Aqaba · Jordan · Reef · Coral garden
King Abdullah Reef
A gorgonian forest at 21 m and fusiliers packing the shallows
Area photo: Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0
A coral atoll ringed by shallow hard coral, reached either by a long shore swim or by boat. The reef starts at about 5 m and the usual dive works down to 23 m, past a multi-coloured gorgonian forest at 21 m and an old dead fan coral on top of Crown reef, now encrusted with sponges. Turtles, blue-spotted stingrays and torpedo rays are all regular, and there is very little current to fight.
Where it is and how deep
29.4418° N, 34.9692° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
Start on the reef by the fan coral. The ancient dead sea fan on top of Crown reef, encrusted now with coloured sponges, is the landmark the dive is planned around, and it is the easiest thing on the site to navigate back to. From there cross the gully and turn south, running the reef with the coral on your shoulder. There is very little current, so this is a swim rather than a drift and the outward leg is worth pacing.
The deeper part of the route holds the gorgonian forest at about 21 m, multi-coloured and worth the time it takes to work along properly. Schools of pennant fish drift over the coral, turtles come through, and blue-spotted stingrays and torpedo rays are both common on the site. Sponges and gorgonians cover the harder structure, and large shoals of fish hold above it.
Turn north as the gas gets low and come back into the shallows, where shoals of fusiliers hold over the hard coral in a few metres of water and the dive finishes at the mooring. The centre of the atoll is too shallow in coral to take a boat over, which is why moorings sit outside it, and why the shore route is a long surface swim rather than a quick one.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Stingrays
- Reef fish swarms
- Pristine corals
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Aqaba: Conditions stay calm and diveable year-round; water is coolest January–March.
Know before you go
- The coral formations in the middle of the atoll are shallow, which is why boats moor outside them. Cross the shallow top slowly and keep fins clear of the coral.
- Reaching the atoll from the beach is a long surface swim, so keep gas and energy back for the return leg rather than extending the deep part of the dive.
Dive videos
Dive in Jordan, Aqaba: "King Abdullah Reef", "Tank Wreck" 8-10.09.2013 · Valery Chuchaev on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is King Abdullah Reef?+
The reef starts at around 5 m and most dives work down to about 23 m, taking in the gorgonian forest at 21 m on the way. The site is rated to a maximum of 30 m for divers who want the deeper edge of it.
Can you dive King Abdullah Reef from shore?+
You can, but it is a long surface swim out to the atoll, so many centres run it as a boat dive instead. Boats moor outside the central reef because the coral in the middle is too shallow to pass over.
Sources
- King Abdullah Reef dive site — PADI
- King Abdullah Reef - Dive Site in Aqaba, Jordan — Arab Divers
- King Abdullah Reef Dive Site - Site Map — Aqaba Adventure Divers
In The Logbook
- The best shore dives in the worldShore diving · 8 min read
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The outer drop-off holds the coral, and it is the advanced end