What is the best time to dive Thistlegorm Wreck?

The best months to dive Thistlegorm Wreck in Egypt are March, April, May, September, October, November. Water temperatures range from 20°C to 28°C during peak season.

How deep is Thistlegorm Wreck?

Thistlegorm Wreck reaches a maximum depth of 32 m, with visibility ranging from 12–30 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Thistlegorm Wreck?

Thistlegorm Wreck is known for encounters with jackfish, barracuda, batfish, crocodilefish, lionfish. The site features wreck, penetration diving across 1 named sites, with a marine life score of 68/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Thistlegorm Wreck good for beginners?

Thistlegorm Wreck is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be moderate and depths reach 32 m. A minimum Advanced Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Thistlegorm Wreck?

A 2-tank dive at Thistlegorm Wreck averages around $90 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Most diving here is done via liveaboard, so factor in multi-day packages when budgeting.

Thistlegorm Wreck Diving — Red Sea's WWII Icon

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World Class

Advanced

Thistlegorm Wreck

EgyptRed Sea

60.6

SCORE

27.8100°N

33.9200°E

SS Thistlegorm is arguably the world's most famous wreck dive — a WWII British transport ship sunk by German bombers in 1941, still loaded with motorbikes, trucks, and railway carriages. Sitting at 30 meters in the Strait of Gubal, it's an underwater museum of wartime cargo. The downside is extreme crowding, with multiple boats moored simultaneously.

The World's Most Famous Shipwreck Dive

Visibility12–30 m

Temperature20–28°C

Max Depth32 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$90

Best MonthsMarch, April, May, September

CertificationAdvanced Open WaterAdvanced

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

68.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

68.0

Coral & reef health

55.0

Visibility & conditions

68.0

Dive site variety

42.0

Water temperature

72.0

Depth & access

62.0

Operator quality

72.0

Topside experience

25.0

Getting there

68.0

Value & cost

68.0

Crowding

35.0

Social proof

92.0

Key species

jackfish barracuda batfish crocodilefish lionfish

Dive types

wreckpenetration

Traveling with non-divers?

This destination is primarily accessed by liveaboard — not ideal for non-diving partners. Consider planning separate shore-based activities before or after your liveaboard trip.

Activities for non-divers

liveaboard deck lifesnorkeling

Non-diver score

1/10

Dedicated dive destination — not ideal for non-divers.

Family FriendlyNot recommended

Restaurants & Nightlifenone

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber40 km — Sharm El Sheikh Hyperbaric Chamber

Nearest Hospital40 km

Reached via liveaboard from Sharm; chamber in Sharm El Sheikh 40 km away

Skill LevelAdvanced

Current Strengthmoderate

Top operators

Camel Dive Club

PADI

4.7

500 reviewsNITROX

Red Sea Explorers

BSAC

4.6

300 reviewsNITROX

Compare this dive site

Thistlegorm Wreck in Egypt scores 60.6/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for wreck diving with 12–30m visibility and 20–28°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$90 USD. Peak season: March, April, May.

Last updated: 2026-05-25

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Wreck diving enthusiasts
+ Dedicated divers willing to commit to a liveaboard trip
+ Groups seeking 1+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You get seasick or prefer shore-based diving

Verdict

Choose Thistlegorm Wreck over similar Red Sea destinations when social proof matters more than topside

How Thistlegorm Wreck compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Thistlegorm Wreck	60.6	12–30m	$90	wreck, penetration
Egyptian Red Sea	79.1	18–40m	$60	wreck, reef
St. John's Reef	72.6	20–40m	$80	reef, wall
Hurghada	72.3	15–40m	$55	reef, wreck
Fury Shoals	72.0	20–40m	$75	reef, drift

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

70+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“Accessible to most certified divers with basic open water skills.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 32 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Cooler than most tropical sites — 20°C minimum. A 5 mm wetsuit is the floor for longer dives.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.
→Liveaboard only. Self-sufficiency matters — you're far from dive medical support.

What will surprise you

→You'll do 3–4 dives a day for a week straight. Fitness and sleep discipline matter more than your certification level.
→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 8°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
high
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	21–30	24	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Feb	21–30	24	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Mar	21–30	24	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Apr	21–30	24	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
May	21–30	24	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Jun	12–21	26	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good
Jul	12–21	26	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Aug	12–21	26	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Sep	12–21	26	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Oct	12–21	26	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good
Nov	21–30	24	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Dec	21–30	24	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects66

Wide angle64

Viz stability60

Hover friendliness70

Natural light48

Recommended kit

→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. This is a liveaboard destination, so the dive package rolls accommodation and food into one nightly rate.

Budget

$2,300–$2,850

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $810–$990
Diving / day: $200–$230
Transfers + misc: $100–$250

Mid-range

$2,850–$3,800

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,150–$1,450
Diving / day: $230–$300
Transfers + misc: $100–$250

Splurge

$4,000–$5,100

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $1,800–$2,200
Diving / day: $300–$380
Transfers + misc: $100–$250

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Thistlegorm Wreck Diving — Egypt

Score breakdown

Marine Life

Key species

Dive types

Traveling with non-divers?

Activities for non-divers

Non-diver score

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

Top operators

Camel Dive Club

Red Sea Explorers

Who should dive here

Best for

Skip if

Verdict

How Thistlegorm Wreck compares

What your dive shop won't tell you

When to dive it

Dive forecast

Photography brief

What this site will teach you

Deep diving comfort

7-day trip, per person

Budget decision guide

Build a trip around it