HMS KHARTOUM - Gulf of Tadjoura
The HMS Khartoum, resting in just six metres, isn't your typical Red Sea destroyer. Forget dramatic deep dives; this is a shallow, fascinating glimpse into naval history. We love that you can spend ages here, really exploring the scattered remains. The ship was ripped apart by an internal explosion in 1940, leaving a debris field rather than an intact hull, and that's what makes it so interesting. You'll find sections of plating, twisted metal, and machinery spread across the sandy bottom. Our favourite part is spotting the larger sections, now completely encrusted with corals – the oranges and purples are a sharp contrast to the grey steel. Schools of fusiliers often swirl around the larger pieces, and we've seen blue-spotted rays tucked into the sand nearby. Keep an eye out for moray eels poking their heads from the crevices. Because it’s so shallow, it’s a brilliant site for newer divers or those who prefer longer bottom times, and it's perfect for photographers too, with ample natural light.
- Location
- Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 12.649200, 43.415150
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 6m
Marine Protected Area: Iles des Sept Freres ainsi que Ras Syan, Khor Angar et la foret de Godoria
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)
- ARCHON RAPHAEL - 18m (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
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 HMS KHARTOUM
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