Dunraven

Overview

Due to the moderate depth, the wreck can also be dived by beginners. Possible risks come from the sometimes strong currents in this area.

Description

Beacon Rock is a small reef that partially rises above the water surface, located 6.9 miles west of Ras Mohammed, and has a small lighthouse that marks the southernmost point of Sha'ab Mahmud. It was here that the English cargo ship Dunraven, which had mixed propulsion and had been built by the Mitchell & C. shipyard in 1873, sank in 1876 on its way to Bombay.

The wreck, which lies inverted and separated into two parts at a depth of between 15 and 29.5 meters, was first discovered in 1977 by geologist Arye Keller and underwater cameraman Howard Rosenstein. The Dunraven was the subject of a memorable 1979 BBC documentary and subsequently became a classic dive site.

Since the cargo consisting of wood and cotton bales was lost during the shipwreck and the ship caught fire, the wreck presents itself today as a large, almost empty cavern, into which one penetrates through three main openings on the stern, the middle section and the bow.

Hotspots

• The dive begins at the stern, which is the deepest part of the wreck and where you can observe various crocodile fish. After covering a few dozen meters inside the hull populated with large groupers, lionfish, scorpionfish, schools of glassfish and colorful leather corals, it is advisable to exit the ship through the central opening located at the level of the engine room, in order to be able to explore the bow and especially the nearby beautiful coral garden.