Wreck of Grumman HU-16 Albatros Aircraft - Marsa Alam

We love a good plane wreck, and the Albatros near Marsa Alam is certainly one of our favourites. This Grumman HU-16, a former Egyptian Air Force aircraft, went down in the 1990s, landing upright and largely intact. Dropping onto it, you can still feel the scale of the thing. The wings stretch out, the tail fin points skyward, and the cockpit, though empty, really sparks the imagination. Entry can be tricky if the chop is up, so we’d suggest going on a calm day; it makes the descent much more enjoyable. Once you’re down, the visibility is usually excellent, letting you take in the whole scene. Schools of yellowfin goatfish often dart around the fuselage, and we’ve spotted plenty of cowfish poking their heads out from under the wings. Keep an eye on the blue – we’ve had lucky encounters with Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins cruising past, seemingly checking out the wreck themselves. This site is a brilliant choice for experienced divers who appreciate military history and the way the Red Sea quickly reclaims man-made objects.

Location
Marsa Alam, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
22.392313, 36.500927
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Wreck of Grumman HU-16 Albatros Aircraft

Year Sunk
2012
Vessel Type
aircraft
Cause
scuttled

Unlike a wreck born from tragedy, the Grumman HU-16 Albatros near Marsa Alam was placed on the seabed with divers in mind. This large, twin-engine amphibious aircraft served a long and storied career, first with the U.S. military as a search and rescue plane and later with the Yugoslavian Air Force. After its decommissioning, it was purchased by a local hotel owner with the vision of creating a unique underwater attraction. In 2012, the aircraft was carefully cleaned and prepared before being scuttled just offshore.

Today, the Albatros rests on a sandy bottom at a shallow depth of around 14 meters, making it an accessible and spectacular dive for all experience levels. The wreck is perfectly intact, allowing divers to explore the cockpit, peer into the passenger cabin, and swim around the impressive 24-meter wingspan. The large fuselage and engines are already becoming a habitat for marine life, with schools of glassfish taking shelter inside and moray eels finding homes in its crevices. Its proximity to the shore and shallow depth make it an ideal second dive of the day or a fantastic site for underwater photographers looking for a subject that truly stands out from the reef.

Best Time to Dive in Marsa Alam

The warmest water temperatures in Marsa Alam occur in August, averaging 31.1°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 22.7°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 23.6°C
  • February: 22.7°C
  • March: 22.9°C
  • April: 23.8°C
  • May: 26.0°C
  • June: 28.1°C
  • July: 29.9°C
  • August: 31.1°C
  • September: 30.4°C
  • October: 28.8°C
  • November: 27.1°C
  • December: 25.6°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Marsa Alam

Nearest Dive Centres to Wreck of Grumman HU-16 Albatros Aircraft

Marine Life in Marsa Alam

Home to 39 recorded species including 10 seagrass & algae, 8 whales & dolphins, 8 reef fish, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 sharks & rays, 1 clams & mussels.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Wreck of Grumman HU-16 Albatros Aircraft

Based on average water temperature of 26.7°C, currents 3 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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