Dive sites in Sudan
Browse by region, city or dive type to find suitable locations for your experience level.
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SS Umbria Wreck
Port Sudan · Red Sea State · Sudan
A perfectly preserved 150-metre Italian cargo ship scuttled in 1940 with 360,000 bombs still in her holds, resting on Wingate Reef in the Sudanese Red Sea.
Sanganeb Reef
Port Sudan · Red Sea State · Sudan
The only atoll in the Red Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage site with sheer walls dropping 800 metres, schooling hammerheads, and the richest soft coral displays in the region.
Sha'ab Rumi
Port Sudan · Red Sea State · Sudan
Jacques Cousteau's legendary underwater habitat site on a remote Sudanese reef where the remains of Conshelf II sit among pristine coral walls patrolled by schooling hammerheads, grey reef sharks, and enormous pelagics in Red Sea waters virtually untouched by mass tourism.
Diving in Sudan
Dive sites in Sudan include wreck, wall, reef locations across Red Sea State. Each location includes depth, conditions and environment type to help you plan safely.
Use the region and city navigation above to narrow your search, or explore individual site pages for detailed conditions, entry type, skill requirements and nearby alternatives.
FAQ
What is the history of the SS Umbria wreck?
The SS Umbria was a 150-metre Italian cargo ship built in Hamburg in 1912. On June 9, 1940, while carrying 360,000 bombs and other war materials destined for Italian forces in Eritrea, the ship was intercepted by the British navy near Port Sudan. Rather than allow the British to seize the cargo, the Italian captain ordered the ship scuttled at Wingate Reef. The wreck has remained largely intact ever since.
What certification level is needed to dive the SS Umbria?
The SS Umbria ranges from 5 to 38 metres depth. The upper sections, including the bridge and deck, are accessible to Open Water divers at 15-20 metres. The deeper cargo holds where the bombs are visible require Advanced Open Water certification. Penetration of the interior spaces should only be undertaken with proper wreck diving training.
How do you access diving in Port Sudan?
Most divers visit the SS Umbria and other Sudanese Red Sea sites via liveaboard boats departing from Port Sudan. Liveaboard itineraries typically range from 7 to 10 days and combine the Umbria with other iconic sites like Sanganeb Reef. Flights to Port Sudan connect through Khartoum. Visa requirements should be checked well in advance as they change frequently.
What makes Sanganeb Reef unique in the Red Sea?
Sanganeb is the only true atoll formation in the Red Sea, a circular reef rising from a sea floor more than 800 metres deep. This unique geography creates sheer walls covered with some of the most spectacular soft coral growth found anywhere in the Red Sea. Combined with its UNESCO World Heritage status and remote location 30 kilometres offshore, Sanganeb offers pristine conditions rarely found at more accessible dive sites.
Where do you see hammerhead sharks at Sanganeb?
Hammerhead sharks are most commonly seen at the southwest plateau of Sanganeb Reef, where upwelling currents bring nutrient-rich water from the depths. Early morning dives at this plateau offer the best chances, as the sharks gather in schools before dispersing for daytime hunting. The hammerheads are typically found at depths between 25 and 40 metres along the outer wall.