A team from Red Sea Explorers has been the first to dive on a newly located wreck in the Northern Red Sea.

Following a lead from a trusted local fisherman, Faisal Khalaf and Michel Salsmans ventured into the deep waters near Gubal Island in search of this unknown wreck on 21 and 22 January. A combination of heavy currents, poor visibility, the estimated depth of the wreck and heavy ship traffic made access difficult. After arriving at the suggested coordinates, the team spotted the wreck on the depth sounder and after a battle to hook onto the wreck due to poor surface conditions and the current, they managed to descend.

Upon arriving at depth they found lots of pipes but no wreck. However, after 10 minutes of searching, they came upon a massive structure which was a magnificent sight to see. The wreck appears to have been a cargo ship carrying pipes. It is about 100m in length and approximately 15m wide. With two long masts, one at the stern and another at the bow, they discovered one life raft under the davits on the starboard side.

The following day, they went back to the location to conduct further exploration and identify the wreck. Again, the surface conditions and currents meant they needed to moor some distance away from the wreck itself. The pipes around the wreck make it easy to hook at the wrong spot. They spent 15 minutes reeling out to the wreck, which left only a short time to dive her. They recorded the dive on a GoPro but hope to return soon to get better quality shots.

So far the wreck is unidentified but the Red Sea Explorers team have named it Persistence: The Angle Pipe Wreck.

What is known so far:

• Location: In the middle of the Traffic Separation Scheme North of Gubal Island, in the Northern Red Sea at the mouth of the Gulf of Suez.
• Ship Type: Cargo
• Cargo: Pipes
• Ship Design: Twin Masts: One aft of the super structure and another towards the bow.
• Dimensions: Length approx. 80-110m; beam approx. 15-20m wide.
• Condition: The ship seems to be completely covered with growth, suggesting she has been there for a while, anywhere from early 1950s to 1970s.
• Orientation: Sitting on her starboard side with her bow pointing north.
• Topography: The wreck is sitting in a flat sandy patch with all the pipes and beams scattered to her east.
• Depth: From 62-76m.

Dive Conditions:

• Difficult/Advanced – Hypoxic Trimix Dive.
• Lots of current, both on the surface and on the wreck.
• Windy surface conditions make it tricky on the surface.
• Expect difficulty hooking the wreck due the current and its orientation.
• Visibility is 15m; 10m at depth.
• A lot of fishing lines all around the wreck, divers must take cutting equipment.
• Returning to the up-line is a must as drifting divers will be in the way of the massive cargo ships coming up and down the channel.

Life on the wreck:

The wreck itself is covered with glassfish. Groupers hide inside and giant trevally followed the divers around the wreck. Schooling Barracuda also showed up. The rich murky water makes it an excellent feeding and breeding ground.

The Red Sea Explorers team will be diving on her again soon, so stay tuned for more news!

Find out more at www.redseaexplorers.com.