Carnatic Wreck

The Carnatic is a historic 19th-century wreck on Abu Nuhas reef and one of the oldest accessible shipwrecks in the Red Sea. This British P&O steamship struck the reef in September 1869 while en route from Suez to Bombay, carrying passengers, mail, and a cargo of gold and silver coins. The ship sat on the reef for two days before the hull cracked and she sank, tragically killing 31 people. Today, the Carnatic rests on her port side at 18–27 meters on a sandy bottom. Over 150 years of submersion have opened the hull like a cathedral — the iron ribs arch overhead, framing blue sky through gaps in the structure and allowing beautiful light play throughout the interior. Schools of glassfish fill the spaces between the ribs, glowing gold when backlit by sunlight. The hull is colonised by hard and soft corals, sponges, and a variety of invertebrates. Lionfish hunt among the structure, scorpionfish rest on the hull plates, and moray eels peer from dark corners. The ship's boiler and engine machinery are recognisable, and the stern section with rudder and propeller shaft remains intact. The Carnatic is a wreck of extraordinary atmosphere — swimming through the open ribcage of a Victorian-era steamer surrounded by glassfish and light rays is a genuinely unique experience. It is regularly paired with the Giannis D on dive trips to Abu Nuhas, and the contrast between the two wrecks makes for an exceptional two-dive combination.

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