ARCHON RAPHAEL - Gulf of Tadjoura
The Archon Raphael, a good-sized steamship, went aground off Musha Island back in '68, and it’s become one of our favourite dives in Djibouti for good reason. She lies in just 18 metres, making it an easy, relaxed exploration, perfect for divers who want to spend some serious time soaking in the history without deep deco obligations. We love finning along her 134-meter length, picturing her journey from Sunderland to Shanghai. The wreck itself is a playground of twisted metal and open holds, all now completely colonised by the reef. Look for the schools of snapper and fusiliers that swirl around the davits and superstructure; they’re often so thick you can barely see the bow. Keep an eye on the deck, too, for crocodilefish tucked against the plating. The light penetration into the holds is often spectacular, painting the interior in shifting blues and greens, making for some dramatic photo opportunities. Our tip: go early to beat any potential boat traffic and enjoy the wreck in peace. The calm, shallow water means you can really take your time, picking through the details of a ship frozen in time.
- Location
- Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 11.686167, 43.194168
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 18m
Wreck History - ARCHON RAPHAEL
- Year Sunk
- 1968
- Vessel Type
- cargo ship
- Cause
- grounding
- Tonnage
- 7,176 GRT
The Archon Raphael began its life in 1944 as a quintessential piece of wartime engineering: the American Liberty Ship SS Le Baron Russell Briggs. Built to transport vast quantities of cargo for the Allied war effort, it survived the conflict and was later sold into commercial service. After passing through several owners and names, it was finally christened Archon Raphael and registered in Panama.
In May 1967, while on a voyage from Sunderland to Shanghai carrying a full cargo of cars, the Archon Raphael ran hard aground on the treacherous reefs of the Musha Islands in the Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti. Salvage efforts proved futile against the grip of the reef, and the ship was abandoned. Battered by the sea for months, it finally broke apart and was declared a total loss in February 1968.
The Archon Raphael is now one of Djibouti's premier wreck dives. The vessel lies in two main sections on a sloping reef, with the bow in the shallows and the stern sitting deeper around 18-25 meters. It has transformed into a spectacular artificial reef, teeming with vibrant coral growth and schools of fish. Divers can explore the cavernous cargo holds, where the ghostly remains of the cars it was carrying can still be seen. The wreck is a playground for marine life, with moray eels, groupers, and rays making their homes in the decaying superstructure, offering an unforgettable dive for all experience levels.
Marine Protected Area: Iles Musha et Maskhali
Best Time to Dive in Gulf of Tadjoura
The warmest water temperatures in Gulf of Tadjoura occur in January, averaging 26.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.9°C (air: 24.8°C)
- February: 26.9°C (air: 25.3°C)
- March: 26.9°C (air: 26.9°C)
- April: 26.9°C (air: 28.9°C)
- May: 26.9°C (air: 32.5°C)
- June: 26.9°C (air: 35.7°C)
- July: 26.9°C (air: 36.4°C)
- August: 26.9°C (air: 34.9°C)
- September: 26.9°C (air: 34.5°C)
- October: 26.9°C (air: 30.2°C)
- November: 26.9°C (air: 27.2°C)
- December: 26.9°C (air: 25.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Gulf of Tadjoura
- AL SAID - 29m (wreck)
- Arta Beach - 5-20m
- Banc de La Clocheterie (reef)
- Banc de la Pointe Noire (reef)
- Banc des Salines (reef)
- Banc du Héron (reef)
- Banc du Pingouin (reef)
- Banc Gutta Tella (reef)
- Banc Moidubis Kebir (reef)
- Banc Moidubis Seghir (reef)
- Banc Ousal (reef)
- FONTAINEBLEU - 0m (wreck)
- GHINDA (POSSIBLY) - 0m (wreck)
- Ghoubet al-Kharab
- Grand Récif (reef)
Marine Life in Gulf of Tadjoura
Home to 205 recorded species including 95 hard corals, 75 reef fish, 8 sharks & rays, 6 crabs & lobsters, 5 sea cucumbers, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Reef Fish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Halfspotted Hind (Cephalopholis hemistiktos) - Reef Fish
- Longfin Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) - Reef Fish
- Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) - Sharks & Rays
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) - Reef Fish
- Bottleneck Sea Cucumber (Holothuria (Thymiosycia) impatiens) - Sea Cucumbers
- Ehrenberg's snapper (Lutjanus ehrenbergii) - Reef Fish
- Sea Scorpion (Scorpaena porcus) - Reef Fish
- Sand-dusted Cone (Conus arenatus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Brown-spotted Grouper (Epinephelus chlorostigma) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora donei) - Hard Corals
- Blue-dashed Rockskipper (Blenniella periophthalmus) - Reef Fish
- Edgeblack Grouper (Epinephelus summana) - Reef Fish
- Black triggerfish (Odonus niger) - Reef Fish
- Small-eyed Squirrelfish (Myripristis murdjan) - Reef Fish
- Coral hind (Cephalopholis miniata) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for ARCHON RAPHAEL
Based on average water temperature of 26.9°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories