6 boat dives across Aqaba's premier dive sites (certified divers)
Aqaba Red Sea Diving Snorkeling: Dive and snorkel Aqaba's world-class coral reefs. Private planning and local support included.
Continue planning with our Aqaba destination guide, and consult the official Jordan Tourism Board for current destination information.
Discover the underwater treasures of Aqaba, Jordan’s Red Sea resort city, where crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and fascinating shipwrecks await. Over three days, certified divers complete 6 boat dives across Aqaba’s best sites: the Cedar Pride wreck, Japanese Garden coral wall, Seven Sisters coral pinnacles, and the First Bay house reef. Snorkelers enjoy guided reef tours with equally impressive marine life viewing. A night dive is included for advanced certified divers. Beginners can add a PADI Open Water certification course (2 additional days). All equipment, boat transfers, and marine park fees are included.
This is not a single-day dive trip. Over three days, you explore multiple dive sites including the famous Cedar Pride shipwreck, the vibrant Japanese Garden coral wall, and a night dive for certified divers. The PADI 5-Star dive center provides modern equipment, Nitrox availability, and a dive boat with fresh water showers and sun deck. Snorkelers enjoy equally rich experiences with guided reef tours from the surface. A PADI Open Water certification course can be integrated for beginners (add 2 days). The dive center’s house reef offers unlimited shore diving for certified divers between boat dives.
Key details for planning this private journey experience.
6 boat dives across Aqaba's premier dive sites (certified divers)
Cedar Pride shipwreck dive: 260-foot freighter at 50-80 feet depth
Japanese Garden coral wall: colorful soft corals and macro life
Night dive included for advanced certified divers
Unlimited shore diving on the house reef between boat dives
Guided snorkeling tours for non-divers with equally rich marine life
PADI Open Water certification course available as add-on (2 extra days)
Reef-safe sunscreen and marine conservation briefing included
A simple view of what is covered in this journey and what should be planned separately.
Transfer to the dive center.
Meet your dive team: divemaster and boat crew.
Snorkelers receive mask, fins, and snorkel.
Shallow, easy conditions to adjust equipment and buoyancy. Max depth: 30 feet. Dive time: 45 minutes.
A shallow coral wall (30-50 feet) named for its manicured appearance, with colorful soft corals, clownfish, and macro critters.
15-minute ride to the site. Fresh water, fruit, and tea available on board.
Drift along the coral wall spotting moray eels, lionfish, sea turtles (seasonal), and schools of anthias. Dive time: 50 minutes.
Sun deck and fresh water showers.
Seven coral pinnacles rising from 60 feet to 20 feet, covered in soft corals and home to schools of snapper and fusilier. Dive time: 45 minutes.
Rinse equipment and log dives.
Free evening to explore Aqaba's seaside restaurants and souk.
Equipment setup.
A 260-foot Lebanese freighter deliberately sunk in 1982 as an artificial reef. Resting on her port side at 50-80 feet depth.
20-minute ride to the wreck site.
Swim along the deck, explore the cargo holds, and penetrate the wheelhouse (advanced divers only, with guide). Marine life includes schools of snapper, barracuda, moray eels, and occasional eagle rays. Dive time: 45 minutes.
Fresh fruit and water on board.
A shallow site (20-40 feet) with table corals, brain corals, and gorgonian sea fans. Perfect for photography and slow, observational diving. Dive time: 55 minutes.
Lunch at the dive center.
The house reef has seahorses, frogfish, and cuttlefish.
The dawn light creates spectacular underwater visibility and active marine life.
Final boat dive briefing: Power Station dive site. A sloping reef with hard coral formations and frequent turtle sightings.
Max depth: 60 feet. Dive time: 50 minutes.
Equipment wash and pack.
For non-divers: guided snorkeling on the house reef.
Spot hunting octopus, sleeping parrotfish in mucus cocoons, bioluminescence, and crustaceans. Dive time: 45 minutes.
Farewell lunch at the dive center.
Tour concludes.
Everything important for planning, comfort, access, timing, and on-the-ground expectations.
Start Point: Pickup from King Hussein International Airport (AQJ) or any Aqaba hotel at 10:00 on Day 1. For divers arriving from Amman, a 4-hour transfer can be arranged ($95 per vehicle). For travelers coming directly from Wadi Rum, pickup is at 10:30 (1-hour drive).
End Point: Drop-off at King Hussein International Airport or any Aqaba hotel by 14:30 on Day 3. For travelers continuing to Amman or Petra, onward transfers can be arranged.
Meeting Point: For airport pickups, your driver meets you at the arrivals hall with a Jordan Journey name board. For hotel pickups, the driver meets you at reception. For dive center direct arrivals, check in at the reception desk.
