October, 1941: in the space of only two days, German bombers sank two British cargo ships, the Thistlegorm and the Rosalie Moller, in the Gulf of Suez. March 1955: the French naval officer and oceanographer Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau found the Thistlegorm with its cargo still intact, but soon afterwards all traces of the ship were lost.

Rediscovered by divers in 1992, the Thistlegorm, a historic relic of World War Two, became one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world and one of the favorite attractions for Red Sea divers.

In 1993 the shipwreck of the Rosalie Moller, which lies in a more inaccessible site, was also found, and is only now becoming well-known.

About the Author:

Alberto Siliotti is a science journalist who is one of the leading experts on the Red Sea, about which he has directed documentaries and has written many articles and books, including the famous Sharm el-Sheikh Diving Guide (1999) (special mention at the World Festival of the Underwater Picture, Antibes 2000), Fishes of the Red Sea (2001), Thistlegorm and Rosalie Moller  (2003) (special mention at the World Festival of the Underwater Picture, Antibes 2003) The Red Sea, the Coral Garden (2004) (special mention at the World Festival of the Underwater Picture, Antibes 2004) and Sinai Diving Guide (2005) (best guide and golden fin at the World Festival of the Underwater Picture, Antibes 2000).