Giannis D

The Giannis D is the most celebrated of the four Abu Nuhas wrecks — a 99-meter Greek cargo ship that ran aground on Sha'ab Abu Nuhas reef in April 1983, broke apart, and sank to rest on a sandy slope off the reef's northwestern corner. Today her hull lies broken into three distinct sections between 5 and 28 meters, her unmistakable stern tilted at a dramatic 45-degree angle that has made her the most photographed wreck in the Red Sea after the Thistlegorm. The wreck is dived in three sections. The bow rests relatively intact at 25 meters, partially buried in sand, with schools of glassfish pulsing through the collapsed structure. The midsection is broken and collapsed, scattered across the seabed at 18-24 meters, allowing safe exterior exploration. The stern is the iconic section — tilted steeply, deck reaching to 12 meters and propeller at 25, with the tall mast, funnel, and superstructure creating the most recognizable underwater silhouette in Egypt. Marine life has made the wreck a thriving reef. Glassfish swarm through every opening, scorpionfish and crocodile fish blend into encrusted steel, and giant moray eels coil in the engine-room wreckage. Barracuda schools patrol the stern, while the nearby reef shelters octopus, lionfish, and the occasional reef shark. Soft corals, sponges, and encrusting organisms cover the hull, and the dramatic light shafts through the stern's intact portholes make this a favorite with underwater photographers. The Giannis D is an Advanced Open Water dive due to the 28-meter maximum depth and occasional current exposure. Reached by day boat from Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh (1.5-2 hours), or as a classic stop on northern Red Sea liveaboard itineraries. Visibility typically 20-30 meters, water temperatures 22-29°C. Best conditions run March through November, with the wreck particularly photogenic in morning light when the tilted stern catches the sun at its most dramatic angle.