Red Sea series episode #5 – MV Salem Express (Strong Images)

The disaster happened in 1991 and is without a doubt a heavy emotional dive. Although the number of passengers that lost their lives is not known and access to certain areas of the ship where human remains are still located in blocked, the images are strong. Images of personal belongings is heart breaking. Not sure I would dive the wreck again, but it was an experience I’ll never forget.

[nigel]

I dived this wreck a month after it went down. I regretted it as it was basically a grave yard. As a sign of respect we were told not to go inside as 500 souls, maybe more went down with it. There were walkmans and suitcases littering the sea bed. A sobering heart wrenching experience.

[oldbird-zmqt]

Thank you for posting, and a special thank you for NOT putting irritating music over the footage.

[josephrobertvanderhoff]

To say any ship is unsinkable is a slap in the face of reality...if it floats it can sink . The same with airplanes...what goes up must come down . God Bless to all who lost their lives, May they rest in peace.

[still_guns]

4:28 - Underwater for 30 years, but the plastic is still there, and still as colourful as the day it was made. I'm more surprised that all of the fabrics are still intact. All of those rugs and even some clothes, somehow still there.

[michaeltaylor]

From Scuba life: History of the MV Salem Express
Since it was transporting passengers returning from the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the ferry was filled to capacity, with estimates of people on board at around 650. Only 180 passengers were rescued after the wreck, but the total loss of lives is a point of dispute. The official number is 470, a figure that was reached by subtracting the number of survivors from the maximum number of passengers allowed on board. This figure has long been disputed, as it’s common for ferries in the area to sail over capacity during the pilgrimage season. Some reports have indicated that there may have been as many as 1, 000

[PRR]

I wouldn’t say strong images, but graphic in showing deterioration of the ship and contents. A really fine tour for us stuck on land.

[micronerd]

Interesting how she is an artificial reef now, essentially being a graveyard that thrives with life (kind of a paradox). The seas and oceans are stunningly beautiful and necessary for earth to be habitable, yet they are unforgiving and mercilessly violent at times. Thoughts & prayers for those poor souls lost.

[ncklynsj]

I hope someday when the war is over in the red sea, they could also dive in the redsea and in God's will somebody will find the MV TUTOR ship because the ship is lost somewhere in Eritrea June 12, 2024 and my father was the 2nd Engineer in MV TUTOR he was the only one missing and he was working in the engine room that time when the MV TUTOR was bomb by a missiles and he is still missing until now😢 our family believe that his remains is still in the part of the engine room in 2nd deck.

[crabapple]

In the personnel baggage section, it looks like some went thru some beyongings looking for valuables.

[Handaros]

I dove here a weak ago. Creepy as heck. I kinda regret it too. Its like going on a hike to see the wrecks from a huge carcrash.

[jdmbeats]

So peaceful, and serene despite the tragedy that unfolded there. Some of the belongins still preserved. Truly fascinating exploration, at one point I thought I saw a teddy bear 😢. May the victims Rest in Paradise 🙏

[ncque]

I am really surprised by the condition of the ship since it sank thirty-three years ago. It looks like it was down there longer, considering the amount of sea life on the wreck.

[DookieMcPoo]

Somebody took the front wheel off of the car. Thats craycray.

[BeintJagersma]

Sad story, but I bet those Toyota and Nissan will start at once when dried.

[nigel]

No, any bodies external to the wreck would be moved away from the wreck site by the huge seas. There will have been many hundreds below decks when it went down. I neither wanted to see bodies either by accident or curiosity. I left the wreck for a dive on the reef instead.

[AwsomMerc]

There's a used car lot up the street that would wash those vehicles and try to sell them ! 👊😎👍

[maxasaurus]

Why would the tires be removed on that car? Think about it.

[XX-qdke]

They probably know pretty close how many were aboard if tickets had to be purchased prior to boarding. They will just never admit to it, for if they were actually overloaded it now becomes negligence in many countries... and negligence payouts are usually unlimited...

[Fleetwoodjohn]

What happened to the wheels on some of the cars?

[djlau]

deffently peeple have been diving a takingstuff by the looks of it