ABOUDY - El Gouna

Aboudy is one of those Red Sea wrecks that just hits differently. It’s not about depth or a challenging dive, this 70-meter motor vessel sits upright at a modest nine meters, making it a fantastic, relaxed exploration. We love the way the light filters through the superstructure; you can really spend time poking around the bridge and cargo holds without worrying about deco. What makes Aboudy special for us is the sheer volume of glassfish and sweepers inside – they form shimmering curtains, almost alive, that part as you swim through. We often find a stonefish or two camouflaged on the deck, and the resident moray eels are always curious. It's not a dive for big pelagics, but for an immersive wreck experience that’s accessible and full of those small, intimate moments with marine life, Aboudy is our favourite. Go early to beat the boats, you'll feel like you have the whole ship to yourself.

Location
El Gouna, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
28.325184, 33.117250
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
9m

Wreck History - ABOUDY

Year Sunk
1988
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
storm

The MV Aboudy was a 70-meter motor vessel that met its fate in the Red Sea in the spring of 1988. On May 7, while on a commercial passage from Suez to the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the ship was caught in severe weather. The Red Sea, while often calm, can produce sudden and violent storms that can overwhelm even large vessels. The Aboudy was unable to withstand the conditions and foundered, sinking to the seabed where she now rests.

Located near El Gouna, the Aboudy is now a fantastic wreck dive lying at a shallow depth of 9 meters. Because it is a relatively modern wreck, it remains remarkably intact compared to older, more scattered sites. This allows divers to easily appreciate the shape and scale of the vessel. Its shallow depth provides excellent visibility and long bottom times, making it a perfect dive for all experience levels. Over the past three decades, the wreck has been steadily colonized by hard and soft corals, transforming the steel structure into a vibrant artificial reef that attracts schools of bannerfish, glassfish, and the occasional passing turtle.

Best Time to Dive in El Gouna

The warmest water temperatures in El Gouna occur in August, averaging 28.3°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 20.2°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 20.3°C
  • February: 20.2°C
  • March: 20.8°C
  • April: 22.1°C
  • May: 24.5°C
  • June: 25.8°C
  • July: 27.0°C
  • August: 28.3°C
  • September: 27.3°C
  • October: 26.1°C
  • November: 24.6°C
  • December: 22.2°C

Nearby Dive Sites in El Gouna

Nearest Dive Centres to ABOUDY

Marine Life in El Gouna

Home to 64 recorded species including 46 reef fish, 7 whales & dolphins, 4 seagrass & algae, 3 sea cucumbers, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 sharks & rays.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ABOUDY

Based on average water temperature of 24.1°C, currents 19 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