Cedar Pride - Aqaba
The Cedar Pride is one of those wrecks that just gets better every time we visit. Sunk deliberately back in 1985, this cargo ship now lies split in two, making for some dramatic swim-throughs and interesting angles as you explore. We love finning along the main deck, watching schools of crescent grunters drift past, or poking into the cargo holds where the light filters down, revealing starflower coral clinging to the steel. What makes it a standout for us is how completely the marine life has embraced it. Lionfish always seem to be lurking in the shadows, and you’ll spot Arabian blennies peeking out from every crevice. We’d suggest focusing on the mid-section where the ship broke – it’s a brilliant spot for macro, with tiny nudibranchs and small giant clams tucked into the nooks. Currents here are usually gentle, making it a relaxed dive for anyone comfortable with wrecks.
- Location
- Aqaba, Jordan, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 29.521667, 34.988335
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: محمية العقبة البحرية
Best Time to Dive in Aqaba
The warmest water temperatures in Aqaba 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
- Canyon Dekel South - קניון חוף הדקל - 22m (cave)
- Katza Eilat קצאא אילת - 18m
- Marina Divers
- Migdalor Beach חוף המגדלור - 14m
- Mosh Beach, Eilat - החוף של מוש - 16m
- Neptune Table - שולחנות נפטון - 23m
- Power Station, Aqaba - 23m
- Pyramid - פרמידה - 23m (pinnacle)
- Sun boat and amphibian vehicles סנבואט והכלים האמפיביים - 17m (wreck)
- Tamar Eilat - שונית תמר - 11m (reef)
- The Border Line, Eilat - מעבר גבול - 15m
- The Protected Area - השמורה - 14m (reef)
- Three Sisters - שלושת האחיות - 15m
- Tristar - 23m (wreck)
- Veronica - וורוניקה - 12m
Nearest Dive Centres to Cedar Pride
- AHLA - ["PADI"]
- Aqaba Leaders Dive Center
- Aquatic World - ["PADI"]
- Arab Divers - PADI
- AVIDAG
- DIVERS VILLAGE
Marine Life in Aqaba
Home to 70 recorded species including 40 reef fish, 15 hard corals, 4 whales & dolphins, 2 clams & mussels, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 crabs & lobsters.
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
- Spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Cleaner Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Blacktail Butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus) - Reef Fish
- Diagonal Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Humpbacked conch (Gibberulus gibberulus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Yellowtail Surgeonfish (Zebrasoma xanthurum) - Reef Fish
- scad (Priacanthus hamrur) - Reef Fish
- Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora verrucosa) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Cedar Pride
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