The Salem Express is a 115-metre passenger ferry that sank in December 1991. The wreck lies on her starboard side at 32 metres, with the upper port-side rails reaching 12 metres. It's one of the most powerful wreck dives in the Red Sea · large, intact, and approached with the respect a tragedy of this scale demands. We run her from Safaga (around 80 km south of Hurghada) on a long custom day with two dives, quoted at €120-150 per diver depending on group size and transit logistics.
- Depth
- 12-32 m
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Season
- Apr - Oct
- Boat ride
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- Advanced
Topography and dive profile
The Salem Express lies on her starboard side at the southern edge of Hyndman Reef (Sha'ab Sheer), about 80 km south of Hurghada. The shallowest point is the port-side railing at 12 metres; the lowest point of the wreck reaches 32 metres at the keel. The ship is largely intact: bow, bridge, twin funnels, propellers, and two open vehicle decks all clearly readable from the outside.
We approach from the bow and run the dive along the port side, descending past the bridge and across the funnels at 18-22 metres. The structure is so large that two dives barely cover the exterior. We do not penetrate the wreck · the cargo and vehicle decks remain a resting place and we treat them as such.
What you'll see
- ◇Glassfish swarms
- ◇Big-eye trevally
- ◇Lionfish
- ◇Crocodile fish
- ◇Soft coral cover
Who it suits
PADI Advanced Open Water minimum, with a current logbook showing recent activity. PADI Wreck Diver specialty strongly recommended. Nitrox 32 highly recommended for the bottom-time gain. We do not run beginners on this site under any circumstances · the depth, the transit, and the gravity of the place all argue against it.
When the captain runs this site
Pickup at 05:30 from your Hurghada hotel for the 90-minute drive to Safaga. Boat boarding 07:30 from the Safaga port, two dives on the wreck with a 90-minute surface interval and hot lunch on board. Back at Safaga around 14:30, hotel by 17:00. Pricing per group · €120 per diver for 4-6 divers, €150 per diver for 2 divers. Transit, boat, guide, marine park fees and lunch all included.