CARINA (POSSIBLY) - El Gouna

The Carina, or what we strongly suspect is the Carina, is one of those El Gouna wrecks that just hits different. It’s not about grand scale or famous history here, it’s about the quiet beauty of a ship taken by the sea. We think she's a steam ship, maybe a fishing trawler, resting upright at 33 metres, her bow pointing north. Drop down and you're immediately struck by the silence, the sheer weight of water around this solitary vessel. The deck is gone, but the hull is largely intact, draped in soft corals – purples and oranges that glow under your torch. Penetration is limited to small sections, mostly the stern, where you can peek into what might have been the engine room, shafts of light filtering through corroded plates. Look for the resident scorpionfish, perfectly camouflaged on the encrusted metalwork, and schools of glassfish shimmering like liquid silver around the remaining structure. It’s a site that rewards slow exploration, letting your eyes adjust to the subtle details. This is our pick for divers who appreciate the melancholic beauty of a forgotten ship, rather than a bustling reef.

Location
El Gouna, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
27.795900, 33.856285
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
33m

Wreck History - CARINA (POSSIBLY)

Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

Deep off the coast of El Gouna, the wreck tentatively identified as the Carina rests as a silent testament to the dangers of the Red Sea's reef systems. This steamship likely met its fate after striking a reef, a common end for many vessels navigating these waters. The definitive story and date of its sinking remain unclear, shrouding the wreck in an aura of mystery that beckons experienced divers to explore its secrets.

Sitting at a depth of 33 meters, the Carina is a dive for advanced recreational divers. The vessel's structure, though deteriorating, offers fascinating exploration opportunities. Divers can expect to see the classic Red Sea marine life that has colonized the wreck, with vibrant soft corals adorning its metal plates and schools of reef fish darting through its openings. As a 'non-dangerous wreck,' it provides a relatively safe but deep environment to experience a piece of maritime history.

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 CARINA (POSSIBLY)

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 CARINA (POSSIBLY)

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