Jordan Underwater Photo Sites (2)

• FIRST BAY: Situated next
  to the Marine Science Station, this a shallow fringing reef with very prolific
  coral and fish life, the reef starts at 2m/6’ and extends down to 30-40m and
  beyond. There is a small area of upwelling that attracts shoaling fish. Sea
  bass, shoals of fusiliers, schools of squid and octopus are common making this
  an excellent site for photographers. This is a more advanced dive
  site.



• BLACK ROCK: This site provides very easy access and is ideal for
  snorkelers and anyone who is new to the area, as a coral garden starts just
  below the surface and extends outwards for approximately 30m when it drops away
  steeply. The reef is prolific with a wide range of fish and is regularly visited
  by turtles.



• GORGONE ONE: This is a relatively shallow site, generally (10m) though
  is named after a large gorgonian fan coral which is at 16mtrs. This site has
  splendid examples of massive coral formations, including a 'lettuce coral' the
  size of a small house. There are lots of rock pinnacles smothered in fish life,
  with a large range of both hard and soft corals covered in Lionfish which gather in huge numbers to hunt for fry. This site is a photographer’s paradise and an
  ideal site for second dives.



• EEL CANYON: This site is aptly named and provides a dramatic dive with
  lots of variation in invert life, it has the advantage of lots of large coral
  outcrops that offer a variation in depth and contour.



• BLUE CORAL: Fingers of coral extending at right angles to the coast.
  Covered with a profusion of fish and coral life. You also will not have to look
  very hard to discover the abundance of small, gray morays. This site also has
  the rare fluorescent anemones, but be warned they look muddy brown if
  photographed with a strobe.



• SAUDI BORDER: (The Drop Off) This site is so called because it is just
  that, you could swim into Saudi Arabia from here, but don't try it! The top of
  the reef starts at 5m/15’ with patch reef and the reef top itself extends
  approx. 30-40m/100-120’ seaward at a depth of 10-20m. At this point a wall of
  living coral drops down to 50m and beyond. There are small caverns at 30m and
  large plate corals abound. At around 40m a large Grouper is to be found hiding
  behind a rock pinnacle. Along the reef edge it is common to see turtles. The
  sand is home to some large rays and deep water shoaling fish, such as Jack and
  Tuna can be seen.



• POWER STATION: Here the reef drops from the surface to 5M/15’ then
  slopes to 12M/36’ before dropping vertically to 200M/320’ in a sheer wall.
  Swimming along the edge of the wall offers spectacular views and large pelagic
  species make this their hunting ground. Soft corals abound as nutrient rich
  waters gently flow along the wall. This dive requires good buoyancy control and
  offers some spectacular coral outcrops with huge numbers of fish. The dive can
  be completed in shallow water between 12 and 5 M, where an abundance of varied
  hard corals each with its attendant species, keep divers entertained.



• PARADISE: A gentle slope with patch corals leads to a pinnacle and cave
  at the edge of a wall in 30M/100’. Working back up to the south we encounter
  soft coral gardens at 10-15M/30-45’. Stingrays and eagle rays are common in
  this area.



• OLIVERS CANYON: Swim out to 12M/36’ where the reef starts with a gully
  dropping down to 30M. The top of the reef is covered in table corals, where
  Scorpion, Stone and Crocodile fish abound.

Don’t Miss…

The ancient city of Petra about two hours North of Aqaba.

more info...

The Cedar Pride is a Lebanese freighter sunk in 1986 at the wishes of
Prince Abdulha, King Hussain's son as an attraction for divers. She lies 150m
offshore and is approx. 80m long by 20m wide. Lying on her port side across two
reefs in a depth of 12-27m. It is possible to pass under the hull of the ship,
which lays across two reefs. She has been rapidly colonized by soft corals and
is home to several large sea bass, Grouper can often be spotted and she is also
patrolled by a shoal of barracuda!

Between the wreck and the shore and just off the starboard bow lies a reef
called Osama's Reef This has nothing to do with Bin Laden! The reef
slopes downward from 10m to 24m with a drop off on one side. Here can be found a
profuse and wide range of corals and fish life, including larger pelagic species
that approach the reef to feed. This site can be combined with the wreck, but
there is rarely time to explore more than a fraction of the reef and so this
site is worthy of a visit of its own.

more info...