AMERICANA - Eilat
The Americana wreck in Eilat is a genuinely fun dive, a small tugboat that somehow ended up on its side at a friendly 16 metres. We've always appreciated a wreck that’s just, well, *there*, rather than a scattered mess. You drop down, and boom, a 26-metre long vessel, listing dramatically, inviting you to explore. It’s small enough that you can really take your time, tracing the outline, poking your head into the wheelhouse if you’re feeling brave (it’s quite open, so no real penetration needed). What makes the Americana a standout, beyond its approachable depth, is the life that’s set up shop. The deck is carpeted with fire coral, a vibrant orange against the ship’s dark hull. Look closer, and you’ll spot crocodile fish perfectly camouflaged on the sandy bottom nearby, and sometimes a stonefish if you're really paying attention. Schools of glassfish shimmer in the shadows of the superstructure, and we’ve often seen lionfish patrolling the edges. For photographers, the Americana offers some fantastic angles, especially with the light filtering through the Red Sea’s clear water onto the upright propeller. We'd suggest an early morning dive before the crowds arrive; it’s a popular spot for a reason.
- Location
- Eilat, Israel, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 29.908333, 32.513332
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 16m
Wreck History - AMERICANA
- Vessel Type
- tugboat
- Cause
- unknown
Resting in the clear, calm waters of the Red Sea, the wreck of the Americana is a fantastic site for divers exploring Eilat, Israel. This 26-meter tugboat sits upright on a sandy bottom at a comfortable depth of 16 meters, making it easily accessible for divers of all certification levels. While the specific history of how and when this small workhorse vessel sank is not widely known, its compact size and shallow depth allow for a thorough and relaxed exploration in a single dive. The site's classification as a 'Dangerous wreck' serves as a reminder for divers to maintain good buoyancy and be mindful of potential entanglement hazards or sharp metal edges as they navigate the structure.
Nearby Dive Sites in Eilat
- Abū Daraj Reef (reef)
- Al Qaţafah (reef)
- AL TAIF - 16m (wreck)
- An Numūsīyah (reef)
- ASAKURA MARU NO 12 - 15m (wreck)
- As Sab‘ Ḩaţābāt (reef)
- Ataqa Reef (reef)
- Caves (cave)
- Ceasaria Maritima Old City
- Coral Beach Nature Reserve - 3-20m (reef)
- Dolphin Reef (reef)
- EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN - 3m (wreck)
- EL HADEY - 15m (wreck)
- EL IMAM MALEK - 1m (wreck)
- ELLIE - 32m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to AMERICANA
- AVIDAG
- Divers & Co - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Eilat
Home to 147 recorded species including 100 reef fish, 16 hard corals, 8 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 whales & dolphins, 4 clams & mussels, 3 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Lesser valley coral (Platygyra lamellina) - Hard Corals
- Fluorescence grass coral (Galaxea fascicularis) - Hard Corals
- Red lionfish (Pterois miles) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora eurystoma) - Hard Corals
- Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Rock Cod (Epinephelus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Snakefish (Trachinocephalus myops) - Reef Fish
- Starflower coral (Astreopora myriophthalma) - Hard Corals
- Red Squirrelfish (Sargocentron diadema) - Reef Fish
- Blacktail Butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus) - Reef Fish
- Klunzinger's wrasse (Thalassoma rueppellii) - Reef Fish
- Arabian Pinfish (Diplodus noct) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Stethojulis albovittata) - Reef Fish
- Banded Blue Sprat (Spratelloides gracilis) - Reef Fish
- Starry cup coral (Acanthastrea echinata) - Hard Corals
- Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) - Sea Urchins
- Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora verrucosa) - Hard Corals
- Yellow scroll coral (Turbinaria reniformis) - Hard Corals