The wreck of the Georgios G.
Built in Sunderland, England, in 1949, the vessel now known as the "Saudi Titanic" (the Georgios G) was originally a cargo liner. Its story took a dramatic turn in 1978 when it struck a coral reef in Saudi waters in the Gulf of Aqaba.
The ship was transporting a large cargo of flour at the time of the grounding. While the crew and technicians were attempting to restart the engines, an ignition spark met with highly flammable flour particles in the air, triggering a massive inferno. The resulting fire burned for several days, incinerating nearly all non-metal components, including its wooden decks and interior furnishings. Fortunately, the crew was able to escape safely to the shore.
Today, the haunting, rusted skeleton of the Georgios G remains stranded in the shallow, crystal-clear waters near Bi'r Al-Mashi beach. Located approximately 55 kilometers south of Haql in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk Province, the site has become a destination for curious tourists, photographers, and snorkelers who explore the vibrant artificial reef that has formed around the iron hull.
Apart from fish, sea turtles are known to frequent the site, and sand tiger sharks have occasionally been spotted in the deeper sections near the drop-off.