El Mina Wreck
Dive Site:
El Mina (the Harbour Wreck)
Location: 27°13'55"N; 33°51'34"E
Description: Egyptian minesweeper
Length: 70 mt (230 feet)
Depth: 18 mt to top of wreck, seabed at 31 mt (100 feet)
Visibility: 8-16 mt (24-48 feet)
El Mina (the Harbour Wreck)
Location: 27°13'55"N; 33°51'34"E
Description: Egyptian minesweeper
Length: 70 mt (230 feet)
Depth: 18 mt to top of wreck, seabed at 31 mt (100 feet)
Visibility: 8-16 mt (24-48 feet)
The El Mina was bombed by the Israelis in 1969 in Hurghada bay, but still has a sister ship afloat nearby which is worth looking at to compare to what you are about to dive. The wreck now lies on its side and there are a lot of small holes to peer into and penetration is possible, although tight, through a significant amount of the wreck. Sea urchins are abundant on the wreck and a very large moray was found living in one of the holes. An interesting dive.El Mina is Arabic for "The Harbour" and the fact that this wreck lies in the Harbour at Hurghada is the only link between the name and the wreck.
The "Harbour Wreck" as it is commonly referred to, is an Egyptian owned, Soviet built type-43 minesweeper, 570 tons, approximately 60m in length and with a beam of 9m. It lies on its port side in 33m of water at the stern, 26m at the bow. Armament consisted of 2 manual dual 37mm anti-aircraft guns, 2 manual dual 25mm AA guns, 2 manual dual 12.7mm guns and 2 DC mortars. The T-43 was the NATO code name for this vessel type; standard Soviet designed ocean minesweepers, although many of the original ships were also built by the Chinese. The wreck is widely reported as having sunk in 1969 or 1970, however an eye witness account given in 1995 by an Egyptian boat captain, who had previously served in the Egyptian military, states the sinking occurred on June 6th 1967; the victim of an Israeli fighter plane. This was the day after the Israeli air force attacked airfields in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq on June 5th sparking the Arab-Israeli 6-Day War, which lasted until June 10th when UN Security Council cease fire demands were accepted.
The "Harbour Wreck" as it is commonly referred to, is an Egyptian owned, Soviet built type-43 minesweeper, 570 tons, approximately 60m in length and with a beam of 9m. It lies on its port side in 33m of water at the stern, 26m at the bow. Armament consisted of 2 manual dual 37mm anti-aircraft guns, 2 manual dual 25mm AA guns, 2 manual dual 12.7mm guns and 2 DC mortars. The T-43 was the NATO code name for this vessel type; standard Soviet designed ocean minesweepers, although many of the original ships were also built by the Chinese. The wreck is widely reported as having sunk in 1969 or 1970, however an eye witness account given in 1995 by an Egyptian boat captain, who had previously served in the Egyptian military, states the sinking occurred on June 6th 1967; the victim of an Israeli fighter plane. This was the day after the Israeli air force attacked airfields in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq on June 5th sparking the Arab-Israeli 6-Day War, which lasted until June 10th when UN Security Council cease fire demands were accepted.