The Discovery of the wreck of the SS Maidan
IIf you think there are no more secrets hiding in the deep waters
of the Red Sea you are mistaken. Many rumours as to the whereabouts
of the wreck of the British Steamship Maidan have circulated among
Red Sea wreck lovers, but no precise location had been established
so far.
The Steamship Maidan, an impressive 500 feet (152.4 m) long
cargo vessel, made her final journey in the
night of June 9 th 1923, and sunk the next day into “deep water”.
She hit the southern shores of Rocky Island in the Southern Egyptian
Red Sea. Her passengers
and crew, who had landed on the island in the morning of June 10th,
were rescued that same day..
Finally, in October 2003, after many dives and many unsuccessful
attempts, Grant Searancke and Kimmo
Hagman were
able to establish the exact position of the wreck, and to obtain
the first
photographs and video footage of the vessel,
thus discovering the final resting place of the SS Maidan.
The SS Maidan now lies at a fair distance from the shores of Rocky
Island at a depth of between 80 to 120 meters of sea water, partially
on her side. She exhibits vast coral growth, even at that depth,
and her structure is almost intact, making her an exceptional wreck
dive.
Nevertheless, the dives carried out on the wreck make it clear
that she can only be accessible to experienced, Advanced Trimix divers,
catered for on a liveaboard vessel fully equipped for technical diving.
In addition to the great depth in which the SS Maidan lies, a free
descent into the blue to reach her, as well as the changeable currents
around Rocky Island, have to be carefully taken into account when
planning to dive this wreck. For further information please contact:
Grant Searancke at www.Red-Sea.com
