Aqaba

Although Jordan has only a short coastline, Aqaba offers a varied choice of Red Sea dives. Each site is different from the next, from shallow coral gardens and pinnacles to deeper slopes and shipwrecks. Shore outings and day boats make it possible to build a diving holiday around a hotel stay, with time for Jordan’s land attractions too.

Cedar Pride remains the classic shipwreck, but aircraft wrecks and the Underwater Military Museum add other choices. Depth, access and the planned route matter more than the label “wreck dive”: some structures have shallow sections, while others need advanced or technical preparation.

Check current travel advice for Jordan, flights and insurance conditions before booking. Regional disruption can affect a trip even when a dive centre advertises daily activities.

In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Aqaba.

Best Dive Review

Which reefs and wrecks should you choose?

Aqaba site examples; published depths describe parts of a site, not permission to exceed your training

Site	Character and planning
Cedar Pride	Freighter lying on its port side across reefs. Jordan Tourism Board dates its deliberate sinking to 16 November 1985. Aqaba Dive Academy gives a 10–26 m profile; the upper and deeper sections suit different qualifications.
M42 Tank	A shallow artificial reef around 6 m in the local operator’s catalogue. Confirm the entry and conditions for beginners or snorkellers.
C-130 Hercules	Aircraft wreck reaching about 17 m. Sea Wonders describes substantial sections separated by the 2020 storm; do not expect the intact aircraft shown in early photographs.
TriStar L-1011	A much larger aircraft wreck; Visit Aqaba’s brochure gives a 15–28 m range and boat access. Plan the actual profile, especially deeper portions.
Underwater Military Museum	Multiple vehicles spread across the seabed. Aqaba Dive Academy describes roughly 15–28 m and an advanced-level outing; it is not the same site as the shallow Tank.
Japanese Garden	Coral terrain with shallow sections highlighted by Jordan Tourism Board for snorkelling. This is Aqaba’s Japanese Garden, distinct from the similarly named Eilat site.

Sources: Jordan Tourism Board, Aqaba Dive Academy site catalogue, Sea Wonders on the Hercules and Visit Aqaba’s wreck brochure.

Stay outside enclosed wreck spaces unless the dive is specifically planned with appropriate overhead training, equipment and guidance. A shallow wreck or an open doorway does not remove that distinction.

The Hercules before the storm: a 2017 film

Tariq Othman’s DiveAqaba – Lockheed C-130 Hercules – Aqaba, Jordan, uploaded in December 2017, records the aircraft’s earlier appearance. The wreck was subsequently damaged in the 2020 storm described above, so use this as an archive view, not a picture of its current condition.

Film: Tariq Othman on Vimeo. The player loads only when you choose Play.

Aqaba’s principal reef and wreck locations

The map places six of the sites discussed above along the coast. Numbers identify locations, not an itinerary or dive order. These published reference positions do not identify current shore entries, moorings or safe approaches; the larger wrecks and reef areas extend beyond a single point. Confirm access and your profile with the operator.

Show all six sites

Satellite imagery provides geographic context. Dots mark reference positions; offset number labels keep nearby sites distinct. Zoom or select a numbered marker for its name; use the table below without the map. Reference positions checked 30 October 2026. Wreck markers use the published positions in Visit Aqaba’s 2020 wreck brochures; the Japanese Garden marker follows the linked local operator reference. These locate the general sites, not their present-day entry points or every part of a damaged wreck.

Map key and coordinate sources — planning references

Site	Reference latitude / longitude	Context and source
1. TriStar L-1011	29.472133° N, 34.974300° E	Aircraft wreck; reference from Visit Aqaba’s Wrecks of Aqaba brochure (29°28.328′ N, 34°58.458′ E). Confirm the boat programme and depth profile. Coordinate source.
2. Underwater Military Museum	29.445281° N, 34.968450° E	An area containing several vehicles, distinct from the shallow M42 Tank. Coordinate source.
3. Cedar Pride	29.430867° N, 34.972917° E	Wreck reference from the Visit Aqaba brochure; not a shore-entry point. Coordinate source.
4. Japanese Garden	29.429740° N, 34.973690° E	Reef reference south of Cedar Pride. Coordinate source.
5. The Tank (M42 Duster)	29.419383° N, 34.972117° E	The individual shallow vehicle, not the larger Military Museum. Coordinate source.
6. C-130 Hercules	29.418500° N, 34.971633° E	Aircraft wreck damaged in 2020; older films show its earlier appearance. Coordinate source.

How to dive Aqaba?

Choose between shore diving and a day boat around the sites and pace you want. A South Beach base can keep the land transfer short; a town hotel offers more choice after diving but makes the pickup arrangement important. Ask your hotel which centre runs the activity and what is actually included.

Not all dive centres have the same equipment, facilities or procedures. Ask about guide-to-diver ratios, emergency oxygen, communications, equipment servicing and the site plan; a cheap or expensive price alone does not establish quality. Use a licensed local centre and confirm the reserve’s current access and guiding requirements for your outing.

