Today’s featured wreck is the Al Arish. Also known as El Tor and also the El Tor El Arish, a roll-on/roll-off ferry launched in September 1980.
The AL Arish‘s final voyage was on a return trip from Jeddah, KSA to Safaga in 2001. During this trip a fire broke out in the ship’s engine room which caused significant damage. The ship was able to make it back to Safaga where she was anchored and remained until the ship “disappeared” one day.
Local stories concerning the ship greatly vary. One day the ship was just gone and most people had assumed the the ship had gotten underway and left. One reference used in research states that after a long period of unpaid harbor fees the ship was intentionally scuttled, another reference alludes to an alleged insurance scam.
Guesses concerning the ship’s disappearance aside, she had actually sunk at its anchorage in 37 meters of water!
This is a complete wreck lying on her port side on the sandy bottom at 37 meters in a relatively protected area, which makes this a good dive in almost all weather conditions. The starboard side of the wreck lies at just 12 meters below the surface, so this is a dive that can be done any certification level.
Learn more at: http://www.redseawreckproject.com/red-sea-shipwreck-database/a/al-arish/
Got any photos of the Al Arish? Share them with us at: http://dive.im/1envbLM
