Satil Wreck
29.5145°N 34.9270°E · wreck
Satil-class missile boat wreck at Village Beach, Eilat — a 40-meter vessel sunk as an underwater museum, sitting upright at 22-24 meters depth just 70 meters offshore.
Overview
The Satil Wreck is a former Israeli Navy Sa’ar 4.5-class missile boat (Cherbourg boat) sunk in 1994 as an underwater museum off Village Beach in Eilat. The 46-metre vessel sits upright and parallel to the beach at approximately 22–25 metres depth, approximately 50 metres from shore. The wreck is one of the famous Cherbourg boats — missile vessels that Israeli personnel disguised as dock workers sailed out of Cherbourg, France on Christmas Eve 1969, defying a French arms embargo. After 25 years of service in the Israeli Navy, the Satil was scuttled to become an artificial reef and diving attraction.
Site Information
- Location: Village Beach, Eilat, Israel
- Entry Type: Boat dive
- Site Type: Wreck dive
- Difficulty Level: Intermediate
- Maximum Depth: 25 meters
- Typical Visibility: 15-30 meters (50-100 feet)
- Current: Generally mild
- Best Time: Year-round, best visibility September to November
Marine Life
The wreck hosts emperor angelfish, Arabian angelfish, pipefish, Red Sea fusiliers, sweepers, groupers, glassfish, lionfish, moray eels, and octopus. The hull is colonized by soft corals and sponges.
Dive Profile
Shore entry from Village Beach with a short surface swim. The keel sits at 22-24 meters and the deck at 18-21 meters. Entry into the bow section is possible through the former deck cannon opening. Explore the exterior and accessible bow area while monitoring air and depth.
Tips and Recommendations
- Bring a dive torch — the bow interior is dark
- The wreck sits elegantly upright as if still sailing, excellent for photography
- Close to shore and relatively shallow, suitable for multiple visits
Safety Considerations
Shore entry with a short swim. Mild currents typical. Watch for lionfish around the wreck structure. Do not attempt penetration beyond the bow section without proper wreck diving training.
Sources: Adrex - Sufa/Satil Wreck Eilat, Ahla Dive - Satil Wreck, Tribloo - Satil Wreck. Last updated 2026-05-25.
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
32829 verified species observations (111 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1956 and 2019, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Siganus rivulatus · marbled spinefoot
- Pyura mirabilis
- Ascidiacea
- Parupeneus forsskali
- Neopomacentrus miryae
- Eleotris fusca
- Repomucenus olidus
- Synodus dermatogenys
- Chelon
- Hypoatherina temminckii
- Corythoichthys schultzi
- Alectrias benjamini
Scientific survey records skew toward sampled taxa (molluscs, corals) and do not reflect what you are guaranteed to see on a dive.
Source: OBIS (obis.org), aggregated Darwin Core occurrence records.
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