ESS NAKIL (POSSIBLY) - Port Sudan & Sanganeb

The Ess Nakil, or what we strongly suspect is the Ess Nakil, is a real favourite for us in Sudan. It's a steamship, sitting upright in a startlingly shallow ten metres, making it accessible for almost any diver. We love dropping down and immediately seeing the entire structure, the bow rising out of the blue, the stern gently sloping away. This isn't a wreck you just swim over. We often spend an entire dive just on the aft section, exploring the propeller and rudder, then moving to the massive, barnacle-encrusted boiler. The superstructure is gone, but the hull is remarkably intact, especially amidships. You can poke your head into the cargo holds, sometimes finding a grumpy moray eel peering back. On a sunny day, shafts of light pierce the remaining deck plating, illuminating schools of small silver fish that dart between the metal beams. There’s a quietness here, a sense of history that’s hard to find on deeper, darker wrecks. It’s a gentle dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who likes to take their time soaking in the atmosphere of a lost vessel.

Location: Port Sudan & Sanganeb, Sudan, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 19.319445, 37.376390
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 10m

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 NAKIL (POSSIBLY)

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