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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Ras Mohammed location page.
Overview
Greek cargo steamer — launched in Germany in 1954 as the Dora Oldendorff — that ran full-tilt onto the northeast corner of Sha'ab Abu Nuhas on the night of 30 August 1981 while carrying roughly 3,000 tonnes of Italian floor tiles toward Jeddah. The hull broke apart on the reef; the intact bow and anchor winch now rise to within about 5 m of the surface while the stern, engine room and four-bladed propeller rest on sand at 26 m. Divers know it as the 'Tile Wreck' because the forward holds are still stacked with terracotta tiles, many stamped 'Made in Italy.' Clouds of glassfish fill the holds, anthias and soft coral coat the railings, and lionfish, groupers and morays work the collapsed midsection.
Briefing note
Advanced Open Water with some wreck experience recommended; the shallow intact bow is easy, but penetrating the holds, engine room and stern needs a Wreck Diver certification, a torch and a reel. The identity of the visible wreck is debated — some researchers argue it is the MV Marcus and that the Chrisoula K herself lies elsewhere on the reef — but it is universally logged and dived as the Chrisoula K / Tile Wreck. Three mooring buoys serve different wrecks on Abu Nuhas; confirm with the guide which wreck the line drops on, as currents can prevent moving between them. Strait of Gubal winds frequently force itineraries to swap Abu Nuhas for sheltered sites. Removing tiles or artefacts is prohibited under Egyptian antiquities law. Nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Hurghada.
What you'll see
6 species curated- year-roundGlassfish (sweeper)Peak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundScalefin anthiasPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundCommon lionfishPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundCoral grouperPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundGiant morayPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundCrocodilefishPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21–23 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Feb | 20–22 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Mar | 21–23 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Apr | 22–24 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| May | 24–26 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Jun | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Jul | 27–29 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Aug | 28–30 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Sep | 27–29 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Oct | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Nov | 24–26 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Dec | 22–24 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Gear for this site
Beyond the basic kit- Primary plus backup torch — The stacked tile holds, the engine room and the dark stern interior are the wreck's highlights and stay dim even in bright surface conditions.
- SMB — Currents on Abu Nuhas build through the morning and the mooring line is often unreachable on ascent; an SMB is mandatory for free-water ascents off the wreck.
Next step
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