BOREALIS - Dahab

If you’re driving north out of Dahab, you can’t miss the Borealis. She’s beached high and dry, a rusted hulk on the sand, looking like a forgotten toy. Most divers just glance at her from the road, but we love dropping in. This isn’t a deep dive, barely anything at all, more of a snorkel or a shallow swim around her bones. We usually kick out from the shore, maybe 50 metres north of the wreck itself, and let the gentle current carry us back. The real action is around the stern, where the hull plates are scattered, creating little caves and overhangs. It’s a photographer’s playground, with sunlight dappling through the broken metal. Look for moray eels tucked into crevices, their heads peeking out, and we’ve seen some surprisingly chunky lionfish hunting among the shadows. The bow, further inshore, is pretty flattened, but you can still trace the outline of her anchor chain disappearing into the sand. It’s not about big pelagics here; it’s about the intimacy of a wreck taken by the sea, a slow exploration of history and the small creatures that have claimed it. Our pick for a lazy afternoon dip, especially if you’ve had a few deep ones already.

Location
Dahab, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
28.391666, 34.733334
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
0m

Wreck History - BOREALIS

Year Sunk
1976
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding
Tonnage
1,595 GRT

Built in Sweden in 1954 as the 'Essi,' the vessel later known as the Borealis was a well-traveled motor freighter. For over two decades, she plied international waters, transporting various cargoes across the globe. By the mid-1970s, she was operating in the busy shipping lanes of the Red Sea, a testament to her durability and service.

In October 1976, while navigating the Gulf of Aqaba, the Borealis was caught in a severe storm. The powerful winds and waves drove the ship hard aground onto the reef at Maqna, on the Saudi Arabian coast. The impact caused extensive bottom damage, and after an assessment, she was declared a constructive total loss and abandoned to the elements, her sailing days over.

For decades, the Borealis has been a dramatic landmark, with her rusting bow and superstructure jutting defiantly out of the turquoise water. The wreck lies with its stern in deeper water and its bow high on the reef, making it an intriguing multi-level dive and snorkel site. Divers can explore the largely intact stern section, swim through corridors, and marvel at the prolific coral growth that now encrusts the hull, attracting a wealth of Red Sea marine life. The dramatic visual of the ship, half-in and half-out of the water, makes it a truly memorable site.

Marine Protected Area: محمية نبق

Best Time to Dive in Dahab

The warmest water temperatures in Dahab occur in August, averaging 27.9°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 20.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 22.0°C
  • February: 21.1°C
  • March: 20.9°C
  • April: 21.8°C
  • May: 24.0°C
  • June: 25.6°C
  • July: 26.5°C
  • August: 27.9°C
  • September: 27.3°C
  • October: 26.1°C
  • November: 25.4°C
  • December: 23.8°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Dahab

Nearest Dive Centres to BOREALIS

Marine Life in Dahab

Home to 27 recorded species including 12 reef fish, 6 hard corals, 5 whales & dolphins, 1 clams & mussels, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for BOREALIS

Based on average water temperature of 24.4°C, currents 5 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 24°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