During wreck diving in Hurghada on the Red Sea - whether during wreck diving as part of the AOWD diving course or during the Wreck Diver specialization - the seeker and discoverer spirit awakens in us. Many of us dream of discovering sunken boats and being the first to admire the history with our own eyes. By diving on wrecks in Hurghada, we have a chance to make these dreams come true. Dive on El Mina wreck of minesweeper, Mohamed Hasabella fishing boat or Balena full of nudibranchs.
Wreck diving in Hurghada
When diving in Hurghada, it is worth visiting three wrecks located in Hurghada itself:
Belina Wreck
Balena wreck – Egypt, Hurghada
Wreck of a Norwegian transport boat. The boat was built in 1952 and sank in 2001. The boat is 41 meters long and 7 meters wide. The wreck is very well preserved. The maximum diving depth is 9 meters. No strong currents. The great advantage of diving on this wreck in Hurghada is the abundance of flora and fauna. Here we can meet various species of nudibranchs, shrimps, young barracudas, lionfish, rays, pufferfish and a great variety of other fish species. Beautiful, colorful soft corals grow on the wreck. Due to the shallow depth, also divers with an OWD license can dive on this wreck.
El Mina Wreck
Mohamed Hasabella Wreck
El Mina wreck (El Minja) and Mohamed Hasabella – Egypt, Hurghada
El Mina is the wreck of an Egyptian minesweeper built by the Russians. The sunken boat lies on its port side. The length of the wreck is 70 meters, depth from 24 meters (right side) to 30 meters (left side). The reason for the sinking of the boat was most likely its bombing by an Israeli fighter in 1969. The wreck is marked with a buoy attached to the stern. The wreck is located near the new marina of Hurghada, on a sandy and rocky bottom, so visibility during diving is not very good. On the right side, close to the bow, there is a large hole that you can swim into - watch out for the sharp edges of the wreck. Due to its depth, the wreck is accessible to divers with at least an AOWD level.
A few minutes of swimming from the El Mina wreck lies the wreck of the Mohamed Hasabella fishing boat. Experienced divers with good air consumption can visit both wrecks in one dive.
When diving in Egypt in Hurghada, it is worth diving on wrecks. Wreck dives are different from those on coral reefs, but some divers may find them interesting and exciting.
Wreck diving – safety rules
Currents during wreck diving
Quite often when diving on wrecks we encounter currents. When diving in Hurghada on the El Mina wreck (El Minja), we can expect a strong surface current. After entering the water, you should hold on to the current rope, then swim to the rope placed along the side of the diving boat, and pull yourself along it until you reach the descent rope. The descent line should be held with the right hand - the left hand is used for the inflator to control buoyancy - both during submersion and ascent. If groups pass each other on the descent line, priority is given to the group that has completed the dive and emerges from the wreck.
Sharp edges on wrecks
Many wrecks have sharp edges. Contact with them should be avoided while maintaining neutral buoyancy. Gloves may be worn during wreck diving in Egypt.
Poor visibility during wreck diving
When diving on some wrecks in Hurghada, we can expect poorer visibility compared to diving on the reef. An example would be diving on the Balena wreck. Also on El Mina (El Minje) the visibility is often not spectacular.
Depth
Many wrecks are located at greater depths. Therefore, if we want to visit sunken boats recreationally, we should have at least an AOWD license, which allows diving to 30 meters. It is also a good idea to dive with nitrox (the oxygen content in the mixture cannot exceed 1.4 ata at the maximum depth), which allows you to extend the no-decompression time compared to diving with air.
El Mina wreck (El Minja) in Hurghada - maximum depth of 30 meters, wrecks on Abu Nuhas - depth between 12-25 meters, Balena wreck (Hurghada) - maximum depth of 9 meters - available to divers with an OWD license.
Stability of wreck elements
Sunken boats are subject to corrosion and are exposed to sea currents and waves. Over time, parts of them may collapse. If we have any doubts about our safety, we never risk entering a wreck.
Entanglement during wreck diving
Fortunately, you will almost certainly not encounter fishing nets on the wrecks in Hurghada. However, there are elements of the equipment of sunken boats, such as cables, in which a diver may potentially become entangled. For this reason, it is worth paying close attention to where you are swimming and if you get entangled, stay calm, check the gas pressure in the diving cylinder, and ask your partner for help. It is worth taking a knife with you during wreck diving (it should be placed in such a way that you can access it with each hand).
Underwater life on wrecks
Wrecks are often inhabited. An example of such a wreck in Hurghada is Balena, which is a kind of "kindergarten" for young individuals of many species. Sea urchins and lionfish live inside the wreck - hence, if we want to hold on to the edge - we have to be very careful.
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Pavla