Diving in Jordan: 6 Dive Sites You Should Dive in Aqaba, Jordan
By: Torben Lonne
It is one of the last places many people would ever think of diving.
You’ve might never considered it yourself.
But if it’s not on your list you are missing out on great diving.
Aqaba, Jordan is a little known destination for divers, but it boasts some of the best dive sights in the Red Sea.
Imagine dream-like scenes of coral or the adventurous Cedar Pride Wreck and creatures indigenous to the area. Your experience here will be one you will never forget.
Cedar Pride Wreck
Sunk in 1985 to make an artificial reef especially for divers, this is a wreck even Open Water divers can enjoy. Easily accessible from shore, this old container ship boasts a gorgeous variety of coral.
If you are lucky, you might even see a couple of Giant Napoleon Wrasse or a graceful Sea Turtle.
Japanese Garden
Ironically, the Japanese Garden is located on the same beach as the Cedar Pride Wreck. Picturesque coral as far as visibility allows, this site is locally known for its’ beauty.
A nice, shallow dive, you will thoroughly enjoy your time in the water.
Little Dragon Fish are one of the cool animals you may see here.
Black Rock
One of the most popular dive sites purely because of its location at a private beach club, Black Rock is another great dive for beginners.
The coral here is shallow and beautiful. You can also reach great depths, easily up to 40 m, if you so please. Home to Ornate Ghost Pipefish; keep a sharp eye out for these masters of disguise!
Coral Garden
The first thing that will really capture your attention is the romantic setting of a delicate tea table and chairs. Surrounded by a floor of seagrass, other objects to explore are the bridge, walkway and hangman’s noose.
Emperor Angelfish frequent this area, playfully chasing each other around the coral covered objects.
The Seven Sisters
The ultimate dive experience, the Seven Sisters has got to be my personal favorite. A collection of huge coral formations, you can easily spend hours exploring the area. The American army tank is one of the main attractions to see here as well as the amount of diverse marine animals, including the Warty Frogfish.
The Power Station Drop Off
Accessible only by boat, this is one dive that will surely take your breath away. A stunning drop off for Advanced Divers, you will feel as if you are flying over a cliff.
Be sure to keep an eye on your depth as it is easy to get lost in wonderment.
The desert sands may be the shining star of the Middle East, but the Red Sea is surely the glistening jewel; waiting to be discovered.
Comments
we still have more beautiful dive sites for diving , please send us for more details .
Those two phrases doesn’t really go that well together. From pictures the spot is famous but the diving in the Jordan is not that know, yet! Well that was a way of describing our mistake, anyway you are completely right, it can be little known and famous at the same time. We’ll correct it, thanks for letting us know!
You are very correct that Aqaba has great diving. However, it is a contradiction to write of a “a little known destination for divers” with “world famous sites.” If it is “world famous” then it must be known. 🙂
Also, the Power Station Drop Off can be done as a shore dive. I have done it as a shore dive many times.
The tank makes for an excellent safety stop after diving on the Cedar pride since it is in about 5 m.
Hi,
Turtles are always amazing to dive with. Thanks for the boat diving tips, it’s always good to know how the diving is done best.
Well Rickey, it’s just a matter of going. And there are loads of other dives to look forward to as well.
Hi I have been diving at Aqaba last year (in November) with the Seastar watersport club. Each dive is incredible, crossing the way of a marine turtle is always emotionnal 🙂
I have also done a night diving there and the coral reef completly change his face, worms go out and it’s like a garden of new flowers you see there. All the dives I made where from the shore (use boots, it’s not sandy beaches but rocky ones 😉 ) and you finish you block within 3 to 4 meters ,navigating thru coral potatoes, taking your time to watch every little things. It has been a very very good time I spend there…
Cedric
This is a place that is going in by book. I have seen the tank wreck before but never new where it was, until now the coolest wreck was an old ww2 plane, but the depth visibility didn’t make it a really great dive. This looks awesome, and you are right it’s not a place I would usually consider.