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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.
More information on Aqaba >>
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Essential diving info
Diving highlights
Marine life
Apres dive
Activities for non-divers
Map of dive sites
Seastar Dive Centre
Seastar Dive Centre prices
Special offers
Hotels in Aqaba
Red Sea Diving Home |
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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.
Dive centres: Seastar
Medical: Nearest recompression chamber / medical facilities are Aqaba at the Princess Haya Bin Hussein Hospital, 25 mins drive from the furthest dive site. |
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Summary: 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.
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 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 Scorpian Fish. Large Squid can be found feeding as well as the occasional Octupus 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.
Saudi Border (The Drop Off)
The top of the reef starts at
5m with patch reef and the reef top itself extends approximately 30-40m seaward at a depth of 10-20m. At this point a wall of
living coral drops down to 50m and beyond. There
are small caverns at 30m and large
plate corals abound. At around 40m, a large grouper
is to be found hiding behind a rock pinnacle, and along
the reef edge it is common to see turtles. The
sand is home to some large rays and deep water
shoaling fish, such as jack and tuna can be
seen.
If you are very lucky you may even see a shark. |
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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).
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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.
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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 exciting activities including horse riding in the Wadi Rumreserve, hiking, exploring the beautiful, colourful sandstone buildings of Petra or even spend the day, absorbing the rich theraputic minerals of the Dead Sea,
For more information, see Guided tours of Jordan
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Current offers with Seastar
No current offers.
More diving offers >>
Offers can be booked online, or call us on 020 8418 2570.
Dive package offer prices are only valid when booked before travel, and in conjunction with a Longwood Holidays package holiday. Offers valid for new bookings only. |
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Hotels in Aqaba
Click on each hotel for hotel information.
5* Movenpick Resort & Residence
5* Intercontinental
5* Radisson SAS Tala Bay
4* Marina Plaza
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