Total: JJ-EXP-034 • 3 Days • 2 Nights
Pace: Easy to Moderate marine-focused program. Diving requires certification and basic water fitness; snorkeling is suitable for confident swimmers.
Guide: Your divemaster is a PADI-certified instructor with 2,000+ logged dives in Aqaba waters. They know every coral head, every fish aggregation point, and every current pattern. They speak Arabic and English. The boat crew includes a captain with 20+ years of Red Sea navigation experience and a deckhand for equipment assistance.
Driver: A Jordan Journey driver handles airport and hotel transfers in Aqaba. The driver does not participate in diving activities but ensures punctual transfers.
Vehicle: Air-conditioned sedan or van for Aqaba transfers. The dive boat is a 35-foot custom dive vessel with sun deck, fresh water showers, toilet, and first aid kit.
2 nights at a 4-star beachfront hotel in Aqaba (Tala Bay or city center). Rooms are king or twin with en-suite bathroom, balcony, air conditioning, mini-bar, and WiFi. The hotel has a private beach, swimming pool, and on-site restaurant. Half-board (breakfast and dinner included). Beachfront location provides immediate access to the shore and dive center.
Breakfast (buffet at the hotel), dinner (hotel restaurant or local seafood restaurant). Lunch is not included on Days 2 and 3: the dive center offers fresh lunches ($15) or you can explore Aqaba’s restaurants. Meals feature fresh seafood, Jordanian cuisine, and international options. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Alcohol is available for purchase at the hotel bar.
Physical Rating: Easy to Moderate. Diving requires basic fitness and comfort in water. You must be able to swim 200 yards and float for 10 minutes. Snorkeling requires basic swimming ability. The boat has stairs and a platform for easy water entry and exit. Not suitable for pregnant women, people with ear/sinus problems, or those with heart/respiratory conditions. A medical questionnaire (PADI standard) must be completed before diving.
Age Requirements: Minimum age: 8 years for snorkeling, 12 years for diving (Junior Open Water certification required for 12-14 year olds). There is no maximum age limit, but divers over 50 must provide a medical clearance from their physician.
Group Size: Maximum 8 divers/snorkelers per boat. Minimum 2 to operate. For larger groups, multiple boats are used.
Diver Package: 5-6 boat dives, full equipment, divemaster guidance. Snorkeler Package: guided snorkeling on all dive sites from the surface, full snorkeling equipment. Mixed Group: averaged pricing when divers and snorkelers travel together (divers pay slightly less, snorkelers slightly more to balance). PADI Open Water certification add-on: $395, requires 2 additional days (total 5 days). Advanced Open Water add-on: $345, 1 additional day. Nitrox specialty: $195, 1 additional day. Single supplement: $45/night. Children 8-11 can snorkel only (40% discount). Children 12+ can dive with Junior Open Water certification.
| Traveler Type | Diver Package | Snorkeler Package | Mixed Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per person (2 pax) | From $545 | From $395 | From $495 avg |
| Per person (3-4 pax) | From $465 | From $325 | From $395 avg |
| Per person (5-6 pax) | From $395 | From $265 | From $325 avg |
Aqaba is warm and sunny year-round. Summer (June-August): air 95-110°F, water 82-88°F. Winter (December-February): air 68-78°F, water 72-76°F. Spring and autumn: ideal air 78-90°F, water 76-82°F. Visibility averages 80-100 feet year-round, best March-June and September-December. Rain is extremely rare. Wind can affect boat dives 5-10 days per year: shore dives substitute.
March through June and September through December offer ideal water temperatures (76-82°F) and visibility (100+ feet). July-August is hot above water but the water is warmest (82-88°F). January-February has the coolest water (72-76°F) but the best visibility and fewest crowds. Marine life is abundant year-round. Book 14-30 days in advance.
A 25% deposit confirms your booking. Balance due 14 days before arrival. Cancellations more than 30 days before receive full refund minus $15 processing fee. Cancellations 14-30 days before receive 50% refund. Cancellations less than 14 days are non-refundable but transferable. No-shows charged in full. Dive cancellations due to weather receive credit for future dives or a pro-rata refund.
This is not a single-day dive trip. Over three days, you explore multiple dive sites including the famous Cedar Pride shipwreck, the vibrant Japanese Garden coral wall, and a night dive for certified divers. The PADI 5-Star dive center provides modern equipment, Nitrox availability, and a dive boat with fresh water showers and sun deck. Snorkelers enjoy equally rich experiences with guided reef tours from the surface. A PADI Open Water certification course can be integrated for beginners (add 2 days). The dive center’s house reef offers unlimited shore diving for certified divers between boat dives.
