The S. S. Dunraven was in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1873. Powered by both sail and steam, it was assigned to ply the route from Britain to Mumbai. On April 25th 1876, on the return journey from Mumbai, the captain sailed the ship straight into the reef, in the limits of what is today The Ras Mohammed National Park. She sank quickly into 25 metres of water.

Legend still surrounds the wreck, as some stories point to its being caused by an argument between the drunk captain and his wife.