Carnatic - Hurghada

The Carnatic, we think, is one of the more graceful wrecks you'll find in the Red Sea. Sunk in 1869, this old P&O steam-sailer went down while carrying gold and wine, and it’s truly a dive into history. She now lies on her port side, perfectly broken into three main sections that are just begging to be explored. You can fin through the midships where the deck has collapsed, allowing light to pour in and illuminate the interior, creating these beautiful, ethereal shafts. Our favourite part is the stern, where the prop shaft leads you towards the rudder, often enveloped in a swirling cloud of glassfish. We've found the visibility here is usually excellent, often 25 metres plus, which really lets you appreciate the scale of the wreck. Keep an eye out for larger pelagics cruising by; we’ve had some incredible encounters with bottlenose dolphins here, just passing through. It's an ideal dive for those who love penetration, but even staying on the exterior offers plenty to see, with plenty of soft corals clinging to the metalwork. We’d suggest going early in the morning, before the crowds, to truly soak in the quiet grandeur of this old lady.

Location
Hurghada, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
27.579268, 33.926950
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Carnatic

Year Sunk
1869
Vessel Type
passenger ship
Cause
grounding
Tonnage
1,776 GRT

The SS Carnatic was a technologically advanced British passenger and mail steamer built in 1862 for the prestigious P&O line. As one of the first ships fitted with a compound steam engine, she was highly efficient for her time, serving the vital route between Suez and Bombay. This was a crucial link in the British Empire's communication with India in the final years before the Suez Canal opened, connecting with other steamers in the Mediterranean via an overland trek.

In September 1869, the Carnatic struck the now-infamous Sha'ab Abu Nuhas reef in the Red Sea. The captain remained confident the ship was stable and that help would soon arrive. However, after two days perched on the coral, the vessel's hull gave way, and she snapped in two, sinking rapidly with the tragic loss of 31 lives. Rumours of a valuable cargo, including £40,000 in gold sovereigns, fueled salvage operations that recovered much of the treasure, but the legend of the 'ship of gold' lives on.

Today, the Carnatic is one of the most iconic and beautiful wrecks in the Red Sea. She rests on her port side in 27 meters of water, her wooden decks long since rotted away to reveal her iron skeleton. This creates a stunning 'cathedral' effect as sunlight streams through the exposed ribs. Divers can easily penetrate the cargo holds, where schools of glassfish now swarm where treasure chests once lay. The entire structure is draped in a breathtaking tapestry of soft corals, making it a world-class dive for both wreck lovers and photographers.

Marine Protected Area: شعاب البحر الأحمر

Best Time to Dive in Hurghada

The warmest water temperatures in Hurghada occur in August, averaging 28.9°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 22.0°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 23.1°C
  • February: 22.3°C
  • March: 22.0°C
  • April: 22.8°C
  • May: 24.9°C
  • June: 26.2°C
  • July: 27.5°C
  • August: 28.9°C
  • September: 28.1°C
  • October: 27.3°C
  • November: 26.6°C
  • December: 24.8°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Hurghada

Nearest Dive Centres to Carnatic

Marine Life in Hurghada

Home to 47 recorded species including 33 reef fish, 7 whales & dolphins, 4 seagrass & algae, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea cucumbers, 1 hard corals.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Carnatic

Based on average water temperature of 25.4°C, currents 20 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 25°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