HOUGLA - Eilat
The Hougla isn’t just another sunken vessel, it’s a proper dive. We know some wrecks in Eilat can feel a bit… manufactured, but this tug, intentionally sunk in 1999, has settled beautifully into its new life. At 27 metres, it’s a perfect depth for an extended bottom time, allowing you to really get acquainted with her. Approaching the wreck, the tug’s silhouette gradually sharpens out of the blue. You can swim right into the wheelhouse, seeing where the captain once steered, now colonised by glassfish shimmering like liquid silver. Our favourite part is the engine room access; it’s an easy penetration, quite open, and full of the wreck’s character, with instruments and dials still visible. Look for moray eels tucked into every nook and cranny, and we often spot lionfish patrolling the superstructure. The visibility here is usually excellent, so you get these fantastic long views along the deck, making it easy to appreciate the scale. If you're a wreck enthusiast, or just want a dive with a real sense of place, the Hougla is a standout in Eilat.
- Location
- Eilat, Israel, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 31.697342, 34.536057
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 27m
Marine Protected Area: ימית – אבטח
Nearby Dive Sites in Eilat
- Abū Daraj Reef (reef)
- Al Qaţafah (reef)
- AL TAIF - 16m (wreck)
- AMERICANA - 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)
Nearest Dive Centres to HOUGLA
- 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