Dive-site story
Resting upside down against the reef slope of Beacon Rock at Sha'ab Mahmoud, the SS Dunraven sank in 1876 while carrying a cargo of timber and spices from Bombay to Newcastle. The British steam and sail vessel lies split in two main sections, draped in soft corals and sponges. Large hull openings allow natural light into the interior, letting divers swim past massive steam boilers and schools of glassfish sheltered within the steel ribs.
Sunlight streaming through fractures in the inverted hull illuminating the engine works
Dense shoals of glassfish and sweepers packed inside the boiler room
Encrusted propeller and stern rudder resting on the sandy seabed
Stonefish and scorpionfish camouflaged among the coral-encrusted wreckage
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Calmer sea states occur in spring and autumn, while winter brings stronger winds and cooler water.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pygmy sweeperParapriacanthus ransonneti | Common | ||||||||||||
| Red LionfishPterois volitans | Common | ||||||||||||
| Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus | Common | ||||||||||||
| CrocodilefishCymbacephalus beauforti | Common | ||||||||||||
| Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatus | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
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