BOREALIS

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.