The former oil tanker S.S. Scalaria is a fascinating and historic shipwreck in the Red Sea that tells a dramatic story from World War II. Many parts of the wreck were salvaged, because she was an obstacle for the marine traffic. But the wreck has transformed over the decades into an impressive underwater spectacle for wreck diving enthusiasts.

History
Built in Newcastle, July 22nd 1921 with Dimensions – 125.3m x 16.2m. Served as an oil tanker for Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson. Owned & Operated by the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company.

World War II Attack: On the evening of October 19, 1942, under the command of Captain J. Waring, the ship was anchored off Ras Gharib, prepared to load 7,000 tons of crude oil.
The vessel was targeted by a German bomber (Heinkel He 111) and struck by four bombs. The hits triggered massive explosions, setting the entire ship ablaze. Eleven crew members tragically lost their lives during the severe attack. The S.S. Scalaria sank in relatively shallow waters.

The Wreck Today (Dive Highlights)
Massive Structural Deformations due to the attack and the salvage. The ship’s propeller was salvaged long ago, but other large sections of the cargo holds still rise up remarkably close to the surface. Debris Field & Details: The area between the former bridge and the stern is a vast field of wreckage. Divers can navigate a labyrinth of twisted iron frames, ladders, and heavily distorted pipework and valve systems.
The highest points are the three massive boilers in the stern area. The steam machine is destroyed, but some machine parts are still in the area between the stern area and the Boilers. Penetration might be possible in the room at the propeller shaft.

The Dive

I scanned the wreck in May 2026 during one dive. There was a strong current and a giant multi purpose ship was anchoring directly over the wreck in the Boiler area. It was less a space of than 1m (3ft) between the ship’s bottom and the boilers. For safety reasons I couldn’t scan the top of the boilers.

The Scan