Venture into the deep. Discover the modern military history submerged off the coast of Egypt with our guide to WWI and WWII wreck diving in Alexandria.
When divers hear "Alexandria," their imaginations immediately plunge into the ancient past—swimming among the shallow, submerged sphinxes of Cleopatra's Palace or the colossal rubble of the Pharos Lighthouse.
But if you swim away from the shallow waters of the Eastern Harbour and head deeper into the Mediterranean Sea, you leave the age of Pharaohs and enter the modern era of global conflict.
Because of its strategic importance as Egypt's primary port and naval base, the waters off Alexandria are a graveyard of modern steel. For divers who enjoy exploring the rusting history of the 20th century, wreck diving in Alexandria is a thrilling, challenging, and highly rewarding experience.
If you are accustomed to the world-famous wrecks of the Red Sea, like those of Hurghada or Sharm El-Sheikh, it is important to understand how Mediterranean wrecks differ.
While new anomalies are still being discovered by depth sounders, a few notable shipwrecks and aircraft wrecks are regularly visited by specialized Alexandria dive clubs.
The HMS Attack was an Acheron-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw extensive service during World War I. On December 27, 1917, while escorting a convoy outside Alexandria harbor, she was struck by a torpedo fired by a German U-boat (UC-34).
The ship was blown apart and sank rapidly, taking ten men with her. Today, the wreck of the HMS Attack lies in roughly 40 meters of water. The stern is heavily damaged, but the forward sections and massive boilers are still identifiable. It is a haunting dive, surrounded by schools of Mediterranean grouper and sea bream.
The SS Llandaff City was a massive British passenger and cargo steamship operating during World War I. On August 9, 1915, while traveling from Alexandria to Mudros, it was heavily damaged and sunk by the German submarine U-33.
This wreck is colossal, sitting upright on the sandy Mediterranean seabed. Resting at depths approaching 40 to 45 meters, it is an advanced/technical dive. The scale of the steam engines and the massive propeller at the stern make it one of the most visually impressive deep dives in Egypt.
During World War II, the skies above the Mediterranean coast were heavily contested. Alexandria’s waters hide several sunken aircraft that failed to return to their bases.
The most notable diveable aircraft are Vichy French fighter planes and transport aircraft that were shot down or ditched offshore. While severely damaged by impact and corrosion, the skeletal frames, engines, and sometimes the outlines of the cockpit remain visible on the seabed. Aircraft wrecks in Alexandria generally lie in the 30-meter range.
Because these wrecks are located further offshore in the open Mediterranean, diving them requires careful planning.
Scuba diving in Alexandria, Egypt is unique because it caters to deeply passionate niche divers. While the shallow antiquities draw the tourists, the deep offshore wrecks provide a playground for advanced divers seeking untouched history.
If you prefer the thrill of descending through the blue onto a torpedoed warship over floating above a coral garden, navigating the complexities of Alexandrian wreck diving is an adventure worth pursuing.