ADUA - Dahlak Archipelago
The Adua, a substantial Italian steamship, lies scuttled just below the surface in the Dahlak Archipelago. We’re talking about three metres of depth, tops, making it an ideal spot for those who prefer to keep things shallow or are looking for an extended safety stop with something genuinely interesting to look at. This isn't a site for pushing depth limits, it’s about slow exploration. The wreck itself, sunk by the Italians in 1941 to prevent its capture, has become a home for countless smaller reef fish. You'll find schools darting through the superstructure, a real treat for photographers wanting to capture both history and marine life in excellent natural light.
- Location
- Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 15.610884, 39.471966
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 3m
Best Time to Dive in Dahlak Archipelago
The warmest water temperatures in Dahlak Archipelago occur in January, averaging 27.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.7°C (air: 26.2°C)
- February: 27.7°C (air: 26.3°C)
- March: 27.7°C (air: 28.0°C)
- April: 27.7°C (air: 30.1°C)
- May: 27.7°C (air: 31.9°C)
- June: 27.7°C (air: 33.4°C)
- July: 27.7°C (air: 34.6°C)
- August: 27.7°C (air: 33.9°C)
- September: 27.7°C (air: 33.5°C)
- October: 27.7°C (air: 32.1°C)
- November: 27.7°C (air: 29.5°C)
- December: 27.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Dahlak Archipelago
- ALBERONI - 9m (wreck)
- ALBERTO TREVES - 0m (wreck)
- ANTONIO C - 17m (wreck)
- ANTONIOS H - 15m (wreck)
- ARMANTAN - 0m (wreck)
- BERTRAM RICKMERS - 17m (wreck)
- BOLESLAW KRZYWOUSTY - 2m (wreck)
- BRENTA - 13m (wreck)
- CAPTAIN PANAGOS DP - 5m (wreck)
- COLOMBO - 13m (wreck)
- CREFELD - 19m (wreck)
- Dahlak Kebir Reef - 5-30m (reef)
- Difnein Channel - 10-35m (drift)
- DIRE DEWA (DIRA DAWA) - 11m (wreck)
- GLOBAL MARINER - 1m (wreck)
Marine Life in Dahlak Archipelago
Home to 83 recorded species including 59 reef fish, 6 seagrass & algae, 4 whales & dolphins, 4 sharks & rays, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 other.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) - Sea Urchins
- Remora (Echeneis naucrates) - Reef Fish
- Blue Green Chromis (Chromis viridis) - Reef Fish
- Arabian Angelfish (Pomacanthus asfur) - Reef Fish
- Grouper (Epinephelus areolatus) - Reef Fish
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Ternate Chromis (Chromis ternatensis) - Reef Fish
- Crescent Grunter (Terapon jarbua) - Reef Fish
- Sand-dusted Cone (Conus arenatus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Silver-cheeked Toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) - Reef Fish
- Bryde's Whale (Balaenoptera edeni) - Whales & Dolphins
- Edgeblack Grouper (Epinephelus summana) - Reef Fish
- Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) - Reef Fish
- Smooth-fin Blenny (Ecsenius frontalis) - Reef Fish
- honeycomb stingray (Himantura uarnak) - Sharks & Rays
- Bridled Goby (Gnatholepis cauerensis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for ADUA
Based on average water temperature of 27.7°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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