6th October 2026 is SS Thistlegorm's 85th Anniversary of it Sinking.

On 6th October 1941 during World War 2, SS Thistlegorm a British Merchant Ship was on secondment to the British Military in the war effort in North Africa. It was spotted by two German Heinkel He 111 Bommers, that attacked and sank her near Shab Ali in the Gulf of Suez.

There she still lies, and is regularly dived by recreational divers. The wreck is applauded as one of the best shipwrecks in the world  to dive recreationally, as it has so much of it's cargo still to be seen due to the ease of entry and exit of the holds and plenty of light that penetrates the wreckage, and also for the marine life that has made it their home.

Although we dive on her most weeks, each year we also run a special trip as a commemorative trip to dive her on the anniversary and to pay homage to those merchant seamen and Royal Navy that lost their lives on that night. Nine souls in all were lost that fateful night.

​In 2016 on the 75th Anniversary of the sinking of Thistlegorm, we laid a biodegradable poppy wreath on the ship. We have dived the wreck every year on the 6th October ever since. Apart from the 6th October being the Anniversary of the sinking, it is also Elite Diving's founder Alun Evans' Birthday. This year is made a little more special, as Alun, will be celebrating his 70th Birthday on the same day and plans to dive on her to celebrate that as Thistlegorm is one of his favourite dives.

If you want to join Alun on this special day, just email our office to indicate your interest. We usually have approximately 26 divers each year diving Thistlegorm on the Anniversary of it sinking, and the boat we hire can take many more, so let us know if you would like to join the party.

To join us on this special day, contact [email protected]