Built in Britain in 1862, the Carnatic was a steamship with sails which operated both as a passenger and cargo vessel and plied a route between Suez and Bombay. On the night of 12th September 1869 in strong currents, she ran aground at Sha’ab Abu Nuhas. The following day, the weather deteriorated further and on the 14th September she broke up and sank, with the loss of 31 lives. At the time of her sinking, as well as carrying some 210 passengers and crew, she was carrying a cargo of cotton bales, mail, bottles of wine and soda water as well as £40,000 worth of gold bullion. Indeed, it is believed that some of the gold was never recovered!

Today, she can be found lying at a depth of between 27 and 16m. She is now covered in soft corals but makes for interesting exploration and, while the middle section is broken up, the bow and stern are intact.