This wreck of a British Steamer is on the Southern edge of Sha'ab Mahmoud, known as Beacon Rock as the wreck is directly below the South Cardinal beacon.
The Dunraven was built in 1873 in Newcastle and hit the reef in 1876 on its way to Bombay. It has sunk in 30 meters of water right next to the reef wall and lays upside down in two sections. She is 85m long and 10m wide. The cargo she was carrying, cotton and timber, was destroyed when the boat caught fire before sinking.
The stern section is in about 29m of water and there are 3 entry points for those wishing to go inside, stern, mishaps and bow. Exit is normally through midships where grouper, glassfish and lion fish are abundant.
After the bow section the dive continues over the hull which is covered in coral and then moving onto the reef wall, where stone fish are common.
This site is another hour boat ride past Ras Mohammed and is exposed to the weather. Once at the reef there is some protection from the waves but it can still be a little rough, although the zodiacs enable the boat to moor inside the lagoon for calmer waters.
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