Make a splash: your guide to Jeddah’s diving and waterfront activities
Dive under the Red Sea, admire prominent artwork along the waterfront at Saudi’s largest outdoor sculpture garden and more during a visit to the lovely coastal city of Jeddah.
Located on the pristine Red Sea, Jeddah offers plenty of sunshine for an adventure on (or under) the water. Water enthusiasts will be delighted with the variety of activities available here, from snorkeling and sailing to jet skiing and paddleboarding, but it’s the area’s world-class scuba scene that might be the biggest draw.
Dive In: Scuba Sites Near Jeddah
With ideal water temperatures, excellent year-round visibility and very few currents, Saudi’s coastal waters are a scuba enthusiast’s dream, and the ancient port town of Jeddah is the perfect base for exploring them. Dive in at some of the country’s best scuba spots, all within day-tripping distance of Jeddah.
Find Nemo and More in Sharm Obhur
The appeal of diving at Sharm Obhur is how much it feels like a boat dive, even though you’ll be entering the water from the shore. A short drive north of Jeddah’s city center, close to the Bhadur Resort, this beautiful and easy-to-explore reef is a great place to begin earning your scuba stripes.
Your underwater welcoming committee includes turtles, the eponymous “Nemo” clownfish, lionfish, a host of eels and even the rare bull shark on occasion. Make sure you take safety precautions before diving in areas where sharks live.
DISCOVER MOREExplore Shipwrecks in Abu Tair
The most famous shipwreck at Abu Tair reef is the Staphonos, also known as the Cable Wreck (when the Staphonos went down in 1978, its cargo was mainly cables, chain-link fences and large steel beams).
The ship rests on its side, and on calm days, much of the wreck is beautifully illuminated by sunlight coming through the crystal-clear waters, making it easy for divers to explore. The Staphonos wreck is also a popular hangout for whitetip sharks, schools of goatfish and blue-spotted stingrays.
DISCOVER MOREWreck Dive in Abu Faramish
It will take about a two-hour car drive to get to the coast directly in line with this huge reef, which stretches for almost 40 kilometers.
You’ll need to be an experienced and confident wreck diver to navigate Abu Faramish’s most famous site, the Ann Ann, which went down in 1977 and now sits facing east in an upright position at a depth of 32 meters. The wreck has quite a few sections that are still more or less intact, including the power supply room, the captain’s quarters and the now-empty cargo room, where the only residents today are tuna, blue-spotted rays, whitetip sharks and snappers.
One of the most popular features is a toilet that divers like to be photographed sitting on, and the wreck’s propeller, now covered in brightly coloured coral.
DISCOVER MOREDiscover the Jeddah Waterfront
Want to stay above the water for a day? Head to the Jeddah Waterfront, also known as the Jeddah Corniche, which is one of the city’s biggest attractions.
Spanning the coastline, the corniche features beaches, parks, play areas for kids, dancing fountains, and dedicated sports and fishing areas. It’s also home to Jeddah’s outdoor sculpture park, the largest open-air museum in Saudi, featuring statues from prominent artists including Maha Malluh, Alexander Calder, Henry Moore and Joan Miró. Here you can also see one of the world’s tallest fountains. At dusk, King Fahd Fountain glows with the help of more than 500 LED spotlights. Backdropped by the Red Sea, the fountain is a sight to behold as it shoots a plume of saltwater 312 meters in the air at nearly 375 kilometers per hour.
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