wreck

Log This Dive

NEJMAT EL PETROL XVIII (POSSIBLY)

The Nejmat El Petrol XVIII, a tanker that came to grief in 1991, isn’t your typical Red Sea wreck, and that’s precisely why we love it. Instead of a deep, dark plunge, you’re looking at a site topping out at 18 metres, making it approachable for most divers. We’d suggest going early in the morning, before the boat traffic picks up. The wreck itself lies on its starboard side, largely intact, with the stern particularly well-preserved. You can swim through the superstructure, a real treat as shafts of light pierce the gloom, illuminating the schools of glassfish that shimmer inside. Keep an eye out for lionfish tucked into every shadowy corner, and we’ve often seen large groupers patrolling the deeper parts of the hull. For photographers, the engine room offers some moody shots, especially when there’s a gentle current pushing visibility. It’s a compelling piece of history, now a thriving artificial reef, offering a different flavour of Jeddah diving.