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Red Sea Diving
Aqaba
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Hotels in Aqaba
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Aqaba is an ideal destination for a relaxing diving holiday. With a fine reputation for the condition and growth of coral, which is second to none in the Red Sea, you will find some of the finest diving in the northern Red Sea here.
Diving prices & offers in Aqaba >>
Dive Centres in Aqaba
Essential Diving Info
Location: On the top of the Gulf of Aqaba, on the Red Sea.
Transfer time: Approximately 15 mins from Aqaba airport, approximately 90 mins from Ovda airport and approximately 3 hours from Amman airport.
Medical: Nearest recompression chamber / medical facilities are Aqaba at the Princess Haya Bin Hussein Hospital, 25 mins drive from the furthest dive site.
Diving in Aqaba
- Aqaba is a perfect shore diving location, with a superb fringing reef system with no offshore reefs, but also offering coral pinnacles vibrant with life, canyons, walls and drop offs.
- The reef starts virtually at the water's edge.
- The wrecks of the Cedar Pride and The Tank are about 60m and 10m respectively from the shore entry.
- The reefs are not crowded with other divers and dive boats, which is why many divers who experience diving in Aqaba return to visit again and again.
- Great variety of dives, suitable for all levels - whatever your experience and interest, you won't be disappointed.
Diving Highlights
Cedar Pride
The Cedar Pride, a purpose-sunk Lebanese freighter, has been called one of the world’s best wrecks. The wreck is 80m long by 20m wide, lying on her port side in a depth of 12 - 27m, and it is possible to pass under the hull of the ship, which lays across two reefs. She has been rapidly colonised by soft corals and is home to several large Sea Bass. Grouper can often be spotted and she is patrolled by a shoal of Barracuda.
Cazar Valley
This is part of the house reef in front of Club Murjan. It's a popular site for professional underwater photographers, as there are some unique species - Frogfish, Seahorses in the eel grass, Ghost Pipe fish, Harlequin shrimp, not to mention Morays and Lionfish. It is an especially good site for night diving, when Spanish Dancers are almost certainly guaranteed.
Gorgonian One
This is a relatively shallow site and a photographers paradise, named after a large gorgonian fan coral, which is at 16 metres. This site has splendid examples of massive coral formations, including a 'lettuce coral' the size of a small house. There are lots of rock pinnacles smothered in fish life, with a large range of both hard and soft corals. Most of the year one of these pinnacles is covered in Lionfish, which gather in huge numbers to hunt for fry.
Oliver's Canyon-The Tank
A popular site, as Oliver's Canyon offers a morning deep dive, or a shallower afternoon dive, both finishing for a safety stop at the Tank. The reef starts at 12 metres and drops to 30 metres plus. Here one will find Frogfish, crocodile Fish and Giant Scorpion Fish. Large Squid can be found feeding as well as the occasional Octopus and younger Turtles. Coming up from the Canyon a safety stop can be made in the shallows around the Tank. This was sunk in 1999 and is now well colonised and home to a variety of Moray eels and a host of Lionfish.
See Aqaba diving map >>
Marine Life
Stunning hard and soft corals, angel and Butterfly Fish, Lion and Scorpion fish, Parrotfish, a range of Groupers, Jacks, Snapper, Fusiliers, Moray eels, Turtles, Frogfish, Seahorses, Whale sharks (May - July) and Mantas (February - March).
Apres Dive
Aqaba is a vibrant and friendly town to walk around, home to a great variety of small local shops, handicrafts and souvenirs as well as a selection of restaurants and cafés serving local delicacies. Before flying home, a visit to Petra or Wadi Rum is not to be missed.
Activities for non-divers
Aqaba's excellent location along the coast and in close proximity of Wadi Rum and Petra, allows visitors easy access, to some of the world's greatest sites. Non-divers can participate in water sports and other exciting activities including horse riding in the Wadi Rum Reserve, hiking, camel trekking, exploring the beautiful, colourful sandstone buildings of Petra or even spend the day absorbing the rich therapeutic minerals of the Dead Sea.
Excursions, activities & tours from Aqaba >>
Map of Aqaba Dive Sites
