AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI - El Gouna

The Al-Quamar Al-Saudi Al-Misri is our favourite El Gouna wreck. Forget the over-dived Abu Nuhas, this site has character. Dropping down, the sheer scale of the 125-metre roll-on/roll-off vessel becomes clear, resting on its starboard side at 30 metres. Built in 1970, she caught fire after a boiler explosion in 1994, sinking with a tragic loss of life. We find the twin propellers particularly striking, always worth a close look for resting groupers. Inside, the car deck is huge and open, a fantastic playground for torch exploration. You can swim the length, imagining the vehicles that once filled it. Schools of fusiliers often mill about the superstructure, so thick they occasionally dim the light. Keep an eye out for resident lionfish tucked into corners and the occasional moray eel peering from the darker recesses. We love the bridge area too, often home to glassfish clouds. This wreck is best suited for advanced open water divers comfortable with depth and overhead environments, offering a genuinely immersive historical experience without the crowds of some other Red Sea sites. Our tip: go early to have it almost to yourself.

Location
El Gouna, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
27.741806, 33.865390
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
30m

Wreck History - AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI

Year Sunk
1994
Vessel Type
ferry
Cause
fire

Originally built in 1970 as a European passenger ferry, the AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI spent its later years operating in the Red Sea. Its career came to a sudden and dramatic end on May 19, 1994, while on a passage from Jeddah. A catastrophic boiler explosion sparked a fierce fire that quickly engulfed the vessel.

The crew was forced to abandon ship, and the fire-gutted ferry eventually sank north of Safaga. Now lying on the seabed at 30 meters, this roll-on/roll-off vessel offers a compelling dive. Its large, open car deck is a key feature, allowing for fascinating, albeit careful, penetration. The exterior is adorned with corals and home to a variety of Red Sea marine life, including glassfish that swarm within its sheltered spaces and groupers that patrol the hull.

Marine Protected Area: شعاب البحر الأحمر

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 AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI

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 AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI

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