ABOUDY
Why dive here
With 57+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, humpback whales, octopuses, seahorses and spinner dolphins - ABOUDY offers some of El Gouna's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 20-28°C, warmest July, August, September.
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.
Typical ABOUDY Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
ABOUDY Wreck History
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.
Reviews for ABOUDY
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ABOUDY
ABOUDY Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ABOUDY, sourced from Copernicus Marine satellite data
August Averages
Sea Temperature
28.25°C
83°F
Current Speed
19.42 cm/s
Direction: SE (145.5°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.066 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
38.73 PSU
Data sources: Copernicus Marine Service (EU)
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