Diving in Aqaba and other Aqaba, Jordan Sports Travel Tips

Theme: Scuba Diving

Jordan came late to the "tourist diving industry", and approached it slowly with all regard for the preservation of marine life. The results are paying off as far as the coral reefs are concerned. Profession photographers claim that the reefs here are easily as good as in the Maldives.

Equipment: If you bring your own diving suit, then in the winter months a 5-6mm suit is OK, in summer a 3mm shorty is fine, but it is always better to be warmer when in the water, especially if you are good on air or an avid underwater photographer so scarcely moving from one pinnacle.

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Directions: There are numerous diving centres in Aqaba.

Posted by Lulu
Other Contact: www.jordanjubilee.com

Theme: Scuba Diving

Diving goes on all the year round, with different species to be seen in the different seasons. In June /July there are whale sharks, in February one can often see Mantas. A northerly wind blows down Wadi Araba all the year, which in the summer is a cooling breeze, but in winter it can be a bit chilly, especially when you have just come out of the water.

Even if you are alone, you are likely to make contacts and friends easily in the diving community in Aqaba. Dives are accompanied, so straight away you have the divemaster who will show you the ropes so to speak. There is absolutely no problem for women diving, in fact many Jordanian women regularly do so. Most centres offer courses in several languages, some have more choice of language than others!

Night diving or snorkelling excursions can be arranged on request, for the same day if required, but for administrative reasons, it is preferable to have at least four people in the party. There is a surcharge of 10JD per person over the daytime diving. It is also possible to have a barbecue organised after the dive - a lovely evening!

If you are travelling with non-divers, all the dive centres are happy to welcome them. They may be asked to pay a transport charge if they want to accompany you out to the dive sites. If they are snorkellers, then of course there is no problem at all, nearly all of the sites are entirely suitable for snorkellers.

Posted by Lulu


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Other Contact: www.jordanjubilee.com

Theme: Scuba Diving

There are over thirty main diving sites in Aqaba, most of them suitable for all levels of competence.. The reefs stretch for a distance of over 25kms or right down to the Saudi border. Aqaba is all fringing reef, there are no off-shore reefs. The reef starts literally at the water's edge and extends like the fingers of your hands into canyons leading to pinnacles and drop offs

The beaches are all easily accessible and the transport used can drive right up to the edge of the water - a big advantage. There is no problem for getting into your gear on the beach, and no clambering over rocks. Boats are not much used since by water it takes too long to reach the more distant ones. By road, the furthest reef (the "Saudi Border" reef) is about 25 minutes from the town of Aqaba.

Here is a map of the main reefs in Aqaba


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Theme: Scuba Diving

Located 5 Kms south of Aqaba town. Swim over fringing reef which drops down to 5m with sand and patch reef, from where reef slopes down to 20m and drops away to 200m! Swim down over the wall edge to depth of 30m and swim south. Pelagics are seen "in the deep blue". There are overhangs at 25m with excellent fan corals, with large Yellow Mouth Morays. Ascending to top of wall and travel back northwards at 15/18m with a nice pinnacle at 16m with lots of glass fish, Frog Fish, Scorpion Fish. Turtles and Napoleon Wrasse also frequent this area. Still ascending and working back to entry point at 10m depth look out for green-blue Devil Scorpion Fish, Frog Fish and Octopus. Safety stop at 5m with lots to see at edge of the fringing reef.


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Theme: Scuba Diving

Entry point is 200 m north of Club Murjan (10 Kms south of Aqaba town), through the lagoon until you are in waist deep water. Snorkel out to the fringing reef and drop through a gap to 3m. Continue finning North through patch coral to an area of white sand with small coral outcrops scattered around inhabited by many different species of Morays. Continue further north to a pinnacle covered in red soft corals, move out to 12-15m depth and begin to drift south towards Cazar Reef. This open area many Lunar Tail Grouper and large slipper lobsters and above at around 5m are often seen Great Barracuda. As the bottom drops away to over 30m head inland and around 10-12m you will often find Frog Fish and Stone Fish. Continue down to the entrance of Cazar Reef for safety stop and exit.


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Theme: Scuba Diving

Next to the Marine Reserve and also the location of Club Murjan, the Alcazar's beach club. Enter at south side of gully edging down to 18m, lots of Cornet fish and Fusiliers, a cabbage coral marks the corner of the reef. Swim northwards over some large black corals to a pinnacle at 17m covered in soft coral. Lots of Lunar Tail Grouper and nice Table Coral and cleaning stations. Head up to 10/12m and move southwards, often Barracuda are seen in the shallower water, plus Grey Morays and Lion Fish and cleaner Wrasse Stations. On sandy areas Moses Sole, Dragonets and Flounders. Turn left into the gully for safety stop at 5m where you will often see Puffer Fish and Whitebait.


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Theme: Scuba Diving

This another site located at the Club Murjan area. Enter on left side of gully and edge down and south to 10m swimming over grass to a pinnacle at 19m covered in Christmas Tree worms of al colours. Continue south at 25m through a forest of black coral, ascend the sand slope to coral outcrops surrounded by Banner Fish and Lion Fish and up to a pinnacle at 7m that is a photographer's dream...

The pinnacle is covered in an array of soft corals, a home for many different species of Morays, rare Harlequin Shrimp and Ghost Pipe Fish. Plus lots of Glass Fish protected by a Red Toothed Grouper and Lion Fish. Head back over the Ell Grass home, to hundreds of eels, disappearing and reappearing as divers swim over, back to sandy area in the gully at 5m for safety stop.


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Theme: Scuba Diving

Approx 5 mins drive from the Club in an area known as the Tourist Camp. Enter the site through a maze of fringing reef with fantastic displays of Fire coral. Drop down to 5m and follow slope down to 12m to a large pinnacle full of a variety of marine life. Head across the sand to a large circular reef with a Gorgonia Fan coral in centre. Continue down to 24m where shoaling Pennant Fish have a "permanent" home.

Ascend slowly in a circle and watch territorial displays Parrot Fish till you reach 10m. Following the reef south you encounter many Clown fish and anemones, plus occasional Ghost Pipe fish in the anemones, Scorpion Fish in the purple acropora coral. Approaching the safety stop area at the base of the fringing reef, many Burr Fish and the occasional Toad Fish.


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Theme: Scuba Diving

The northern side of Wreck Bay, adjacent to the former Tourist Camp. Entry at a gravel and shingle point, swim out and pick up the reef on the right and swim down to the planned depth, usually around 25m. Heading north there are immense coral slopes and valleys with large black coral "bushes". This are is frequented by Hawksbill turtles. Ascend slowly to 10m and swim south again back to the entry point. Shoaling Fusiliers, cruising Parrot fish are common, as well electric Torpedo Rays. At safety stop watch out for Moses Sole and flounders in the sand and gravel as well as grey morays.


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Theme: Scuba Diving

Also in Wreck Bay but to the southern end. Entry is through a narrow gully in the fringing reef and then descend to an eel grass bed, where you will find Snowflake Morays. The main reef is encountered at 5m then follow it down through shoals of Orange Basselets and Sergeant Majors. Keep at a 20m depth and swim along edge of reef over bushes of black coral. If sharks are to be seen (White Tip Reef sharks) this is where you will see them in the deep blue of the Gulf to your right. At 23m at the head of a gully there is a large Gorgonia Fan coral. From here start working your way into the shallows, keeping an eye out for resident turtles. At 15 there is a pinnacle with a large Yellow Mouth moray and large Cornet Fish hunting in the shoals. Continue up to 2 pinnacles at 6m filed with Lion Fish and shoaling Basselets and the occasional Barracuda.


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