One of the most famous wrecks in the world to explore is found in Sudan is a ship that was originally used as a freighter after being built in 1912. During the Second World War the ship was being used by the Italians to transport bombs and other war-time munitions.
The British realised the ship was probably being used to transport weaponry so decided to impound the Umbria, but when they ordered its surrender the Italians decided instead to sink the ship rather than let it fall into the hands of the British.
The weapons (and all other cargo) remained onboard when it sank, and this includes an estimated three hundred and fifty thousand bombs. The ship can be easily explored in a single dive, but there is enough in the area to keep you busy for hours. One of the most interesting things about the Umbria is the way in which it has become an integral part of the sea life in the area. It has been called one of the best ship dives in the entire world, and it is definitely worthy of this title.
Another interesting dive in the area is the Blue Belt cargo ship. The Blue Belt sank in 1977 while carrying a load of cars, tractors, trucks, and other various assembly parts for Toyota, and now lies upside down. That is why this wreck is also known by some as the “Toyota Wreck.” The ship sank because it was trying to fit through a gap in a reef that was too small for such a large cargo ship. It’s rumoured that this happened because the crew of the ship were smuggling other goods, but the true cause of the reef passage may never be known. The cargo was removed and scattered around the ship in order to try to refloat the vessel, but this attempt ultimately met with failure.
However, the one thing that it did do by removing the cargo was to make the wreck that much more interesting. You can also penetrate the wreck through an opening that can be found in the hull. This will allow you to swim through the wreck until you emerge around the bow of the ship. In total, this dive has all of the intriguing aspects of a wreck dive and attracts many serious divers each year.
Sudan Diving Fact Sheet:
Average Air Temperature: 29°C – 32°C
Average Water Temperature: 26°C – 30°C
Recommended Exposure Protection: A 3mm – 5 mm wetsuit is recommended for most dives.
Average Visibility: 10 – 30 metres
Coldest Times: December to April
Hottest Times: August to October
Best Times to Dive: If you want to see hammerhead sharks, then you should go from January to April as that is when they are most abundant, and if you want to see manta rays, then you should go in August to October as that is when they tend to be at their best.
Worst Times to Dive: There really isn’t a particularly bad time to dive in Sudan as the political climate tends to keep away larger groups of tourists and the area is warm enough to swim in all year round.
