Chrisoula K

The Chrisoula K, known universally as the 'Tile Wreck' for her cargo of bathroom and floor tiles, is one of the four famous wrecks on Sha'ab Abu Nuhas reef — a 98-meter Greek cargo ship that ran aground in August 1981 while carrying tiles from Italy to Jeddah. She slid down the reef's outer wall after the collision and came to rest on a sandy slope between 4 and 26 meters, her superstructure broken but her holds largely intact and still packed with their original cargo. The wreck is dived along the hull from stern to bow, with the engine room and cargo holds offering extensive penetration opportunities for properly trained divers. The tile cargo gives the wreck its distinctive character — divers swim through holds stacked with pallets of ceramic tiles that remain exactly where they were loaded 40 years ago. The large bronze propeller at the stern is a favorite photographic subject, sitting exposed on the sandy slope at 26 meters. Marine life is thriving. Glassfish fill the interior, scorpionfish and crocodile fish blend into the encrusted deck plates, and giant moray eels coil in the engine room. The wreck's coral encrustation is superb — the hull is covered in soft corals in pink and purple, gorgonian fans, and colorful sponges. Schools of bigeye trevally, batfish, and barracuda patrol the exterior, while resident Napoleon wrasse approach divers with the curiosity typical of Red Sea reef inhabitants. The Chrisoula K is Advanced Open Water diving due to depth and penetration opportunities, with Wreck certification recommended for interior exploration. Reached by day boat from Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh (1.5-2 hours), or as part of northern Red Sea liveaboard itineraries that typically cover all four Abu Nuhas wrecks. Visibility 20-30 meters, water temperatures 22-29°C. Best conditions March through November, with the calmest seas in spring and autumn.