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A school of yellow-striped snappers and grey fish swims beneath a broad reddish table coral over a sandy bottom — Kish Island

Kish Island · Iran · Reef

Southern Crack

Blacktip and nurse sharks in a gap in the reef

Area photo: Hamed Saber from Tehran, Iran · CC BY 2.0

Southern Crack is an offshore coral reef south of Kish Island, cut by a gap that holds the dive between 14 and 22 m. Strong currents make it a site for experienced divers only, and it draws them for blacktip and nurse sharks, barracuda and sea turtles.

Also known as Saturn Crack, Southern Fracture.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Southern Crack: typical dive 14–22 m (46–72 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit14 m22 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

No published position for this site — the map shows Kish Island and its other sites; operators know the mooring.

The dive

The dive drops into a gap in the reef that starts at 14 m and runs down to 22 m. Blacktip sharks, batfish and barracuda are found here, along with lionfish, nurse sharks, grouper, angelfish, snapper and sea turtles.

Marine life and season

  • Reef sharks
  • Barracuda
  • Groupers
  • Sea turtles
Month-by-month season rating for Southern Crack
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodFairGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeFairFairFairGood

Season follows Kish Island: Clear, sunny spring and summer are best; stormy autumn and late-winter seas stop the diving on rough days.

Know before you go

  • Strong water currents run over the site, which is why it is not suitable for beginners.

Sources

  1. Scuba Diving - Kish Free Zone Organization Tourism — Kish Free Zone Organization
  2. Diving in Iran for tourists — Legendary Iran
  3. Saturn Crack dive site — PADI

More dive sites in Kish Island

Coral garden

Big Coral

A shore entry from Simorgh Hotel beach onto the east-coast reefs

to 7 mbeginner

Wreck

Dama Wreck

A way in through the captain's cabin window

to 33 madvanced

Wreck

Greek Ship

The propeller of a 1943 steamship at 8 m

4–8 mbeginner

Cave & cavern

Hoor Cottage

A short cave to swim through at the entrance

to 8 mbeginner

Reef

Jurassic Park

Shallow east-coast reef, a boat ride from the Kish dive clubs

to 8 mbeginner

Similar dives elsewhere

Reef

Baie Ternay Marine Park

Seychelles · Seychelles

Protected marine park reef, nothing deeper than 20 m

to 20 mintermediate

Reef

Tanikely South

Nosy Be · Madagascar

Gorgonians, tube sponges and brain corals in a protected islet reef

to 15 mbeginner

Reef

Kuda Kandu Outside

Addu Atoll · Maldives

Hard coral gardens from 6 m to a 20 m drop-off

6–20 mintermediate

Reef

Barren Island

Andaman Islands · India

Coral reef below the Indian subcontinent's only active volcano

to 23 mintermediate