Dive sites in Saudi Arabia

The Farasan Islands are located approximately 40 kilometres offshore from Jizan in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Access for diving is typically via liveaboard from Jizan or Jeddah. A public ferry connects Jizan to Farasan Island for general visitors, but reaching the best dive sites on the outer islands and banks requires a liveaboard or dedicated dive charter. The diving infrastructure is developing but still limited compared to northern Red Sea destinations.

The Farasan Banks represent one of the last genuinely unexplored reef systems in the Red Sea. The archipelago comprises roughly 170 islands with a vast system of submerged banks, pinnacles, and walls. Because commercial fishing is limited and recreational diving has been minimal, the reefs are in extraordinarily pristine condition. Visibility regularly exceeds 30 metres, and encounters with large marine life including manta rays and whale sharks are common.

October through April offers the best conditions, with comfortable water temperatures between 24 and 29 degrees, calm seas, and excellent visibility. Summer months from May to September bring higher water temperatures and can have reduced visibility. The monsoon season can also make sea conditions rougher for boat travel to the outer islands.

The Boiler Wreck is the remains of an unidentified coal-fired ship estimated to be around 100 years old, located on Abu Madafi reef approximately 10 kilometres north of the Jeddah coast. Little of the original ship remains intact beyond the two large boilers that give the site its name. The rest of the vessel has been consumed by coral growth and the passage of time, creating a unique hybrid wreck-and-reef dive.

The surrounding reef features a series of caves and swim-throughs that penetrate the shallows in four directions. These caves are the site's most atmospheric feature, with small openings in the reef above allowing shafts of sunlight to penetrate like natural spotlights, creating extraordinary light effects. The cave walls are covered in bizarre coral formations, and the interplay of light and shadow makes this a favourite site for underwater photographers.