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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stm-diving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/E40A6843-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\nThe night of the tragedy<\/h4>\n\n
In June 1941, the Thistlegorm left Glasgow bound for the Suez Canal, loaded to the hold with Bedford trucks, Norton 16H and BSA M20 motorcycles, ammunition, Lee-Enfield rifles, boots, steam locomotives, and aircraft parts.
But on the night of October 6, 1941, two German Heinkel He 111 bombers spotted the ship and mistook it for a troop transport.<\/p>
The bombs struck the rear hold, which was filled with ammunition, causing a massive explosion. The ship broke apart, caught fire, and sank in less than ten minutes<\/b>.<\/p>
Nine crew members perished. The survivors were rescued by the HMS Carlisle<\/b>.<\/p><\/p>\n\n
Since then, the Thistlegorm has lain at a depth of 30 meters<\/b>, a majestic and silent silhouette, enveloped in sand and coral.<\/p><\/p>\n\n
\n\nRediscovered by Cousteau<\/h4>\n\n
In the early 1950s, Jacques Cousteau and his team aboard the Calypso rediscovered the wreck.
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Dive into history<\/h4>\n\n
The dive starts from the anchorage of your cruise ship, directly above the wreck. As you descend along the bow, the immense silhouette of the Thistlegorm gradually reveals itself, lying upright on the sand, with the upper deck at a depth of about 20 meters.<\/p><\/p>\n\n
The rear of the ship immediately catches the eye: the turret equipped with its anti-aircraft gun still points skyward, covered with hard corals and gorgonians. It is a must-see for the first dive.
Inside the holds, the sight is striking: perfectly preserved Bedford and Morris trucks<\/b>, jeeps<\/b>, BSA and Norton motorcycles<\/b>, as well as crates of rifles, ammunition, boots, gas masks, and mechanical parts<\/b>.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
On the seabed, two steam locomotives<\/b> torn from the bridge by the explosion lie on either side of the hull, imposing and covered with multicolored sponges.<\/p><\/p>\n\n
The play of light<\/b> filtering through the openings in the bridge creates golden halos in which schools of glassfish, batfish, trevally, and barracuda<\/b> swim.<\/p>
Life has reclaimed its rights, giving this war-torn setting an almost unreal beauty.<\/p><\/p>\n\n
Every dive on the Thistlegorm is a mixture of fascination and emotion<\/b>\u2014a journey into the heart of history and life.<\/p><\/p>\n\n At STM Diving<\/b>, we consider the Thistlegorm to be a rite of passage<\/b> for any diver exploring Egypt.<\/p> Our \u201cNorth & Wrecks<\/b>\u201d and \u201cSafaga Brothers<\/b>\u201d itineraries regularly include this legendary wreck, allowing everyone to experience this dive in ideal conditions: safety, respect for the site, and guaranteed excitement<\/b>.<\/p><\/p>\n\n The Thistlegorm is waiting for you.
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<\/figure>\n\nDe Thistlegorm volgens STM Diving<\/h4>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stm-diving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/E40A7500-1024x683.jpg\")
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