Million Hope Wreck — The Largest Wreck of Egyptian Red Sea

The Million Hope is one of the most impressive and unusual shipwrecks in the Egyptian Red Sea. Located near Nabq, north of Sharm El Sheikh, this enormous bulk carrier came to rest on a shallow reef in 1996. More than 170 metres long, the wreck rises from the seabed with parts of its superstructure still close to the surface, creating a spectacular dive site that can be explored by recreational divers. Unlike many of the historic wrecks of the Northern Red Sea, Million Hope is a relatively modern wreck. Its shallow depth, enormous scale and unusual position on the reef make it one of the most distinctive wreck dives in the Sharm El Sheikh and Tiran area.

The History of Million Hope

The vessel was built in Japan in 1972 at Koyo Dockyard in Mihara, originally launched as Ryusei Maru. She was a large bulk carrier approximately 174.6 metres long and 24.8 metres wide, equipped with five cargo holds and four large cranes. The ship was powered by two six-cylinder diesel engines and could reach a speed of around 17 knots. Over the following decades the vessel changed names and owners several times. In 1996 she was acquired by Aksonas Shipping Company of Limassol, Cyprus, and was renamed Million Hope. Her final voyage began on 19 June 1996, when she departed Aqaba, Jordan, bound for Taiwan. Her cargo consisted mainly of potash and phosphates, reportedly around 26,000 tonnes. In the early hours of 20 June 1996, the ship ran onto the inshore reef near Nabq, several miles north of Sharm El Sheikh. All members of the crew were rescued safely and the vessel was eventually declared a constructive total loss. The exact circumstances of the accident are not completely consistent between historical accounts. Reports mention poor visibility and a fire onboard, while other accounts suggest a combination of factors. What is certain is that Million Hope struck the reef and remained there, creating one of the largest modern wrecks accessible to recreational divers in the region.

Diving the Million Hope

The wreck lies upright alongside the reef, with a slight list to port. Its starboard side rests close to the reef while the hull extends down to approximately 20–24 metres, depending on the part of the wreck and the source used. Parts of the upper structure are extremely shallow, making it possible to explore a remarkable vertical range during a single dive. The enormous scale of the vessel is immediately apparent underwater. Divers can explore the cargo holds, decks, cranes, bow and stern, with the ship's huge propeller located around 20 metres deep. The cargo holds are open and empty, while various original fittings remain visible throughout the wreck. One of the most interesting areas is the bow, where the impact with the reef is clearly visible. The bulbous bow was forced backwards into the hull when the ship ran aground, providing a fascinating insight into the enormous forces involved in the accident. Depending on local conditions and the diver's experience, some areas of the wreck can also be explored internally, including access towards the engine room. Any penetration should be treated as a proper overhead-environment dive and undertaken only by suitably trained divers with appropriate equipment and experience.

A Wreck on Top of Another Wreck

Perhaps the most unusual feature of Million Hope is hidden beneath the ship. When Million Hope ran onto the reef in 1996, it came to rest directly on top of the remains of another vessel — Hey Daroma, which had been lost at the same location more than 25 years earlier. Hey Daroma was a much smaller general cargo vessel that ran aground near Nabq in 1970. After salvage attempts failed, the wreck eventually slipped into deeper water. When Million Hope struck the same reef in 1996, the much larger ship came to rest over the older wreck. Today, remnants of Hey Daroma can be found beneath and around Million Hope, making the site a remarkable example of two separate shipwreck stories occupying the same piece of reef.

Marine Life

Although Million Hope is primarily famous for its size and history, the wreck has also become an artificial reef supporting a variety of Red Sea marine life. The cargo holds and structural areas attract large schools of fish, while the surrounding reef can host groupers, lionfish, moray eels and other typical Red Sea species. Barracuda, jacks and other schooling fish may also be encountered around the wreck, particularly when visibility and current conditions are favourable. The combination of a huge steel structure, shallow reef and open water makes Million Hope particularly interesting for underwater photographers. The scale of the wreck provides opportunities for both wide-angle photography and close-up images of marine life and ship details.

Depth, Conditions and Experience Level

One of the main attractions of Million Hope is that the wreck sits within recreational diving depths, with the seabed generally around 20–24 metres and the upper sections starting almost at the surface. However, the shallow location should not be confused with easy conditions. The wreck is exposed to the open sea, and wind, swell and surface conditions can determine whether the site is safely accessible. Good sea conditions are particularly important for boat operations and for exploring the shallower sections of the wreck. For recreational divers, the site offers plenty to explore without requiring technical diving. Divers planning any penetration should have appropriate wreck or overhead-environment training and should follow a conservative dive plan.

Where Is Million Hope?

The wreck lies off the Nabq coast in South Sinai, north of Sharm El Sheikh, near the northern entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba. Its position makes it part of the wider Tiran and Sharm El Sheikh diving region. Million Hope is normally visited from Sharm El Sheikh when weather and sea conditions allow. Its exposed location means that access can be affected by wind and waves, so the decision to dive the site should always be based on current conditions.

Why Dive Million Hope?

Million Hope combines several things that make a wreck genuinely memorable:

• Huge scale — approximately 175 metres long, the biggest wreck of the Egyptian Red Sea
• Shallow recreational depths — with the seabed around 20–24 metres
• A relatively modern wreck — sunk in 1996
• Large cargo holds and cranes
• Accessible exterior structure
• Rich marine life
• A fascinating wartime-era predecessor beneath it — Hey Daroma
• Spectacular photography opportunities

For divers who enjoy shipwrecks, Million Hope offers something very different from the classic World War II wrecks of the Northern Red Sea. It is less about age and historical atmosphere and more about scale, structure, accessibility and the unusual story of how two wrecks ended up occupying the same reef.

Million Hope with Sadko

Million Hope can be incorporated into our extended Northern Red Sea itineraries when the route and sea conditions allow. Combined with Ras Mohammed, the Straits of Tiran, Dahab, Northern Wrecks and other major Red Sea dive sites, it adds another completely different type of wreck to the itinerary. As with all exposed wreck sites, the final decision to visit Million Hope depends on weather, sea conditions, navigation and the captain's safety assessment. The itinerary may therefore be changed when necessary to ensure the safety and comfort of everyone onboard.