We (My buddy and I) spent an extended weekend in Aqaba.
It was our first time in this side of the gulf, so we did not know what to expect.
We talked by phone and emails with Diveaqaba and Royal Dive Club. Both were really nice and friendly. The first is located in town, and offers only boat diving. The latter is close to the Saudian border, in the "Coral bay" hotel resort and offers shore dives. We chose RDC, merely for convenience reasons. The club is highly recommended- they did everything to make us a pleasant stay, let us dive in our own pace (with lots of patience- we take bottom time to the limits ) and had a fast and adequate solution for every logistical problem that could have risen. They have a nice area for organizing the gear, rinsing pool with lots of drying space, deep pool (4m) for training, showers, lockers etc.
In the evening we paid a visit to DiveAqaba club and they are a very nice place and staff too! I think it is hard to chose which is better. DA have Nitrox compressor, RDC have the compressor installed- but it is not operational yet...
We had less than three days, so we had only a brief "tasting" on what Aqaba can offer. First day we arrived quite late, so we dove the house reef- "Coral bay" and "Aquarium". The first consists of several coral slopes in between of sandy/grassed patches. Similar to Taba's "Black Coral". Nice, but not mind-boggler Lots schooling angelfish.
The second was much more interesting in terms of coral abundance, colors, amonut of fish etc. Met a cute turtle too.
Next day we went to the Saudi border- a very nice wall, with huge amounts of Elephant's ear corals, excellent visibility (several dozens of meters!). Thousands of types damsels and other reef fishes. Second dive to the "New Canyon" and AA Tank. Nice reef topography with lots of pinnacles creating a real maze. Nice night dive at the "Aquarium"- scores of Loligo Squid, Octopi, an Electric Ray etc etc.
Last day- the "Cedar pride" wreck. Quite nice, with lots of corals on masts, cranes etc. Easy penetration to the bridge and cargo compartments, clean. One can also dive through a small valley underneath the hull. There is a small ferry sunken deeper near the stern, and the reef nearby is quite rich- saw several filefish and two humpehead wrasses ("Napoleon") one quite big and the second smaller. They circled one the other and the bigger fish opened is full gaping mouth- don't know if it was territorial fight or male/female courting.
Second dive to "Gorgonia I" site. I love Gorgonias, so I am prejudiced but the site has a really nice entry thorugh a maze starting in a shallow lagune, and one of the nicest/weird topography I have ever seen- craters, hills, valleys, pinnacles, and hoardes of soft coral, cabbage corals, elephant ears and lots of reef fish- all in a relatively shallow area make it an excellent dive.
Crossing the border from Israel took less than 30 minutes in each direction- fast and easy. People in Jordan are very nice, food was excellent, the town is big but relaxed and over all it was a very pleasent weekend. Definitely going to pay a visit more often :14:
We spontaneously decided to do the next planned trip in a couple of weeks- to Dahab :10:
It was our first time in this side of the gulf, so we did not know what to expect.
We talked by phone and emails with Diveaqaba and Royal Dive Club. Both were really nice and friendly. The first is located in town, and offers only boat diving. The latter is close to the Saudian border, in the "Coral bay" hotel resort and offers shore dives. We chose RDC, merely for convenience reasons. The club is highly recommended- they did everything to make us a pleasant stay, let us dive in our own pace (with lots of patience- we take bottom time to the limits ) and had a fast and adequate solution for every logistical problem that could have risen. They have a nice area for organizing the gear, rinsing pool with lots of drying space, deep pool (4m) for training, showers, lockers etc.
In the evening we paid a visit to DiveAqaba club and they are a very nice place and staff too! I think it is hard to chose which is better. DA have Nitrox compressor, RDC have the compressor installed- but it is not operational yet...
We had less than three days, so we had only a brief "tasting" on what Aqaba can offer. First day we arrived quite late, so we dove the house reef- "Coral bay" and "Aquarium". The first consists of several coral slopes in between of sandy/grassed patches. Similar to Taba's "Black Coral". Nice, but not mind-boggler Lots schooling angelfish.
The second was much more interesting in terms of coral abundance, colors, amonut of fish etc. Met a cute turtle too.
Next day we went to the Saudi border- a very nice wall, with huge amounts of Elephant's ear corals, excellent visibility (several dozens of meters!). Thousands of types damsels and other reef fishes. Second dive to the "New Canyon" and AA Tank. Nice reef topography with lots of pinnacles creating a real maze. Nice night dive at the "Aquarium"- scores of Loligo Squid, Octopi, an Electric Ray etc etc.
Last day- the "Cedar pride" wreck. Quite nice, with lots of corals on masts, cranes etc. Easy penetration to the bridge and cargo compartments, clean. One can also dive through a small valley underneath the hull. There is a small ferry sunken deeper near the stern, and the reef nearby is quite rich- saw several filefish and two humpehead wrasses ("Napoleon") one quite big and the second smaller. They circled one the other and the bigger fish opened is full gaping mouth- don't know if it was territorial fight or male/female courting.
Second dive to "Gorgonia I" site. I love Gorgonias, so I am prejudiced but the site has a really nice entry thorugh a maze starting in a shallow lagune, and one of the nicest/weird topography I have ever seen- craters, hills, valleys, pinnacles, and hoardes of soft coral, cabbage corals, elephant ears and lots of reef fish- all in a relatively shallow area make it an excellent dive.
Crossing the border from Israel took less than 30 minutes in each direction- fast and easy. People in Jordan are very nice, food was excellent, the town is big but relaxed and over all it was a very pleasent weekend. Definitely going to pay a visit more often :14:
We spontaneously decided to do the next planned trip in a couple of weeks- to Dahab :10: