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Overview
British coal freighter sunk in the early hours of 8 October 1941 by two Luftwaffe Heinkel He 111s, two days after the same bombers claimed her famous sister wreck SS Thistlegorm just 15 km away. Launched in Glasgow in 1910 as the Francis, the 108 metre hull sat hidden for nearly six decades until divers relocated her in 1998. She rests upright on a sandy seabed in the Strait of Gubal: masts at 18 m, main deck at 35 m, propeller and rudder at 50 m, holds still packed with the Welsh steam coal she was carrying to Alexandria. Silt off the surrounding sand keeps visibility around 10 to 20 m, lending the wreck a brooding atmosphere lit by glassfish swarms over bridge and engine room while batfish, schools of barracuda and resident grouper patrol the masts.
Briefing note
Technical certification recommended: the propeller and stern sit at 50 m and the main deck at 35 m, putting most of the wreck below recreational limits. Many operators run it as an extended range or trimix dive; some allow accompanied dives on nitrox with strict 40 m caps over the bridge and forward holds only. Two primary plus a backup torch are essential — the holds are dark, the silt is fine and easily stirred, and a thermocline often hangs around 22 m. Currents are usually gentle but the surface around Gubal can pick up suddenly; descend and ascend on the permanent mooring line. The wreck is a war grave for the two crew lost in 1941. Avoid touching cargo or hull plating, much of which is degrading rapidly. Nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Hurghada.
What you'll see
8 species curated- year-roundGlassfishPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundBatfishPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundYellowtail barracudaPeak: 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-roundGiant morayPeak: 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-roundScorpionfishPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundCommon octopusPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21–23 °C | 10–20 m | mild |
| Feb | 20–22 °C | 10–20 m | mild |
| Mar | 21–23 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Apr | 22–25 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| May | 24–26 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Jun | 26–28 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Jul | 27–29 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Aug | 28–30 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Sep | 27–29 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Oct | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Nov | 24–26 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Dec | 22–24 °C | 10–20 m | mild |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
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