Salem Express Liveaboard Diving

The Salem Express was an Egyptian roll-on/roll-off car and passenger ferry that struck Hyndman Reef near Safaga and sank within about 20 minutes in mid-to-late December 1991 (sources differ on the exact date, most commonly citing either the 14th or the 17th), with major loss of life among passengers returning from a Hajj pilgrimage via Jeddah. Today the hull rests on its starboard side in open water off Safaga, spanning depths from around 23 ft (7 m) near the surface to about 105 ft (32 m) at the seabed. Because human remains are still believed to be inside, most Red Sea operators treat it as a maritime grave and restrict penetration to the stern cargo hold, making it a profoundly moving rather than purely recreational wreck dive.

The Salem Express was an Egyptian roll-on/roll-off car and passenger ferry that struck Hyndman Reef near Safaga in December 1991 while returning from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and sank within about 20 minutes. It was carrying well over its rated capacity of 1,256 passengers and 145 vehicles; the official death toll stands at roughly 470, though some estimates run considerably higher given the reported overcrowding, and it remains one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the Red Sea's modern history.

The Salem Express rests on its starboard side roughly 23-105 ft (7-32 m) deep, close enough to the surface that the shallowest part of the hull is easily reached on a single tank. Most dives are slow exterior circuits along the hull and superstructure rather than deep or technical profiles, which keeps them accessible to a fairly broad range of experience levels.

Because human remains are still believed to be inside, the Salem Express is widely treated as a maritime grave, and most Red Sea operators either prohibit penetration entirely or restrict it to the stern cargo hold, which held vehicles rather than passenger cabins (as of 2026). Some local guides decline to enter the wreck at all, and divers are generally expected to follow their own boat's specific policy rather than assume access.

Open Water certification is sufficient for the shallower sections of the exterior, but most operators prefer Advanced Open Water or equivalent experience given the site's depth range and the currents that can run along this stretch of coast. Because of the wreck's sensitive history, guides also expect a calm, respectful diving style rather than aggressive finning or fixation on penetration.

Current here can range from mild to noticeably strong depending on tide and season, typical of the open coastline south of Safaga, so dives are usually planned as a controlled drift along the hull rather than a fixed-line swim. Guides typically brief an entry and exit point that accounts for the day's conditions.

The hull has been colonized by soft corals and sponges for more than three decades underwater, and it's common to see lionfish, moray eels, and batfish sheltering around the superstructure, along with schools of snapper and jacks in the water column. It functions today as an artificial reef, with marine growth softening the wreck's otherwise stark outline.

It's reachable by day boat from Safaga, roughly 6-10 miles (10-16 km) from the wreck site, so it isn't liveaboard-exclusive. Many liveaboard itineraries through the central Red Sea still include it as a scheduled stop, both for the diving and out of respect for the site's significance.

Water temperature follows the central Red Sea's seasonal pattern, ranging from roughly 72°F (22°C) in winter (January-March) to about 82°F (28°C) at the summer peak (June-September). A 5mm wetsuit is a comfortable choice for most of the year, with a thinner suit workable in high summer.

The shallower parts of the hull are within reach of a newly certified Open Water diver in calm conditions, but most operators prefer divers with a bit more experience given the depth range, occasional current, and the emotional weight of diving a site with this history. It's worth discussing your comfort level with the dive guide before booking.

Most trips schedule one or two dives here rather than a full day, since the wreck sits close to Safaga and is usually combined with one of the area's other sites, such as Panorama Reef or Tobia Arbaa, on the same outing. A single dive is generally enough to circuit the exterior at a comfortable pace.

Beyond the usual current and depth considerations, the main thing to know is that this is widely regarded as a grave site, so respectful conduct — no removing artifacts, no forcing entry into closed sections, and calm, deliberate movement around the hull — is expected of every diver. Sharp, rusted metal and loose cabling around the more damaged sections are also worth avoiding in person.