The Thistlegorm, best wreck of the world ?

[passeparici]

he Thistlegorm is an interesting wreck, but aside from the crates full of motorcycles, a few cars and trucks (mostly deteriorated) as well as some rusted out deck guns, tanks and train cars that make this dive better than an average wreck

"aside from".......... Hey all that is what makes the Thistlegorm stands aside. That makes a lot compare to the majority of the wrecks.
Also if you dive there several time there are also many places to discover so it is not only the cargo (but without the cargo it would be "normal")

the Thistlegorm doesn't hold a candle to most of the wrecks we dived in Truk

In Truk what is particular is the number of the wrecks but each one doesn't impress me that much ( I have only watch videos though, but many). I still think the Thistlegorm by itself is one of the greatest and I am not the only one as it comes back in every standing made by divers.
Now if you like wrecks, Coron and Truk are top for sure

 

[runsongas]

those surveys are popularity contests, like if you surveyed best restaurant in paris, chez paul or le relais de l'entrecote would probably win for the same reasons (accessible price and its where all the tourists go)

heian with the long lance torpedoes, nagano/hoki with the construction equipment, san francisco for the tanks/ordinance, fujikawa for r2d2 and the zero fighter, and shinkoku with its soft coral all are better dives than the thistlegorm.

 

[Ez E]

Sounds cool.

 

[schuylerclark]

What's interesting to me is that everybody has their own criteria for what they find interesting in a wreck, so "best" is always a subjective evaluation. Personally, I'm there to see what the ocean and the fauna have done to inhabit the wreck and break it down, so the historical significance or presence of certain cargo is of lesser importance. The notion of preserving a wreck for historical significance seems like a losing proposition anyway, unless by scanning and 3D modeling or something. The very nature of a shipwreck is that it's going to be broken down by the sea eventually, so we're all just there observing a moment in that process.

 

[passeparici]

Yes at the end it is highly subjective !

 

[Christian]

I don’t like wrecks that much, but love the Thistlegorm. With some luck with the conditions and crowds it’s a fabolous dive. Haven’t dived her since 2017. Had two dives as the only boat on site, calm and very clear water. I might give an edge to Umbrea in Port Sudan.

 

[Jai Bar]

There are probably many "best wreck dive in the world", and the Thistlegorm is one of them.

Maybe there are better technical penetration wrecks, but as a mainstream dive site it is superb. Even OW divers can do the upper holds of the Thistlegorm and enjoy motorcycles, jeeps, trucks and so on.

 

[Jason Brunson]

There are probably many "best wreck dive in the world", and the Thistlegorm is one of them.

Maybe there are better technical penetration wrecks, but as a mainstream dive site it is superb. Even OW divers can do the upper holds of the Thistlegorm and enjoy motorcycles, jeeps, trucks and so on.

One day I will make it to the thistlegorm… one day

 

[Jai Bar]

[Even OW divers can do the upper holds of the Thistlegorm and enjoy motorcycles, jeeps, trucks and so on.

[

I dived this wreck last month, from stern to bow. I don't recall any levels that were deeper than those with the motor bikes and other vehicles.

The Thistlegorm has four holds. The ones in front (1 & 2) contain the BSA motorcycles and trucks on the upper hold, Enfield rifles, boots, tires, airplane parts on the lower hold.

I think the hold near the stern was hit and obliterated, contents spread all over.

 

[Parlem]

Thistlegnorm wreck diagram. Seems like it would be an easy wreck to navigate but throw up to 100 divers on the wreck at one time, with a half a dozen dive boats tied in at various places with visibility poor and it can be tricky finding your way back to the correct line. Especially in the blown up area just forward of the stern.

I've been lucky to dive the Thistlegorm several times. To me the main issues are strong current and poor viz, especially when combined. Orientation is not usually an issue, as the boat lies mostly upright and dive boats moor at the shallow end. If you need to find the mooring line, just swim up towards the shallow end of the wreck and you'll find it.
Of course, others may disagree.