AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI
Protected Area
شعاب البحر الأحمر
Why dive here
With 57+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, humpback whales, octopuses, seahorses and spinner dolphins - AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI offers some of El Gouna's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 20-28°C, warmest July, August, September.
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.
Typical AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 30m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI Wreck History
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.
Nearest Dive Centres to AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI
Dive shops near AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI
Orca diveclub
Colona Divers
The Diveconnection
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI
AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for AL-QUAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI, 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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