BEGINNER DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 18 METERS
About 90 minutes from Safaga, south of Shaab Shehr. This wreck sank on December 15th 1991. She hit the Hyndeman reef, ripping a massive hole in the hull.
The Salem Express is 110 meters long and 18 meters wide. She lies at a depth of 12-33m.
This site offers no protection from the weather and the current can be very strong.
Resting on her starboard side in 30m of water, the Salem Express is an eerie dive. Begin your dive at the deepest point, the stern, where you find the two intact large screws and the rudders, Swimming along the bottom you pass life boats still at the davits. Next you see the huge funnels with the haunting emblem “S”. Coming up towards the bow, you will find the bow door wide open and the damage from the collision with the reef is daunting. Many dive guides refuse to dive the Salem Express altogether and penetration is most definitely frowned upon. This is a maritime grave and should be treated as such. Dive her with respect.
Even the marine life seems to have left Salem Express alone. Some groupers, lionfish, crocodilefish and surgeonfish swim around. A small amount of hard coral growth has begun here.
