Greek freighter Giannis D sank on April 22, 1983, when transporting a cargo of wood from Rijeka, Croatia, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It never arrived to its destination – suddenly veering off course – as the captain fell asleep at the helm. The 87-meter-long vessel finally hit a coral reef, sinking at the north-west corner of Abu Nuhas Reef at the Red Sea, as her deck cargo of mahogony was tossed up in the air like matchsticks. Underwater photographer Andrey Nekrasov ventured down to examine th hull and was impressed by the beauty of the wreck and the way in which the ship has been preserved.

Today, the stern, bridge, companionways, accomodation area and her engine room are all easily accessible and thrill ardent wreck divers. They are attracted by the size of the wreck and the clear water which has a visibility of up to 27 meters.

These days, a photogenic shoal of glass fish reside near the engine room vents and anthea’s have made themselves at home.  Swimming through is an eerie sensation as lines of portholes permit sunbeans to enter the accommodation, creating a challenge for cameramen like Nekrasov. 

The ship is now an underwater wonderland for divers in the Red Sea…

The fish are oblivious to the diver as they swim in and out of coral…

The ship is covered in the same coral that initially brought it down…

The ship has now taken a ‘mystical appearance’…

Two divers explore the vessel…

The clear pristine waters give divers a visibility of up to 27 meters…

A trumpet, a winch, a ladder and its masts all covered in coral and other creatures…

A rope that once hung off the side of a cargo ship is now covered in coral…

A diver explores the ship’s funnel…