44
J
42
J
60
A
52
S
32
O
73
N
66
D
51

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

477 Sightings
J
19
F
0
M
33
A
32
M
35
J
32
J
84
A
36
S
29
O
78
N
59
D
40

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

463 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
18
A
39
M
38
J
30
J
89
A
61
S
44
O
60
N
48
D
36

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

419 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
28
A
28
M
18
J
35
J
57
A
44
S
21
O
84
N
62
D
42

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

396 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
26
A
21
M
39
J
22
J
65
A
48
S
24
O
68
N
54
D
29

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

376 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
25
A
23
M
25
J
29
J
62
A
55
S
30
O
49
N
43
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

350 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
16
A
24
M
23
J
24
J
53
A
38
S
26
O
63
N
45
D
38

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

343 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
17
A
27
M
20
J
27
J
59
A
43
S
30
O
54
N
47
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

303 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
16
A
13
M
19
J
21
J
84
A
35
S
25
O
26
N
48
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

297 Sightings
J
12
F
0
M
0
A
32
M
23
J
14
J
31
A
25
S
20
O
56
N
50
D
34

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

186 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
16
A
18
M
0
J
0
J
26
A
17
S
15
O
30
N
36
D
28

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

127 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
11
A
0
M
12
J
0
J
16
A
18
S
16
O
15
N
21
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Spade Fish

Spade Fish

90 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
16
M
29
J
19
J
26
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish

86 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
12
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
18
A
10
S
0
O
17
N
29
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

82 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
10
A
10
M
0
J
0
J
18
A
0
S
15
O
13
N
0
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

78 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
15
M
14
J
0
J
10
A
16
S
0
O
10
N
13
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

77 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
19
A
12
S
0
O
14
N
21
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Tarpon

Tarpon

68 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
12
M
0
J
0
J
15
A
0
S
0
O
18
N
13
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Flatheads

Flatheads

65 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
12
M
28
J
11
J
14
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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