Overview
The Salem Express was a passenger ferry, launched in France in 1964 as the Fred Scamaroni and renamed after the Samatour line bought her. On December 15, 1991 she struck Hyndeman reef, which opened her hull, and she went down fast. The official count was 960 pilgrims returning from Mecca; other accounts put the number aboard closer to 1,600. About 180 people survived. The wreck holds the remains of those who did not, and most operators dive it from the outside only.
Dive plan
She lies on her starboard side in 30 m of water. The descent usually starts at the stern, the deepest part, where both propellers and the rudders are intact. Working forward along the bottom brings the lifeboats into view, still hanging from their davits, and then the funnels with the Samatour S on them.
What to see
Marine life has been slow to take the wreck. Groupers, lionfish, crocodilefish and surgeonfish are present, and hard coral is only beginning to establish itself on the plating.
Dive sites nearby
Reviews & comments
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A magical place with a lot of history. Unfortunately, it is often very crowded.