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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Ras Mohammed location page.
Overview
A 115-meter roll-on/roll-off ferry that struck Hyndman Reef off Safaga late on December 14, 1991 while carrying Egyptian workers and pilgrims home from Jeddah, and sank in minutes; the official death toll was 470, though the overcrowded vessel may have lost more than 1,600. Launched in France in 1964 as the Fred Scamaroni, she now lies on her starboard side on sand, the hull rising from 30 m to about 12 m. The bow visor doors gape open, both funnels and the large 'S' company logo remain, and lifeboats sit collapsed in their davits. Declared a maritime grave, the wreck may not be penetrated; divers circle the exterior past lionfish, groupers, moray eels and bigeye trevally among the spreading coral.
Briefing note
Diving is restricted to the exterior: the Salem Express is a designated maritime tomb and penetration is forbidden out of respect for the dead. Human remains and personal effects are still on site, so treat the wreck with sensitivity and remove nothing. The 30 m depth and a wide scattered debris field make it an advanced dive; nitrox extends bottom time. The nearest hyperbaric chambers are in Hurghada and Safaga.
What you'll see
5 species curated- year-roundLionfishPeak: 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-roundBigeye trevallyPeak: 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
- year-roundBluespotted ribbontail rayPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21–23 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Feb | 21–22 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Mar | 22–23 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Apr | 23–24 °C | 15–30 m | mild |
| May | 25–26 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Jun | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Jul | 27–29 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Aug | 28–30 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Sep | 28–29 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Oct | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Nov | 24–26 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Dec | 22–24 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
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