ANTONIOS H
Why dive here
With 74+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles, spinner dolphins and pufferfish - ANTONIOS H offers some of Dahlak Archipelago's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-33°C, warmest July, August, September.
The ANTONIOS H is a proper Red Sea wreck, one of our favourites in the Dahlaks. This carrier, sunk in ‘72, sits upright and shallow enough that even newer wreck divers can get a real sense of its scale, all 141 metres of it. We love dropping onto the stern and working our way forward, letting the sheer size of the hull impress us as parrotfish graze on the encrusted metal. Visibility here is often ridiculously good, sometimes 30 metres plus, so you get these sweeping vistas of the entire ship emerging from the blue. The superstructure is particularly fun to explore, with light shafts cutting through the old bridge windows, illuminating schools of fusiliers that duck and weave as you pass. Keep an eye out for the resident groupers lurking in the cargo holds; they’re enormous and always worth a pause. It’s a compelling dive for anyone with a love for maritime history and wrecks you can actually get *inside*.
Typical ANTONIOS H Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
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.
ANTONIOS H Wreck History
Year Sunk
1972
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding
Tonnage
8,746 GRT
The Antonios H was a substantial Greek bulk carrier, measuring over 141 meters in length. In the summer of 1972, while navigating the notoriously treacherous waters of the Red Sea, the vessel fell victim to the hidden dangers of the Dahlak Archipelago. On June 25, it ran hard aground on a reef, tearing open its hull. Despite efforts to salvage the ship, she was declared a constructive total loss. The crew was rescued, but the Antonios H was abandoned to the sea, her career cut short by a simple navigational error.
Stranded on the reef with its bow high and dry and its stern submerged, the wreck of the Antonios H is a spectacular and imposing sight. Lying at a maximum depth of around 15 meters, it is an accessible and thrilling dive. The ship has broken in two, and divers can explore the vast cargo holds, the accommodation block, and the engine room, where the massive machinery is still visible. The shallow depth allows for long bottom times and excellent light penetration, illuminating the corals and sponges that now festoon the decaying steel. It serves as a fantastic artificial reef, attracting a dense population of Red Sea marine life, making it a highlight for any diver visiting Eritrea.
Reviews for ANTONIOS H
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ANTONIOS H
ANTONIOS H Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ANTONIOS H, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (15.67, 40.12) (15km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
33°C
91°F · Range: 31–34.1°C
Air Temperature
32°C
90°F
Wind Speed
5.8 m/s
11.3 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1009 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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