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Diving in Aqaba
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Diving in Aqaba is an unforgettable experience, offering some of the best diving spots in the Red Sea with crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and fascinating wrecks. Thanks to Aqaba’s protected marine park and relatively untouched dive sites, marine biodiversity thrives, making it a paradise for divers of all skill levels. The warm waters allow for year-round diving, with temperatures ranging between 22°C in winter and 29°C in summer, while visibility often reaches up to 30 meters. Some of the most famous dive sites include the Cedar Pride Wreck, a sunken Lebanese freighter covered in coral and teeming with marine life, and The Tank, an intentionally submerged M42 Duster tank that has become an artificial reef. The Japanese Garden is a spectacular coral garden, home to clownfish, lionfish, and sea turtles, while deeper sites like Power Station offer encounters with larger pelagic species. Aqaba also boasts unique artificial dive attractions, such as a sunken C-130 Hercules aircraft, which provides an incredible underwater photography opportunity. With multiple PADI and SSI-certified dive centers available, both beginners and advanced divers can explore these underwater wonders through guided dives or training courses. Marine life in Aqaba includes a variety of species, from moray eels and lionfish to eagle rays and even the occasional dolphin. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed shore dive or an adventurous wreck exploration, Aqaba’s underwater world is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
Top Dive Sites in Aqaba
The Cedar Pride Wreck
is one of the most famous dive sites in Aqaba, Jordan, and a must-visit for wreck diving enthusiasts. This sunken Lebanese freighter, which now rests at a depth of 10 to 27 meters, was intentionally scuttled in 1985 by order of King Abdullah II to create an artificial reef. Over the years, it has become a thriving marine habitat, covered in vibrant soft and hard corals and home to a variety of marine life.
The wreck lies on its port side, making it an accessible dive for both beginner and advanced divers. The shallowest part of the wreck is at 10 meters, allowing snorkelers to get a glimpse, while the deeper sections at 27 meters provide more challenging explorations. Divers can penetrate parts of the wreck, including the cargo hold, and those with proper training can explore the engine room. One of the most breathtaking sights is the huge arch formed by the ship’s mast, often surrounded by schools of fish.
Marine life around Cedar Pride is abundant, with lionfish, scorpionfish, moray eels, and batfish frequently spotted. At night, the wreck transforms into a completely different scene, with bioluminescent plankton and nocturnal creatures like octopuses and Spanish dancers emerging.
With its easy access from the shore, excellent visibility, and a fascinating history, Cedar Pride Wreck is undoubtedly one of the best dive sites in Aqaba and a top wreck dive in the Red Sea.
Japanese Garden
One of the most beautiful and vibrant coral gardens in Aqaba, the Japanese Garden is a shallow reef dive (5 to 30 meters) perfect for both beginners and experienced divers. The site is famous for its lush coral formations, including soft corals, table corals, and huge brain corals, resembling an underwater botanical garden. The reef is teeming with colorful reef fish, such as clownfish, parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish, while larger species like sea turtles, eagle rays, and even occasional reef sharks can be spotted cruising by. The calm waters and excellent visibility make it a great location for underwater photography. Due to the gradual slope of the reef, divers can explore different depths comfortably, making it an ideal site for long and relaxed dives.
Seven Sisters & The Airplane (C-130 Hercules Wreck)
This site combines two fascinating underwater attractions. The Seven Sisters are a series of seven coral pinnacles, home to glassfish, lionfish, scorpionfish, and nudibranchs. The pinnacles are covered in soft corals and sponges, creating a vibrant and colorful dive experience. A short swim from the pinnacles lies the C-130 Hercules aircraft, a military transport plane deliberately sunk in 2017 to serve as an artificial reef. The wreck rests at a depth of 12 to 17 meters, making it accessible to divers of all levels. The airplane is remarkably well-preserved, with an open cargo hold that divers can enter. Schools of fish, octopuses, and even turtles have made the wreck their home, offering an eerie yet fascinating exploration.
The Tank
is one of Aqaba’s most unique and easily accessible dive sites, featuring an M42 Duster anti-aircraft tank that was intentionally sunk in 1999 to create an artificial reef. Resting at a shallow depth of 5 to 7 meters, this site is perfect for both beginners and experienced divers, as well as snorkelers. Unlike many wreck dives that involve ships or airplanes, The Tank stands out due to its unusual structure, offering a fascinating contrast between military history and marine life.
Despite being submerged for just over two decades, The Tank is now covered in soft corals and sponges, attracting a variety of marine species. Divers can often spot lionfish, pufferfish, moray eels, octopuses, and even sea turtles resting nearby. The open structure of the vehicle allows for easy exploration, and divers can swim around it, hovering over the turret or peeking inside the driver’s compartment.
Because of its shallow depth and the lack of strong currents, The Tank is an excellent spot for night dives, where nocturnal marine life such as Spanish dancers, squid, and hunting lionfish can be observed. It’s also a fantastic location for underwater photography, thanks to the clear waters of the Red Sea and the eerie yet beautiful sight of the tank blending into its aquatic surroundings.
Located close to the shore and often combined with dives at nearby coral reefs or the Cedar Pride Wreck, The Tank is a must-visit dive site in Aqaba for those looking for an unusual and visually stunning underwater experience.
