In 2002 Pete Simblett organised a live aboard trip to the northern Red Sea from Hurghada on the “Pegasus”. The trip concentrated on the wrecks in the area and included such well-known icons as the Thistlegorm and Salem Express.
I was fortunate enough to be part of the group and we had wonderful weather and ideal diving conditions.
One of the wrecks we dived on was the Carnatic. The Carnatic was a P&O mail steamer carrying 230 passengers and crew to Bombay from Suez. Early on 13th September 1869 the ship was plying a calm sea when due to a fault in navigation it ran aground on the reef at Abu Nuhas. Since the weather was mild the captain decided to keep the passengers on board. Meals were served as normal and it was then decided that everyone should remain on board overnight. However at 10.50 am the next day the ship’s hull broke in two. Twenty-seven lives were lost.
Our dive on the Carnatic was in exceptional weather for that part of the Red Sea. Normally a swell leads to difficulty in approaching the reef. We were able to anchor close in and dive in brilliant visibility. The wreck is at 20-25 metres depth and has now lost all its wooden paneling. The wrought iron plates and frames are still distinguishable but the hull centre section is badly broken up confirming the reported breaking in two prior to sinking. The stern section was modelled on sailing ship practice with a poop deck and large stern windows, the outline discernable from the still existing frame.
At the time of the dive there was something familiar about the name of the ship. I knew I had come across the name before but could not remember where.
Some time later on a visit to my relatives in Northern Ireland I was looking around the local church. Several of the windows are in stained glass and have been bequeathed by families in memory of their loved ones. Under one of the windows I read the plaque which is detailed in the photograph below. There in front of me was a reference to a local landlord’s son, aged 19, who had been drowned in the sinking of the Carnatic. I must have read it before, many years ago, and subconsciously committed it to memory.
I have not been able to research the local press for details. However the fact that this young person should have died in such benign conditions when so many others were saved must have been a bitter blow to his family.
The wreck of the Carnatic now has a deeper meaning for me and I am very pleased that I had the opportunity to dive it.
Dave Murphy