Private Red Sea Guided Scuba Dive in Aqaba

The Red Sea at Aqaba

Aqaba is Jordan's only coastal city, set at the northern tip of the Red Sea on the Gulf of Aqaba. Its short coastline is lined with fringing reefs that start just a few metres from the shore, so dive sites are close, sheltered and quick to reach. The water is calm on most days, visibility is often better than 20 metres, and the reefs shelter hard and soft corals, parrotfish, angelfish, lionfish, moray eels and, with luck, turtles.

Is diving in Aqaba worth it if you have never tried? Many people take their first breath underwater here precisely because conditions are so gentle. A private Red Sea dive in Aqaba lets your guides adapt every minute to you, rather than to a large group of mixed levels.

Aqaba Marine Park and the Japanese Garden

South of the city centre, the Aqaba Marine Park protects a stretch of coastline and its reefs, with moorings and rules that keep the coral healthy. It holds most of the well-known dive sites, from sloping coral gardens to deeper walls, and it is where our dives usually take place.

One of its best-loved sites is the Japanese Garden, named for its neat, colourful coral formations. The reef begins in shallow water and drops gently, so beginners can enjoy it at easy depths while experienced divers follow the slope deeper. Expect soft corals in pink and purple, clouds of small reef fish and anemones with clownfish. Your guides choose the two sites for your session based on your level, the current and the visibility on the day.

The Cedar Pride wreck

The Cedar Pride is Aqaba's most famous wreck. The cargo ship was damaged by fire in 1982 and later sunk deliberately close to the shore in 1985 to create an artificial reef. It now lies on its side between about 7 and 28 metres deep, its masts and hull covered in soft corals, sponges and fish.

Because its shallowest parts are close to the surface, the wreck can be seen by many levels of diver, while certified divers with the right experience can explore the deeper sections with their guide. Whether the Cedar Pride is one of your two sites depends on your training and the day's conditions; your guides will tell you during the briefing which sites suit you best.

Your private dive: beginners and certified divers

Aqaba diving for beginners starts on land with a clear briefing on breathing, equalising your ears and simple hand signals, then a calm entry and practice in shallow water before you explore the reef with a guide at your side. Certified divers go through a shorter briefing and can enjoy more freedom within their training limits.

Everything is supplied: scuba equipment, wetsuit and your own guides, who stay with your party only. They also carry a camera, so you can focus on the reef while they record the moment, and your photos and videos are colour-corrected and sent to you digitally afterwards. Food and hotel transfers are not included, so plan a meal before or after your session.

Best time to dive in Aqaba and how to get to the meeting point

Aqaba can be dived all year. The best time to dive in Aqaba for warm water is from June to November, when the sea is usually around 25 to 28 degrees Celsius; in winter it stays around 21 degrees, with fewer people and excellent visibility. Morning sessions tend to be calmest, while afternoon sessions give softer light on the shore.

The meeting point is on Aqaba's southern coast, at the location shared with you after booking. A taxi from the city centre takes about 15 minutes, and from the hotels of the south coast it is a short drive. Arrive 15 minutes early so there is time to change and complete the briefing without rushing.