Abu Nuhas - Giannis D Wreck

Hurghada · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt

The Giannis D is the most popular and arguably most photogenic of the four wrecks adorning Abu Nuhas reef in the Strait of Gubal. This Greek-owned cargo ship, originally built in Japan as the Shoyo Maru, met her end in April 1983 when she struck the reef while transporting softwood timber from Croatia to Saudi Arabia. The crew was safely evacuated, but the ship settled on the reef slope and eventually broke in two, creating one of the Red Sea's most iconic wreck dives. The bow section is the star attraction. Rising dramatically from the reef at about 24 metres to roughly 4 metres from the surface, it tilts at a steep angle that makes for extraordinary wide-angle photographs. The mast extends outward, often surrounded by clouds of anthias and fusiliers, while glassfish pack the interior spaces in shimmering silver curtains. The hull is encrusted with hard and soft corals, and lionfish hover at every opening. The stern section lies deeper, with the engine room providing the best penetration opportunity on the reef. Inside, the machinery is remarkably well preserved -- cylinders, gauges, pipes, and the main engine block are all clearly identifiable. Shafts of blue light penetrate through openings in the hull, illuminating the interior with an otherworldly glow. The bridge section is also accessible, with the ship's wheel and telegraph adding historical character. Between the two sections, the midship area has collapsed and merged with the reef, creating a jumbled landscape of steel plates, coral, and marine life. Crocodilefish rest on flat surfaces, moray eels peer from crevices, and schools of batfish hang in the water column nearby. The reef itself surrounding the wreck is covered in healthy hard corals and supports a thriving ecosystem. Abu Nuhas is reached exclusively by boat, typically from liveaboards operating out of Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh. Surface conditions can be choppy in the Strait of Gubal, and moderate currents are common around the reef. Visibility ranges from 15 to 30 metres, with the best conditions from March through November.