Power Station
One of Aqaba’s deepest and most advanced dive sites, the Power Station is known for its strong currents and dramatic underwater topography, making it best suited for experienced divers. Depths range from 15 to 50 meters, with steep drop-offs and breathtaking coral walls covered in black corals, gorgonians, and large sponges. The currents attract large pelagic species such as barracudas, tuna, and sometimes even reef sharks or manta rays. Divers often spot giant moray eels, groupers, and trevallies hunting along the reef. Due to the unpredictable currents, drift diving is the preferred method at this site, allowing divers to glide effortlessly over the reef while observing its abundant marine life.
Blue Coral
A lesser-known yet spectacular dive site, Blue Coral is named after its rare blue coral formations, which are unique compared to the usual red and orange corals found elsewhere in the Red Sea. Located at a depth of 10 to 30 meters, the site is suitable for all divers and offers excellent visibility and calm conditions. The reef is packed with hard and soft corals, providing shelter to moray eels, stonefish, pufferfish, and sea turtles. Due to its relatively untouched nature, Blue Coral offers a peaceful and uncrowded dive, ideal for those looking to explore Aqaba’s underwater beauty without the crowds.
Each of these sites offers something unique, from stunning coral gardens to historic wrecks and thrilling drift dives. Are you planning to visit Aqaba soon?
Best Time to Dive in Aqaba
Aqaba is a fantastic year-round diving destination, thanks to its warm waters, excellent visibility, and diverse marine life. However, the best time to dive in Aqaba depends on personal preferences, as each season offers unique underwater experiences. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are generally considered the optimal seasons for diving, with water temperatures ranging from 24°C to 28°C and visibility often exceeding 20 to 30 meters. During these months, the marine life is at its most active, with coral reefs thriving and fish species engaging in mating and spawning behaviors. The conditions are also ideal for both beginners and experienced divers, as the water is warm and the weather on land is pleasant, avoiding the extreme summer heat. Winter diving (December to February) offers a different experience, with water temperatures dropping to 20°C to 22°C but still remaining comfortable with a 5mm wetsuit. Visibility remains excellent, and the cooler waters attract different marine species, including larger pelagic fish and eagle rays. Summer (June to August) provides the warmest water temperatures, reaching up to 30°C, making it perfect for those who prefer diving without a thick wetsuit. However, surface temperatures on land can soar above 40°C, making early morning or night dives the most comfortable options. Visibility remains good, but there can be slight reductions due to increased plankton activity. Regardless of the season, Aqaba’s diverse dive sites, from vibrant coral gardens to historic wrecks like the Cedar Pride Wreck and C-130 Hercules airplane, ensure unforgettable underwater experiences. For those looking for the perfect balance of warm water, exceptional visibility, and rich marine biodiversity, visiting Aqaba in April-May or September-November is highly recommended.
Marine Life You Can See
Aqaba’s waters are teeming with diverse and vibrant marine life, making it an excellent destination for divers and snorkelers looking to explore the Red Sea’s underwater beauty. The area’s well-preserved coral reefs, artificial wrecks, and protected marine park provide a thriving habitat for a wide range of species, from colorful reef fish to large pelagic creatures. Divers can expect to see schools of clownfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and damselfish, all weaving through the coral formations. More elusive and fascinating species such as lionfish, scorpionfish, and pufferfish can be found hiding in crevices, while giant moray eels frequently emerge from their rocky dens. For macro lovers, nudibranchs, pipefish, seahorses, shrimp, and crabs can be spotted among soft corals and sea fans. Green and hawksbill sea turtles are a common sight, especially around sites like Japanese Garden and Cedar Pride Wreck, where they gracefully glide past divers. Larger species such as eagle rays, stingrays, giant trevallies, and Napoleon wrasse often cruise along the deeper sites. For those venturing into deeper, more advanced sites like Power Station, there is the possibility of encountering reef sharks or even the occasional manta ray. The diversity of marine life in Aqaba makes every dive a unique experience, whether exploring colorful coral gardens, eerie shipwrecks, or dramatic drop-offs. The thriving underwater ecosystem, combined with the warm, clear waters of the Red Sea, ensures that every dive offers an unforgettable glimpse into one of the world’s most fascinating marine environments.
Diving in Aqaba offers a range of experiences suitable for both beginners and seasoned divers, with costs varying based on the chosen dive center, type of dive, and equipment needs. For certified divers, shore dives are a popular and cost-effective option. For instance, Sinai Divers Aqaba offers single shore dives at approximately 30 JOD, with packages such as six dives priced around 135 JOD. Similarly, Sea Star Water Sports provides one-day diving experiences (two dives) for about 52 JOD, with multi-day packages like four days (eight dives) available for 208 JOD. These packages typically include tanks and weights, while full equipment rental may incur an additional fee, often around 8 JOD per dive.
Boat dives, which grant access to more remote and diverse sites, are also available. Diving in Jordan offers one-day boat diving trips comprising two dives with full equipment for approximately 90 JOD. For those without certification, introductory dives are offered, with prices around 85 JOD for a single boat dive. Night dives and specialty dives, such as those on wrecks, may come with additional supplements. It’s important to note that prices can fluctuate based on the dive center, season, and specific services included. Many centers offer discounts for group bookings or extended dive packages. For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing, it’s recommended to contact the dive centers directly or visit their official websites.