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Carnatic Wreck

Intermediate 📍 Red Sea, Egypt
Photo: Unsplash / Jeremy Bishop

Scuba diving – photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

# Carnatic Wreck Dive Site

Dive Conditions

⬇️
Depth
20m – 27m
👁️
Visibility
30m
🎯
Level
Intermediate
💨
Current
🌀 Strong

The Carnatic is a legendary wreck dive located off Shadwan Island in the Red Sea near Hurghada, Egypt. This British steam ship sank in 1869 and rests at depths between 20-27 meters, making it accessible to intermediate divers with good buoyancy control.

Divers explore the remarkably preserved wreck, featuring intact sections of the hull, boiler, and scattered debris across the sandy bottom. The site offers excellent opportunities to observe the ship’s structure and historical artifacts, providing insight into 19th-century maritime history.

The surrounding waters teem with Red Sea marine life, including vibrant coral formations, schools of fusiliers, snappers, and groupers. Experienced divers may encounter reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and various ray species. The rich biodiversity makes this wreck site ideal for both wreck enthusiasts and marine life photographers.

Clear visibility typically ranges from 20-40 meters, depending on conditions. Strong currents are common, requiring proper planning and advanced diving skills. The Carnatic remains one of the Red Sea’s most iconic and rewarding wreck dives.

🐠 Marine Life at This Dive Site

Orange-spotted Trevally — seen at this dive site
Orange-spotted Trevally Flavocaranx bajad lovelyclemmy
Iridescent Scallop — seen at this dive site
Iridescent Scallop Pedum spondyloideum lovelyclemmy
Red Sea Redbreasted Wrasse — seen at this dive site
Red Sea Redbreasted Wrasse Cheilinus quinquecinctus seastung
Guenther's Sweeper — seen at this dive site
Guenther's Sweeper Parapriacanthus guentheri lovelyclemmy
Giant Moray — seen at this dive site
Giant Moray Gymnothorax javanicus lovelyclemmy
Red Sea Anemonefish — seen at this dive site
Red Sea Anemonefish Amphiprion bicinctus juergsch

Species data from iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)

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Max Depth 27 m
Min Depth 20 m
Difficulty Intermediate
Current Strong
Visibility 30 m
GPS 27.5797°, 33.9272°