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Dive site

Safaga, Red Sea, Egypt

Salem Express

Typical depth

30m

Type
Wreck
Typical depth
30 m
Level
Intermediate
Visibility
15–25 m
Water temp
22–28 °C
Current
Mild
Access
Open access
Min cert
Advanced Open Water
  • Wreck
  • War Grave
  • No Penetration (Cultural)
  • Memorial Dive
  • Intact
  • Reef Adjacent

When to dive

BestAvoidOK

The Salem Express was a Roll-on/Roll-off passenger ferry that struck the Hyndman Reefs ~16 km south of Safaga on the night of 14 December 1991 and sank within minutes; ~470 people died. The wreck lies on her starboard side in 12–32 m and is treated as a mass grave — Egyptian custom and operator code forbid penetration and the removal or disturbance of any artefact. Year-round divable, but the open Safaga site is best in spring and autumn when winds drop. A sober, sensitive dive — many operators brief it as a memorial.

26.6403° N, 33.9933° E

Marine life

Macro
nudibranchs, scorpionfish
Turtles
hawksbill (occasional)
Pelagics
barracuda, jacks
Reef fish
lionfish, glassfish in the wheelhouse, batfish, snapper, grouper
Invertebrates
coral and sponge encrusting the hull, soft corals on the railings

Wreck

Vessel
Salem Express
Class
Ro-Ro passenger ferry
Origin
Egypt (built France 1966)
Sunk
1991 — struck the Hyndman Reefs ~16 km south of Safaga on the night of 14 Dec 1991 (returning from Jeddah with Hajj pilgrims) and sank within minutes; ~470 official fatalities — one of the worst maritime disasters of the Red Sea
Length
115 m
Penetration
Not advised

Dive clubs that visit this site

Sources

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