Book Review: Diving Guide to the Red Sea Wrecks

Diving Guide to the Red Sea Wrecks
A Ghisotti, V Paolillo, Rinaldi, K Amsler; Swan Hill Press, 140 pages.
 

Storms, strong winds, dangerous currents and countless reefs have made the Red Sea difficult to navigate for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians were renowned shipbuilders; the Romans travelled along Red Sea shores; in the 19th Century, pre Suez-canal, the British controlled the waters. The advent of steam didn't diminish the number of wrecks. Even today it's not uncommon for ships to run aground on coral reefs. And of course there are those sunk in a war. This book, packed with photographs, details 18 wrecks lying in the Red Sea - from Jordan to Eritrea. Each ship's story is told with fascinating detail. In some cases, the detective work needed to identify the wreck describes how the incidental details - discovering where a particular make of china originated - lead to the final identification. Clear drawings show the ship's orientation, where it's intact and where broken up.
 
Wrecks that are covered include the Thistlegorm (to which is given a massive 18 pages of description, drawings and photos), the Ghiannis D, the Carnatic, the Chrisoula K, the Blue Bell and the Umbria. Some inaccuracies but worth buying for all the background information.

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