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In May of 2026, I shore dove the The Satil, one of the best dives and wrecks in the Red Sea.
The Satil is a decommissioned Israeli Navy Sa'ar 4-class missile boat, that was deliberately sunk in 1994 just off the coast of Eilat to serve as an artificial reef for divers.
In the three decades since, the Satil has become a thriving ecosystem and in my opinion, a must-dive for anyone visiting the Gulf of Aqaba.
At just over 58 meters long, the wreck sits upright and largely intact on a sandy bottom.
The Dive
The best shore dive entry point is from Village Beach and the site is a short swim away and marked by a buoy.
The main deck sits at roughly 22 meters, with the deepest points near the stern at 27 meters.
The wheelhouse and open superstructure invite penetration, but conditions inside are clear enough that even divers without a wreck speciality can peek through doorways and porthole frames comfortably.
Torpedo tubes, deck fittings, and the outline of the missile launch rails are still recognizeable on the foredeck — context that transforms this from a generic reef into a genuine piece of naval history.
Marine Life
Best Time to Visit
Scuba diving in Eilat is done year-round but March–May and September–November offer the sweet spot of warm water, excellent visibility, and manageable surface temperatures.
Before this trip, the last time I came to Eilat it was July–August and temperatures reached over 100F.
January–February can see visibility drop slightly after winter storms but diving is still done.
History of the Boat
The Satil has insane history.
In the 1960s, Israel paid France to build a fleet of missile boats.
Shortly after, France imposed an arms embargo on Israel and refused to hand them over.
On Christmas Eve of 1969, Israeli sailors snuck into Cherbourg in civilian clothes, hid below deck, and quietly sailed five warships out of the harbor in the middle of the night.
France woke up Christmas morning and the boats were gone.
The Satil is one of those boats.
Let's Dive Together
👋 It's Divemaster Austin
Would love to meet you in my global scuba diving community.
What you’ll find inside:
🤿 Dive meetups & group trips
🌍 Top dive sites shared by community members
⚙️ Gear tips & technique discussions
🤝 Diver's who’ve already linked up IRL
See you there!
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