S.S. Numidia

The 'Numidia' was a British cargo ship, built in Glasgow in 1901 by the Henderson Company who operated her under the Anchor Line Shipping Company. At 6399 tons and 140 metres long, she was a large vessel, powered by a 3-cylinder triple expansion steam engine. This gave her top speed of 10 knots. On 28th February 1901 the Numidia left her home port on her Maiden voyage, an uneventful return trip to Calcutta. This was to be her only successfully completed voyage.

Constructed: 1901 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Wrecked: 1901
Length of ship: 140m (460ft)
Wreck location: Big Brother Island, Egypt.
Depth range of wreck: 10m to 72m

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Final Voyage

On 6th July 1901, she set out from Liverpool carrying a general cargo of 7,000 tons and a crew of 97, under the command of Mr John Craig, bound for Calcutta. By the early hours of 19 July she had cleared Suez, passing Shadwan Island that evening around 19:00 hrs. Just before dawn the next day, Big Brother Island was sighted off the port bow. The Captain altered course thinking he would take the ship over one mile to the west of the Island. He then left the Bridge leaving instructions to be called when the Light was abeam. At about 2:10am the ship ran aground on Big Brothers Island – north of the Lighthouse!

After two hours of trying to get off the rocks the engines were stopped. By this time the ship was taking on considerable water, and the situation was getting worse - although the pumps were coping. By now the sea was building. At 7:30am the S.S. Rhipens came in answer of the Numidia’s distress call, followed by other vessels in an attempt to salvage the ship. The crew abandoned the vessel and although other ships arrived to try and help re float the Numidia, she was stuck fast. For the next 7 weeks most of the cargo was removed, John Craig supervising the operation, before the Numidia finally sank.

The Brother Islands are a pair of isolated barren rocks rising from the depths of the Red Sea. Evidence of their volcanic origin can be seen on the beaches. They are surrounded by some of the best coral walls in the Red Sea and the shark population of Little Brother is renowned. Big Brother plays host to arguably one of the best wrecks in the world... the Numidia, or train wreck as she was labeled before her identification.

Left image: The wreck is swept by strong daily currents, attracting a host of large fish. This huge Napoleon wrasse patrols the wreck as if her guardian, often giving the visiting diver the once over.

Diving the Wreck

The vessel lies on a very steep slope at the very north of the Big Brother plateau, starting at 10 metres and plummeting down to depths out of reach of sports divers - her keel digging deep into a rocky ledge, preventing her from slipping away into the depths below. Strong currents often sweep the wreck but there is always shelter within the wreck in which to observe the patrolling Grey reef and hammerhead sharks.

The intact hull offers protection from the currents and it is possible to enter the starboard side companionways, adorned with soft corals. Portholes are barely discernable due to the carpets of coral. Descending down through these corridors to the aft of the bridge superstructure is often halted by the wrecks resident lionfish, which reluctantly move to allow the decent to continue. The open deck ahead marks the safe limit of diving depths although holds and deck fittings below beckon the unwary. Snapper, jacks and Travellies hover in the company of barracuda and the aforementioned sharks patrol the perimeter. Antheas add a haze of orange, hovering over every coral covered structure such as the haunting lifeboat davits and the upright supports.

At this point (40 metres) the return journey to the surface begins; it is possible to enter the engine room, blue light filtering through the skylights above, illuminating an intact and fascinating engine room. The steam cylinders sloping ever upward, as if still driving the ship ashore! Stairs beckon down into her lower engine room adorned in an eerie light where gauges still remain in place and doors lead of in several directions, some leading back to the companionways others to accommodation areas and eventually the bridge. Overhead a large shoal of glassy sweepers are disturbed by ascending bubbles.
At the deepest point of the engine room a doorway allowing for an easy exit point and overhead the galley straddles the width of the superstructure. The range still holds pot and pans!

Most of the wooden floors have long been eaten by marine worms allowing more access and light into the interior as the tour continues ever upward, out through the funnels port at 20 metres and back into the brilliant sunlight, an amazing contrast to the engine room’s relative gloom. The colours and formations of soft corals are rivaled nowhere else in the Red Sea, save for the neighbouring wreck of the Aida. The metal structures of her framework, at such a steep angle offer some unique photo opportunities and there are always local inhabitants to fill the frame!

At 10 metres the wreck ends with girders strewn all over the reef leading up to the sets of railway bogies, bathed in sunlight; a most unusual and yet photogenic sight.

Left image: A diver hovers over the pressure chambers of the Numidia’s huge triple expansion steam engine. Intact and bathed in an eerie blue light, the engine room plummets down to 46 metres. Evidence of her working life is everywhere; tools, gauges valves and switches. This downward pointing shot belies the steep angle of the wreck.

The Cargo: For 7 weeks the cargo was removed from the ship until she final slipped down the reef. All that now remains are iron locomotive rails - minus their sleepers, which have slid down into the stern, and several replacement boilers, scattered on the reef some in 60 metres next to her starboard hull.

The surrounding reef is a vibrant high energy world - thriving in the strong currents and alive with every reef fish, corals and invertebrates. Golden antheas swam like bees, and predators such as Jacks, travelies and tuna hunt the reef.

Superb hard coral trees line the reef. By swimming with the reef on the left the route brings the diver into calm waters for pick up. En route is a journey through an aquarium of Red Sea life.

The reef has many overhangs and caves - and groupers like this one are common place. Many grow to massive proportions. Grey reef sharks patrol the wrecks perimeter, often in packs of three searching for food. Jacks often rub themselves against the sharks sandpaper-like skin to rid themselves of parasites.

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