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The Tragic Tale of the Salem Express
A Journey That Ended in Tragedy
Quite possibly one of the most diver-visited wrecks anywhere in the world, the Salem Express is a sinking that breaks the heart. Resting silently on the seabed deep under the waves and once a ferry carrying passengers from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, the Sinking of the Salem Express is nothing like the other sorry shipwrecks that divers view with glee.
Diving here carries a choked-up feel, a hope that these spots are forever through, a whisper that resonates strongly with the awareness of life's just uncertain heritage. In effect, it is the premier liveaboard diving site spoken about with the longest detail and endorsed on some of the liveaboards, being now preferred by only well-equipped divers to witness history.
With the location not far from Safaga, the wreck of the Salem Express occurred on December 17, 1991, when it crashed against a reef amidst a ferocious storm. In carrying returning pilgrims from Makkah, hundreds from this last and most fearful maritime tragedy of modern times lost their lives. It stands as a shadow of what used to be a painful memento even to this day, with many personal belongings of the ship scattered on the seabed.
The History of Salem Express WreckShip
Originally constructed in 1966, the Salem Express was a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) passenger, vehicle ferry, extending 115 meters in length—no small vessel—and built for regular services across the Red Sea.
Originally named Fred Scamaroni, it was subjected to renaming as well as re-ordering of operations for ferries running between Egypt and Saudi Arabia; as such, the vessel provided a link for pilgrims and laborers commuting between the two countries.
Packaged a little bit above its official capacity, the collision with the reef hastened disaster. The sinking unfolded in just a few maddening images of foam, water, and seafloor. The hull is simply filled with water. In less than 20 minutes, the ship disappeared, trapping many passengers inside. Instead of being a standard penetration dive, instructors encourage the dive to be constitutionally respectful of the wreck, accepting the view that rescue efforts would undoubtedly be successful in reviving life deep inside its lungs.
Diving the Wreck Salem Express
The Salem Express is full of mixed feelings for anyone who partakes in liveaboard trips to the South Red Sea. Being at a shallow depth of around 30 meters, it is an accessible dive for experienced divers. Most sailboats operating deep in the Red Sea's liveaboard often include this site in their itineraries, especially for divers looking at some conscious diving of historical and spatial significance.
Divers will appreciate the size and design of Salem Express much, with the open car decks, portholes, and scattered debris visible even while they still mourn its loss and that of the souls aboard it. Mainly divers seeking a wreck dive and oppose it being either a WWII artifact wreck dive like Thistlegorm, with all the saving of life insight.
Now, schools of fish use this wreck as their home, near which coral growth around the structure offers a sharp contrast with a sad story. Usually, Red Sea liveaboard diving packages will include a visit to the site, reading along the way with a vivid history of this famous wreck.
Deep South: Destination to Explore with Liveaboards
If there is something that some divers dream of even before coming, it is diving in the Deep South of the Red Sea, and the best possible way to do so is through liveaboard trips to the very deep South of Egypt. Various liveaboards of Egypt provide trips to remote sites including Safaga, St. John's, and Daedalus, and sailing around the wreck of Salem Express.
Red Sea liveaboard diving exploration guarantees access to some of the most pristine of ores and historic wrecks found deep into these waters. Whether you long for deep walls, vibrant coral gardens, wreck diving, or an irrefutable piece of history, the Red Sea liveaboards offer an unforgettable adventure into the seas. The best of Red Sea liveaboard towers bring the comfort and professionalism of reddy crew dive sites deeper into this 'Mighty Ocean.'
The Salem Express is beyond being just a diving spot; it is a standing relic of a very unforgettable part of the sea. Most of the diving world through liveaboards out of the Red Sea are given this opportunity to see firsthand the haunting yet inviting aura of the wreck. Though deeply rooted in maritime history, with the memories of its wreck forever imprinted on humanity, sailing under the ocean affords nothing but our reflection, respect, and a new appreciation of life and the sea.
For your Egypt holiday that will involve diving, check out the services of Golavita Travel, putting together some of the absolute best Egypt Travel Packages, that can provide access to some of the most iconic dive sites. Dive into the deep with liveaboard Egypt deep south trips, and you won't forget a single second of it. The drowning Salem Express is artfully remembered within Red Sea Liveaboard Scuba Diving in the unstable and unmatchable world of the ocean, history budding aside mar.
