   |
. |
 |
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the longest coastline
on the Red Sea - over 79% of the sea's eastern
shoreline - and a wealth of diving possibilities. From the
Jordanian border on the northern Gulf of Aqaba to the Yemeni
border in the far south, there are probably as many reefs in
Saudi waters as the rest of the Red Sea combined.
Water quality varies somewhat, given the extensive
length of the coastline. In general, the northern and central
reefs offer similar visibility to that found on the opposite
coast.
|
With water so clear and sunlight so bright that it penetrates
to considerable depth, reef-building corals can be found at
greater depths in the Red Sea than in almost any other area.
Reef quality all along the Saudi coast is excellent, with
little damage from industry or construction, and of course
none whatsoever from over-diving.
 Fish distribution is similar
to that of the western Red Sea coast, with all the familiar
Red Sea reef fishes represented, including grouper, wrasse,
parrot fish, surgeons fish, triggerfish, angel, and butterfly fish.
There are also considerable numbers of pelagic fish: jacks,
tuna, Spanish mackerel, and barracuda are all reported, and
many of these species have substantial breeding grounds in
Saudi waters. The area also supports several shark species,
both reef and openwater, and of course, every diver's dream -
whale sharks.
Very little commercial
fishing has been done by the Saudis. There is a fair amount of
small-scale local fishing with handlines or small nets, but
almost no large-scale exploitation of fish stocks. This is a
happy state of affairs for divers, since it leaves large
stocks of reef and pelagic fishes undisturbed for you to
enjoy.
 With limited dive tourism,
diving areas in Saudi Arabia are relatively unexplored. The
more remote regions, in particular, are very seldom dived.
Most organized diving is done in the area around Jeddah since
most dive operations are based here, as the best dive sites
are off the coast and accessible only by boat. Some of the
reefs dived in this area are Shib al Kabir, Abu Faramish,
Mismari Reef, and Abu Madafi. These sites are mostly unspoiled
and are all well known to our experienced captains.
There are sites suitable for everyone,
from the novice to the experienced diver, and off the coast of
Jeddah are also many fascinating shipwrecks to explore. There
are many other reefs in this area that await exploration by
recreational divers, and a big part of the pleasure of diving
here is the possibility of discovering virgin
sites.
The sea temperatures range from
lows of 25 degrees C (77 degrees F) in winter to over 35 degrees C (95 degrees F)
in summer. In Jeddah the average air temperature range in January
is 20 degrees to 29 degrees C (66 degrees to 84 degrees F) and in July the range is 30 degrees to 37 degrees C (79 degrees
to 99 degrees F). Precipitation is sparse throughout the country.
Annual rainfall in Jeddah averages 61mm (2.4 in) and occurs
between November and January. Because of the general aridity,
Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers or lakes.
 Saudi Arabia still
remains a very conservative country and is very cautious about
opening up to visitors. Restrictions remain on alcohol and
Westerners, both male and female, are required to adhere to
Saudi Arabia's standards of legal morality in dress, demeanor and
behavior in public. Standards of accommodation and meals are
very high and it is a very fascinating country to visit, but
you must be prepared to conform to the Saudi way of life
during your stay. Expect great diving, but be prepared for a
shopping trip to the souks, or the many new and luxurious shopping malls - or an early
night! |
|
. |
 |
|
 | |
