The Thistlegorm was a 9,000-ton freighter built in 1940 and used as a freight vessel during the World War II to supply the Allied war effort. On October 6th 1941, she lay at anchor by the large reef system of Sha'ab Ali near the Sinai coastline having completed an arduous journey around Africa. The Thistlegorm was laden with military equipment of all kinds for the British troops in North Africa. Her cargo included every conceivable type of war material from rifles to artillery shells, motor cycles to jeeps and trucks and car tyres to tank tracks, even uniforms and combat boots were on board. But the cargo was not destined to reach the British troops. A long-range German bomber based in Crete spotted the vessel and two of its bombs penetrated the ammunition-packed number four hold. The resulting explosions ripped away the entire stern section sealing her fate. Nine crew members perished as a result. For many years afterwards British navy vessels would lower their flags as they passed her final resting-place and now she has become one of the most famous wreck-dives in the world.

In September 2000 I first dived this wreck, my dives 288 and 289, while staying in Sharm El Sheikh, with Divers International. It is a long boat trip from Sharm to Sha'ab Ali. So a 5.00 a.m. start was required and by 6.30 a.m. I was aboard Sinai II heading for the wreck. At first, sea conditions were not too bad but after passing Ras Mohammed, the waves grew larger. As Sinai II approached the dive site, I could see there were about 10 boats already moored over the wreck. By now the sea was rough. After a long delay establishing a mooring, Anne-Laure Jaffrelo, our dive guide, led us down to the wreck and around the exterior. On our second dive we explored part of this interior of enormous wreck. Nothing could have prepared me for its sheer size. Nor its amazing and well-preserved cargo. It was easy to understand its popularity with divers.

In February 2005 I again stayed in Sharm El Sheikh, this time diving with Emperor Divers. One of our dive guides, Adrian Stacey held a farewell party the evening before the Thistlegorm trip. So there was only time for a few hours’ sleep before getting up at 3.15 a.m. to met up with my dive buddy, Martyn Doherty and the rest of the dive group. Empress Teresa conveyed us to the site and fortunately this time there was only a moderate swell. Our dive guide Sameh Kadous, allowed Martyn and I to dive independently from the main dive group on both dives, my dives 1016 and 1017. Fish highlights were Barracuda, Batfish, a Giant Moray Eel, Tuna and a large Scorpionfish.