The dive center is a certified Green Fins operator, following strict environmental protocols: no touching coral, no feeding fish, no anchoring on reefs. A $10 marine conservation fee from each booking supports the Aqaba Marine Park coral restoration project and mooring buoy maintenance. All sunscreen provided is reef-safe (zinc oxide based). The dive center participates in monthly underwater cleanup dives and citizen science coral monitoring.
Physical Rating: Easy to Moderate. Diving requires basic fitness and comfort in water. You must be able to swim 200 yards and float for 10 minutes. Snorkeling requires basic swimming ability. The boat has stairs and a platform for easy water entry and exit. Not suitable for pregnant women, people with ear/sinus problems, or those with heart/respiratory conditions. A medical questionnaire (PADI standard) must be completed before diving.
Age Requirements: Minimum age: 8 years for snorkeling, 12 years for diving (Junior Open Water certification required for 12-14 year olds). There is no maximum age limit, but divers over 50 must provide a medical clearance from their physician.
Group Size: Maximum 8 divers/snorkelers per boat. Minimum 2 to operate. For larger groups, multiple boats are used.
Safety Protocols: All dives follow PADI safety protocols: maximum depth limits, no-decompression limits, safety stops, and dive computer use. The dive center maintains emergency oxygen and an AED on the boat and at the center. The nearest hyperbaric chamber is at Aqaba Islamic Hospital (10 minutes). All divemasters are rescue diver certified and trained in emergency first response. Divers must complete a medical questionnaire before diving.
Emergency Contact: Jordan Journey 24/7 hotline: +962-XXX-XXXX. Dive center emergency: +962-XXX-XXXX (staffed during operating hours). Aqaba Islamic Hospital: +962-XXX-XXXX (hyperbaric chamber available). Coast Guard: +962-XXX-XXXX. All boats carry VHF radios and emergency oxygen.
Insurance Requirements: Dive-specific travel insurance is MANDATORY. Your policy must cover scuba diving to 100 feet, hyperbaric treatment, and emergency medical evacuation. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) or World Nomads. Proof of insurance is required before diving. Jordan Journey does not provide insurance.
Useful labels that help compare this journey with other Jordan Journey experiences.
Clear answers before you reserve your journey.
Certified divers can join all boat dives immediately. Non-certified divers have two options: (1) snorkel on all sites (excellent marine life viewing from the surface), or (2) add a PADI Open Water certification course ($395, 2 extra days). The course includes theory, pool sessions, and 4 open water dives. Upon completion, you are certified for life and can join all dives.
Aqaba's reefs host 1,000+ fish species and 200+ coral species. Common sightings: clownfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, moray eels, lionfish, sea turtles (April-October), barracuda, snapper, and eagle rays. Macro life includes nudibranchs, seahorses, frogfish, and shrimp. The Cedar Pride wreck attracts schooling fish and predators. Every dive is different: your divemaster knows the best spots for specific species.
Summer (June-August): 82-88°F (3mm shorty or skin only). Winter (December-February): 72-76°F (5mm full suit provided). Spring/Autumn: 76-82°F (3mm shorty sufficient). All wetsuits are provided as part of your package. If you run cold, request a 5mm suit or hooded vest.
Yes. The night dive takes place on the house reef (maximum depth 40 feet) in a controlled environment. Each diver carries two torches (primary and backup). The divemaster leads the dive with a marker light. Maximum group size: 4 divers per guide. The dive center has emergency protocols specific to night diving including shore-based support with torches and radios. Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent experience is required for the night dive.
Yes, non-divers are welcome on the dive boat. They can sunbathe on the deck, swim, or snorkel on the dive sites while divers are underwater. The boat has fresh water showers, fruit, and tea. Snorkelers see the same coral reefs from the surface: the sites are shallow enough for excellent surface viewing.
If it has been more than 12 months since your last dive, the divemaster conducts a refresher session during the house reef check dive. This covers equipment setup, buoyancy, emergency procedures, and underwater communication. If you feel rusty after the check dive, the divemaster provides additional coaching on the first boat dive. There is no charge for the refresher: your safety and comfort are the priority.
The Red Sea has very few dangerous marine animals. Stonefish are the primary hazard: they camouflage against the reef and have venomous spines. Your divemaster points them out and teaches you to identify them. Sharks are extremely rare in Aqaba and pose no threat to divers. Jellyfish stings are occasional in summer: the dive center carries vinegar and antihistamine. The biggest risk is sunburn: use reef-safe sunscreen.
You must wait at least 18 hours after your last dive before flying. If your last dive is at 11:00 on Day 3, your earliest flight is 05:00 on Day 4. If you have an earlier flight, we can adjust the schedule to finish diving by the previous evening. Inform your travel advisor of your flight details when booking so we can plan accordingly.
