Search Dive Sites
| Countries |
|
| Seas |
|
Share your knowledge...
Egypt Red SeaThe Million Hope Wreck
Location:
28 03' 42" N, 34 26' 40"E. Southern Gulf of Aqaba on east coast of Sinai Peninsular
Access:
Day boat from Sharm El Sheikh
Minimum Depth to Wreck
0m (Superstructure above water level)
Maximum Depth to Seabed:
22m (at stern)
Average Visibility:
20-25m
The Ship
Built in Japan, as a Bulk Carrier with additional facilities for transporting vehicles, the Million Hope was launched as the "Ryusei Maru" in 1972. She was a very large ship - displacing 26,181 grt and measuring 174.6m x 24.8m with a draught of 10m. Her bridge castle is located at the stern behind 5 cargo holds - in between which are four massive cranes towering high above the decks. The ship was powered by two 6 Cylinder diesel engines capable of producing 11,600 bhp and a top speed of 17 knots.
The ship had several names during her lifetime before being purchased by the Aksonas Shipping Co Ltd of Limassol, Cyprus for 136 million in 1996. It was at this time she was finally renamed "Million Hope" and promptly insured for 41 Million. Only six weeks later, she became a constructive total loss.
The Loss of the Million Hope
Loaded with a 26,000 ton cargo of Potash and Phosphates, the Million Hope sailed from Jordan's only port of Aqaba on 19 June 1996 - destination Taiwan. Visibility, however, quickly deteriorated and early on 20 June the vessel struck the inshore Reef near Nabq - on the western shores of the Gulf of Aqaba, approx. 3 miles north of Sharm El Sheikh.
Lloyds List dated 24 June 1996 carried the following item under "Casualty Report:"
"MILLION HOPE "(Cyprus) Jun 21: Egyptian Maritime Officials said yesterday they were concerned about possible leakage of about 23,000 tons of phosphate and potassium plus 700 tons of fuel from the bulk carrier Million Hope which sank off Egypts Sinai Peninsular, Cairo radio reported. All 25 members of the crew ere rescued by Egyptian naval vessels and other vessels in an operation that lasted more than 20 hours. The vessel, on voyage from Jordan to Taiwan, was ripped open by coral reefs near Egypts Sharm El-Sheikh resort. The vessels mainly Filipino crew huddled in the stern and refused to abandon ship until it became clear the vessel would sink, Cairo radio said. Some of the crew accused the vessels master of failing to follow the areas prescribed navigation routes and of maintaining speed despite poor visibility."
The cargo actually comprised 15,000 tons of Potash and 11,000 tons of phosphate rock and the big concern was that this would slowly dissolve in seawater - producing an algae-like film that would blot out essential sunlight from all adjacent reefs. Major Salvage companies were, therefore, invited to tender for the salvage of this cargo which was separately valued at 1.3 million. This operation was successfully carried out.
With much of her superstructure still out of the water, the Million Hope can be seen from several miles away. She is basically upright but with a pronounced list to port - i.e. away from the Reef. Her entire starboard side rests against the reef on which she foundered and her keel lies along the seabed at the base of that reef at between 19 - 24m. Her decks are underwater but not the focsle. Apart from fairly superficial damage, the vessel is completely intact - with no evidence of salvage.
more info about Million Hope Nabq Sharm El Sheikh including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Egypt Red SeaThe fist one and the biggest one of the fourth reefs of the Straight of Tiran. Nice dive with sandy bottom and also a plateau full of corals. Barrels, the cargo, (north/east) and also pieces (south/west) of the Louvilla Wreck (1981) that now is upon the reef in the north. The current split in the middle of the reef.
more info about Gordon Reef - Straight of Tiran - Sharm El Sheikh including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Egypt Red SeaVery quiet dive site with sandy bottom
more info about Ras Gohzlani - Ras Mohammed National Park - Sharm el Sheikh including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Maldives Indian OceanHouse Reef at Six Senses Laamu, a 5 star resort in the Laamu Atoll
more info about Six Senses Laamu House Reef including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Croatia Mediterranean SeaSuper place for diving , great crew in center
more info about Issa diving center including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Croatia Mediterranean SeaBeatiful reef
more info about island Vis , Komiža reef including maps, reviews, and ratings...
United States Caribbean SeaThis pod of Dolphins came up on us from behind, gave us a quick look and kept going.
more info about Stragglers, St. Thomas USVI including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Egypt Red SeaReef coast and satellite reef separed by sandy street
more info about Jackfish Alley Ras Mohammed National Park including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Italy Mediterranean SeaGreat divespot with various types of gorgonias, barracudas, macrels and other fish.
more info about Capo di stella, Isola d' Elba including maps, reviews, and ratings...
India Andaman SeaDiving Narcondam is a fantastic experience. It´s very remote and almost untouched. You can find all kind of stuff there...
more info about Narcondam including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Mexico Caribbean SeaExcelent Place with very nice Dives with many wreck around, ginger soul, 40 Cañones
more info about Banco Chinchorro including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Panama Caribbean Seagreat for macro photograpy very warm sea and allways calm
more info about bocas del toro including maps, reviews, and ratings...
United States Caribbean SeaSt. Thomas has some great opportunities for macro photography
more info about Arches & Tunnels including maps, reviews, and ratings...
United States PacificOpen water spot, may find blue and mako sharks here.
more info about Between Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Chile Chilean Seaun Excelente lugar de buceo diversidad de lugares y aguas claras (10 - 15 mtrs)
more info about Alfa Buceo, Los Molles, Chile including maps, reviews, and ratings...
New Zealand Tasman SeaOkiwi Bay is a great place to dive for Scallops when the season is open. The bottom is sandy and has a variety of marine life such as Rays, Skates, Seahorse, Flounders, Octopus, Leather Jackets etc. In winter the sea can get down to 9 degrees and in summer up to 21 degrees.
Okiwi Bay offers access to a wide variety of diving in close proximety including Cray diving and Wrecks.
Depending on where you are diving the depth can be anywhere from 10m to 30, but on average 20m. The viz varies depending on what season it is and what type of weather has been, but an average would be 6m.
On the rare occassion Orca's have come into the bay!
more info about Okiwi Bay, Marlborough Sounds, Nelson including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Philippines Philippine SeaI use canon G12 - Isotecnic housing - 2 strobe - Macro Lens ULC 165
F8 1/250 iso 100
more info about Pier including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Egypt Red SeaPomacentridae are a family of perciform fish, comprising the damselfishes and clownfishes. They are primarily marine, while a few species inhabit freshwater and brackish environments (e.g., Neopomacentrus aquadulcis, N. taeniurus, Pomacentrus taeniometopon, Stegastes otophorus). They are noted for their hardy constitutions and territoriality. Many are brightly colored, so they are popular in aquaria. [Wikipedia]
more info about Daedalus Reef (south side) including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Egypt Red SeaTaken during a liveaboard trip to the two "Brothers" and the "Deadalus Reef" with the "Seven7Seas".
more info about Big Brother Island (S.S. Numidia) including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Costa RicaOne of the best large animal dive sites I've ever been to. We had schooling hammerheads, whale sharks. galapagos sharks and possible one tiger shark.
more info about Alycyone including maps, reviews, and ratings...