Cedar Pride Shipwreck - Aqaba Marine Park

The Cedar Pride, scuttled back in 1985, is a proper ship. It’s not some half-broken shell but a complete wreck, split into two distinct halves by a winter storm years ago. We love how the two sections create different exploration routes, almost like two separate dives. The bow sits shallower, starting around 10 meters, easily accessible for most divers. Here, schools of Yellowstriped Cardinalfish hang in the cargo holds, and we often spot Arabian Blennies peeking from crevices in the ship's superstructure. The stern section, a little deeper at 24-26 meters, is where we often find the larger resident fish, like hefty Marbled Spinefoot. Look closely at the deck plating for native oysters. There’s a wonderful contrast between the corroded steel and the thriving corals, especially the yellow scroll and staghorn colonies that have really taken hold. We’ve even seen Peacock Wrasse darting through the engine room access. To really get a feel for the scale, drop down to the sand and look up at the full profile; it’s a striking sight. The absence of strong currents generally makes for a relaxed dive, allowing ample time to explore both halves. It’s perfect for divers who appreciate a wreck with a story and plenty of nooks to investigate.

Location: Aqaba Marine Park, Jordan, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 29.431067, 34.973160
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: محمية العقبة البحرية

Best Time to Dive in Aqaba Marine Park

The warmest water temperatures in Aqaba Marine Park occur in August, averaging 27.2°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 20.5°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 21.9°C
February: 20.9°C
March: 20.5°C
April: 20.9°C
May: 22.7°C
June: 24.5°C
July: 25.8°C
August: 27.2°C
September: 26.7°C
October: 25.5°C
November: 24.5°C
December: 23.2°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Aqaba Marine Park

Nearest Dive Centres to Cedar Pride Shipwreck

Marine Life in Aqaba Marine Park

Home to 64 recorded species including 31 reef fish, 16 hard corals, 4 whales & dolphins, 2 clams & mussels, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
Lesser valley coral (Platygyra lamellina) - Hard Corals
Fluorescence grass coral (Galaxea fascicularis) - Hard Corals
Red lionfish (Pterois miles) - Reef Fish
Staghorn coral (Acropora eurystoma) - Hard Corals
Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus) - Whales & Dolphins
Rock Cod (Epinephelus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
Snakefish (Trachinocephalus myops) - Reef Fish
Starflower coral (Astreopora myriophthalma) - Hard Corals
Klunzinger's wrasse (Thalassoma rueppellii) - Reef Fish
Red Squirrelfish (Sargocentron diadema) - Reef Fish
Staghorn coral (Acropora pharaonis) - Hard Corals
Banded Cleaner Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) - Crabs & Lobsters
Spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) - Reef Fish
Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
Blacktail Butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus) - Reef Fish
Diagonal Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) - Reef Fish
Humpbacked conch (Gibberulus gibberulus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
scad (Priacanthus hamrur) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Cedar Pride Shipwreck

Based on average water temperature of 23.7°C, currents 4 cm/s.

Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 24°C water
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories