AccidentalReefs

Someartificialreefsarenotplanned.Thesereefsarebornfromobjectsthatdon’tbelongintheoceanatall.Planesthatcrashorshipsthatsinksometimesbecomereefsby accident.

There’saplaceintheRedSeacalledSha’abAbuNuhas.ItisacoralreefoffthecoastofEgypt.Navigatingthisreefbyshipcanbedangerous.Infact,itisknownasaship graveyard.

Africa

Red Sea

ThewreckoftheGiannisDliesonitsside.It’snowencrustedwithcoralsand algae.

You’llfindfourlargeshipwrecksonthenorthsideofthisreef.Theseshipsallstruckthereef.Theysankandsliddownasteepslope.Theybecamepartiallyburiedin sand.

TheGiannisDwassuchaship.Itwasalarge,Greektransportshiphaulingtimber.In1983,itaccidentallyranfullspeedintoSha’abAbuNuhas.Thecrewabandonedthesinkingship.Thenastormsentitspiecestothe bottom.

Todivetherenow,you’dseethebonesofashipcoveredincorals.Hawksbillturtles,glassfish,eels,andNapoleonfishdriftby.Theshipmightnotbelongthere,buttheseahasclaimeditforits own.

CreatingaHome

You’llfindtheS.S.ThistlegormatthebottomoftheRedSeaaswell.ItwasacargoshipoftheBritishmerchantnavy.ItsankduringWorldWar II.

Atthetime,theshipwasfilledwithsuppliesforsoldiersandweaponsofwar.Itheldbombs,anti‑tankmines,rifles,andmorethan100motorbikes.Allstilllieatthebottomofthe sea.