ESS MOBIL - Port Sudan & Sanganeb

We love a good wreck, and the ESS MOBIL is up there. This isn’t one of those carefully sunk, prepped for divers, easy-peasy wrecks. No, the ESS MOBIL feels like a proper historical find, a freighter that clearly met its end with a bit of a bang. She sits upright, pretty much intact, resting at 30 metres. What we really appreciate here is the scale; you can spend a solid dive just circumnavigating her superstructure, peering into cargo holds that still feel a bit eerie, like the crew just stepped out for a moment. The wreck itself is a magnet for marine life. Schools of fusiliers swirl around the mast, so thick they almost block out the sun when you look up. We’ve seen hefty groupers lurking in shadowy corners, and once, a rather large Napoleon wrasse gave us a once-over before disappearing into the bow. Current can be a bit unpredictable, so keep an eye on conditions. It’s a site that rewards multiple visits, revealing new details each time. This one’s for the experienced wreck diver who appreciates a bit of history and a lot of atmosphere, definitely not a first-timer’s dive.

Location: Port Sudan & Sanganeb, Sudan, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 19.323750, 37.380833
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 30m

Marine Protected Area: Sanganeb Atoll

Best Time to Dive in Port Sudan & Sanganeb

The warmest water temperatures in Port Sudan & Sanganeb occur in August, averaging 32.0°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 25.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 26.1°C
February: 25.4°C
March: 25.5°C
April: 26.7°C
May: 29.0°C
June: 30.1°C
July: 31.0°C
August: 32.0°C
September: 31.7°C
October: 30.9°C
November: 29.5°C
December: 28.1°C

Marine Life in Port Sudan & Sanganeb

Home to 55 recorded species including 41 reef fish, 14 hard corals.

Notable Species

Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
Red Sea Clown Surgeon (Acanthurus sohal) - Reef Fish
Halfspotted Hind (Cephalopholis hemistiktos) - Reef Fish
Red-flushed Cod (Aethaloperca rogaa) - Reef Fish
Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Reef Fish
Candelamoa Parrotfish (Hipposcarus harid) - Reef Fish
Threadfin (Chaetodon auriga) - Reef Fish
Bristletoothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus strigosus) - Reef Fish
Pufferfish (Arothron hispidus) - Reef Fish
Banded maori wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
Common Mushroom Coral (Fungia fungites) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora pharaonis) - Hard Corals
Blacktail Butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus) - Reef Fish
Polkadot Cod (Plectropomus areolatus) - Reef Fish
Hound Needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus) - Reef Fish
Golden Butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) - Reef Fish
Armed Squirrel-fish (Neoniphon sammara) - Reef Fish
Humphead Unicornfish (Naso unicornis) - Reef Fish
Lesser valley coral (Platygyra lamellina) - Hard Corals
Picasso triggerfish (Rhinecanthus assasi) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for ESS MOBIL

Based on average water temperature of 28.8°C, currents 9 cm/s.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°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