A British P&O steamer which struck the reef of Abu Nuhas in September 1869 and sank the next day as the weather worsened.
Penetration into the holds is easy for any level of diver.
The Carnatic lies at the base, and parallel to, the Sha’ab Abu Nuhas reef at a depth of 18-27 meters. When the ship sank, she had broken into two sections. When the ship settled on the bottom, the two halves settled nearly back together! The wreck is lying on its port side with the bow of the ship is pointing to the east and stern pointing to the west. The fore and aft sections are nearly complete, separated by the section of the ship where it broke in two. The wooden deck and hull have long since deteriorated and disappeared, leaving only the iron structural ribs and frames. This makes for an easy penetration into the ship down to what was the second deck. At the bow one can see where the bowsprit and figurehead were once mounted. At the stern, window ports still remain and one can penetrate the ship down two deck levels. Beneath the stern lies the rudder and the three-bladed propeller which make for some beautiful pictures! The entire wreck is populated with soft corals, glass fish, crocodile fish, lion fish, and the occasional blue-spotted stingray. Diving the wreck can pretty much only be done in good weather and by being dropped off by Zodiac. A very nice dive adventure!
