Diving in the Red Sea and other Jiddah, Saudi Arabia Sports Travel Tips

Theme: Scuba Diving

the Red Sea taken its name from its red corals. The beach is very narrow and rocky. You can dive enjoy watching corals. Random collecting is NOT allowed.
Suba Diving course costs SR1200-1400 at 'Karyat al-Gouss'--Dive Village.

Equipment: Available at the Village.

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Address: Obhur, 20-min North Jeddah
Website: http://www.saudidiving.com/red-sea-divers.htm

Theme: Beach Activities

Unlike public beahces, this one is a closed beache for bathing suits and fishing. Other than that, women cannot swim. It was my first experience as a saudi woman to swim in public.
Entry fees:
Adult: SR80
Couple: SR130
If you have a diving course/member, fees: SR 40 per adult.

Equipment: Available equipment at al-Bilad beach:
- Banana boats
- fishing tools
- hotel restuarant

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Address: Obhur, 20-min North Jeddah

Theme: Surfing

Sandsurfing is one of the activities i got to learn recently. I found out lots of things to do in Jeddah,lol
in winter, it would be lovely to camp, sandsurf, and have a BBQ during the night and under the moonlight.

Equipment: Soft tyres for surfing

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Phone: (966)2 668 1649
Address: North Jeddah, 20 minutes
Directions: Arrange with a tourism office.
-Explorer for Tourism:
Mr. Fahad
SR250 per person, from 3 pm-9:30 pm

Ok, i have been to this place twice. The first was to watch a horseriding race 3 years ago. The second was just last night. Marimar_72 picked me up and we headed to this off-traditional-saudi place,lol.

Admission is free to public. Lessons are available for non-members but with higher prices. Membership can be obtained on monthly and annualy bases.
The other activities are: golf, tennis and basketball.

errr..one thing left to be said. It was literally my first time every touching an animal:s Can you imagine what that meant? i love horses so much but just in pictures and from a distance, never held a pet or caressed a dog, i find the whole idea rather disgusting. But my coach yesterday, he just forced me to touch the horse's neck, otherwise, i'd have fallen down if didn't hold on the neck,lol. Though i'm my back is still in pain, but finally i overcame my fear of disgust, pheww,....thx marimar;^)

and yeah wait! why this place is non-traditional? 'cause i was able to take off my abaya and scarf without being frowned upon all the time,lol.

oh believe me! to touch an animal IS an achievement for me!!!!!:D

Equipment: Everything is available at the spot.

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Address: East Of Jiddah Highway
Directions: Next to Aramco barrels.
As if you're heading east, Aramco is on your right, go straight, first left, gas station, turn right, go straight, the spot is on your left.

Theme: Other

it's called Tat'eez in Arabic. i think this sport only exists in saudia or the GCEs! you need 4x4 Land Cruiser or a Jeep and go and sink in the desert. many many people go out in the desert perhaps 30 minutes outside jeddah, only to play their jeeps around. you need a flat, slightly hilly area in the desert, in order to vroom and draw your car tyres on the sands.
i haven't tried it myself really, nor intend to, but i have watched it on TV many times and once in real life! guys like it! just drawing tyre lines around,lol.
best time to do this is, of course, later afternoon, when everyone can watch and enjoy.

Equipment: jeep or a land cruiser, big cars for driving and sliding your cars.

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Address: North Jeddah
Directions: just go out in the desert after Dhahban

Theme: Other

when it comes to jetskiing, i'm a crazy b***h. once i had a ride with my sister behind me. it was her first time with me though she had been jetskiing for a while. there was strong wind and i was still that crazy riding until a strong big wave hit our jet and we literally jumped high up and came back again to our jet seat. my sister just went screaming and nearly crying and begging me to drop her off the beach. although i was very annoyed that she had the lead and i had to ride back, i was having fun going crazy,lol.
you can have a ride for one hour by a jet for nearly SR500, or you can split the cost with another rider. you can find them along public beaches in North Obhor, though they are available only for men. otherwise, you'd go to Durat al-Arous for women to ride. you need to have your id as a safety deposit not to run away with the jet.
usually i negotiate with the one who's in charge for the time and price as it's way too expensive, especially the petrol is cheap and no taxes! you can ask for 15 or 20 min ride against SR150.
note that the prices may go up on occasions and in Eid.
go jetskiing, go crazy;^)

Equipment: a safety jacket is provided by all jetskii guards/coaches

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Address: Red Sea(Obhur Bay)
Directions: along the beach

Theme: Boating/Sailing

well, this's not my favourite water activity especially when it's done in saudia! you can go on boating from any public beach in North Obhor. usually it's called 'family boating' as gender-mixing is allowed in such cases. you either go with all-single males or married couples, i suppose.
i have never been on one of myself, find it rather boring than relaxing while agitatedly watching all the jets skiing and roaming around me,lol.
some boats are private though lingering in the public harbour. if you know the owner in person, they can offer you a ride free of charge.
i used to know a cruise that has a restaurant and a downstairs ocean-viewing room. it serves lunch or dinner inclusive of 3-hour journey against SR500 per person. this can be booked from Marina harbour in North Obhor.
anyway, this activity is good for family.

Equipment: just hop on the boat or yacht

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Address: Red Sea(Obhur Bay)
Directions: Marina harbour or Marsa al-Ahlam

Theme: Hiking

this has been the coolest outdoor experience i've had since i left london. i like to be outdoor, in a suburb or where i can take fresh pure breaths and gaze at the black flat face of the sky with the twinkling eyes of the stars. Kado has introduced me to this outdoor activity group who usually goes out in the desert and does some activities. Since it was St Patrick Day, everyone dressed in green, had green and white hats and socks, and just hanged the Irish flags over their cars, even though they probably weren't Irish themselves;^)
We formed a big circle so newbees like me would get acquainted with the group, and those with new shoes would get their footwear literally wasted and en-old,lol. There's also an initiation ritual where the newbees would be standing in the middle of the circle, waiting for their destiny to be 'fought' by fanta, coke, 7UP and pepsi,lol. There was that poor guy showing off his new shoes just to be pushed to pour that thick green liquid into his left shoe, drink it, then spill it over his head and body, goodness! that was fun watching,lol.
Then the group was divided into two: main run and mini run; the main would be faster and more challenging, following the marks in the vast desert to collect thorns or spikes or whatever the instructions are that day, of course including hiking and fast walking; the mini run would only be hiking around the hills in a big circle until the meeting point again.
the problem with carrying out such activities is how to get there. it's a long drive from the city centre and you must know your way around in the desert and familiar with the roads too
but all in all, i'm a woman, unable to drive, so always will find someone to show me the way, hehe

Equipment: old trainers
sports shorts if it is summer though i recommend long trousers to protect the legs against the desert spikes
a bottle of water
skin protection cream
coats as it sometimes gets very cool and windy down to 15C even though it could have been 30 in the afternoon!!

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Address: Asfan village, North Jeddah
Directions: one-hour drive and half North to Jeddah centre. you must be well-acquainted with the area as you may get lost in the desert. have a map or a friend as a guide.