Umbria Wreck
Italian cargo ship built in Hamburg in 1912, scuttled on 9 June 1940 by her crew at Wingate Reef so she would not fall into British hands; she was carrying thousands of tonnes of bombs, detonators, weapons, cement and Fiat 1100 cars. She lies on her port side from about 5 m to 36–38 m, sheltered from currents, completely encrusted with coral and sponge, and is regarded as one of the best wreck dives in the world. The hull is large and easy to enter through wide openings; the holds still show stacked bombs and trucks.
Facts
- Region: Sudan Red Sea (Port Sudan & north)
- Area: Port Sudan & Wingate Reef
- Depth: 5–38 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: moderate
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: 19.6386, 37.3272 (approximate)
- Highlights: Fiat 1100 trucks, bombs in the hold, cleaner shrimp, snapper school, barracuda, encrusting corals
- Tips: The ship still carries ordnance: touch nothing and take nothing. Visibility is only 10–20 m because of the harbour entrance. Liveaboards usually dive it on the first or last day, about 20 minutes from Port Sudan; only experienced divers should go into the engine room. Permit/fees: no separate dive permit from an official Sudanese source could be found. Operators collect a combined government/port/marine-park charge in cash on arrival (DUNE lists EUR 187 per 7-night trip; Blue Force listed EUR 220 + 70 service tax, now historical), so ask the operator what is included.