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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Jeddah Reefs location page.
Overview
Abu Madafi is an offshore reef about 30 minutes by boat north of Jeddah, and its signature dive is the Boiler Wreck, a steamer that has lain here so long that little remains beyond a section of the stern and the two heavy iron boilers it is named for, now thickly crusted in hard and soft coral. The wreckage rests in 4 to 20 meters on a reef pierced by a network of caves and narrow passages where shafts of sunlight cut through openings overhead, and a coral wall drops away alongside into deeper water. Moderate current pulls in whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, great barracuda, dogtooth tuna and jacks, with reef mantas passing through in the cooler months. It is the most dived site in Jeddah and an approachable introduction to Saudi Red Sea diving.
Briefing note
Boat dive on an open reef with moderate current, so it suits divers comfortable with mild drift. Several wrecks lie on Abu Madafi besides the Boiler Wreck, including the Old Coaster and the Pipe Wreck, and the reef is riddled with caves and passages that reward good buoyancy and a torch. Coordinates are approximate for an offshore reef reached by boat from Obhur. Diving in Saudi Arabia is arranged through licensed local operators.
What you'll see
6 species curated- year-roundWhitetip reef shark
- year-roundBlacktip reef shark
- year-roundGreat barracuda
- year-roundBluefin trevally
- year-roundDogtooth tuna
- seasonalReef manta rayPeak: Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24–27 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Feb | 24–26 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Mar | 24–27 °C | 18–28 m | moderate |
| Apr | 25–28 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| May | 27–30 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Jun | 29–31 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Jul | 30–32 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Aug | 30–32 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Sep | 30–32 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Oct | 28–31 °C | 18–28 m | moderate |
| Nov | 27–29 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Dec | 25–28 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
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