A dated price example

Sea Star’s published schedule, checked 30 October 2026, lists a daytime shore dive at JOD 25 with an 11-litre cylinder and weights, or JOD 36 with full equipment. Its JOD 35 boat charge is a per-person, per-day supplement, not a complete diving-day fare. Ask for a total covering the number of dives, guide, transfers, extras and any fees. The centre also lists a JOD 20 refresher supplement after a gap of 12 months; that is its own condition, not a universal Jordan rule.

Aqaba is normally a land-stay/day-diving choice. An Egyptian Red Sea cruise listing does not demonstrate an Aqaba departure; check the country, port and international travel requirements before comparing those holidays.

Where to stay?

I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Aqaba as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.

Best time to dive in Aqaba

Aqaba offers year-round diving when conditions and access permit. Autumn can combine warm water with less intense land heat, while cooler months can be appealing for a trip that also includes Petra and Wadi Rum.

Deep Blue’s local guide describes roughly 23–27°C water in the warmer May–September period, falling towards about 21°C in cooler months. Ask about recent temperatures and your planned number of dives when choosing a suit. Wind or plankton can reduce visibility; a deeper descent is not a reason to exceed the agreed profile.

Dive courses

Local centres offer introductory experiences, certification courses and further training. Completing suitable theory online before arrival can leave more holiday time for practical work, but it does not shorten the skills you need to demonstrate.

Compare the full course quote: instructor time and language, group size, equipment, learning materials, certification, transport and any medical requirements. Sea Star’s detailed schedule lists several courses as price on request, so obtain a written current quote for your course dates and inclusions. Arrange specialist wreck or technical training separately; a recreational tour is not a substitute.

Scuba Diving conditions

Access: reefs often slope down from shore, but not every entry remains open or suits a long swim. Confirm the beach, boat and exit plan for the day.

Current and visibility: sheltered conditions are part of Aqaba’s appeal, though current and visibility still vary. Deep Blue’s conditions guide gives a broad weather-dependent visibility range of 5–40 m, illustrating why a daily briefing matters.

Depth: choose the actual profile within your qualification. Some sites extend beyond recreational limits, so their deepest point need not form part of your dive.

Snorkelling in Aqaba

Travelling with a non-diver?

Shallow reef sections make snorkelling a realistic alternative, but confirm the access route, current and boat traffic with the operator. Japanese Garden is one option highlighted by Jordan Tourism Board. A shallow-looking reef should not lead to an unplanned long swim from shore.

Sea Star welcomes non-divers and children at Club Murjan and on its boat. Companions can swim or snorkel while divers are underwater; the club also has a pool and restaurant. Agree the outing’s supervision and swimming requirements when booking, especially for children.

Sea Star’s tariff lists Club Murjan snorkelling at JOD 16 including equipment and club entry, and a boat-snorkelling trip at JOD 35 including equipment, lunch and one soft drink. A snorkel guide is listed separately at JOD 20 per hour per person. These published prices were checked 30 October 2026; confirm duration, age and swimming conditions, transfers and the final total. They establish specific snorkelling options, not free companion places on every dive boat.

For another operator’s guided boat package with city-hotel transfers included, see the Aqaba travel guide. A land stay also leaves companions free to choose a beach day or a separately arranged land excursion.

Fishes and Coral

The original reviewer, Suzie Conway, particularly valued Aqaba’s smaller marine life: shrimps, nudibranchs, pipefish and frogfish make a slow reef dive rewarding for photographers. Treat those observations as possibilities rather than a checklist promised at every site.

Coral gardens and the growth on older artificial reefs offer a different experience from the newer aircraft and vehicle displays. Keep clear of living surfaces, do not collect souvenirs or feed fish, and follow mooring and entry rules. Rays, turtles and other larger visitors are bonuses rather than guaranteed encounters.

Diving Safety

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Aqaba, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Aqaba diving questions

Can I dive Aqaba from shore?

Many reef outings are shore-based, while operators also use boats. Confirm current entry access and the exact site rather than assuming every boat dive is an easy shore swim.

Is the Hercules still intact?

No. A 2020 storm damaged and separated major sections. Ask for current site conditions; old photographs may show its earlier appearance.

Is the shallow Tank the Military Museum?

No. The M42 Tank is a separate shallow attraction. The Military Museum contains multiple vehicles across a deeper area.

Is JOD 35 the whole boat-diving price?

In Sea Star’s dive tariff it is a boat supplement per person/day. The separately advertised JOD 35 snorkelling product has different inclusions. Compare written totals.

Can I visit Petra immediately after diving?

Inland routes can involve altitude exposure. Arrange your diving and onward travel with appropriate surface intervals and qualified guidance, including the no-fly interval before departure.

Original review by Suzie Conway from Sea Star WaterSports Aqaba. Operator information checked 24 October 2026.

Photos Aqaba

Travel Guide

Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Aqaba Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.