Yanbu & the Seven Reefs · Saudi Arabia · Wall · Reef
Marker 32
Shallow cracks on one side, a descent past 60 m on the other
Marker 32, known locally as Almarkeb, is one of the Seven Sisters reefs and a site few visitors know. It combines shallow cracks for freedivers with a drop that continues past 60 m, and the absence of current makes it a deep dive suited to advanced and technical divers.
Also known as Almarkeb.
Where it is and how deep
23.8578° N, 37.8882° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
On the right side of the site, shallow cracks run from 3 to 7 m, a section that also suits freediving. The typical dive goes to more than 40 m with no current, and the reef keeps descending beyond 60 m, which makes the site a target for technical divers.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Yanbu & the Seven Reefs: Liveaboards run the Seven Reefs as a summer itinerary; day boats from Yanbu run year-round.
Dive videos
Scuba Red Sea Yanbu Seven Sisters Shaab Almarkeb Reef 24th July 2022 with Umluj Divers · MrMenteith on YouTube
Sharks 'n Dolphins - Red Sea, Marker 32, Yanbu, KSA (27 Aug 2016) · Stuart Adams on YouTube
Sources
- Marker 32 — SSI
- Seven Sisters and Five Corals — Ocean Breeze Liveaboards
More dive sites in Yanbu & the Seven Reefs
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A lone coral column where hammerheads patrol the open water
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A small wreck in calm, shallow water north of Yanbu
Similar dives elsewhere
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Jetty-entry wall to 40 m dived for tuna, dolphins and passing whale sharks
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Stepped plateaus at 25, 35 and 60 m with gorgonians in the deep