AGIA VARVARA - Jeddah

The Agia Varvara, a carrier vessel, settled upright at a shallow 11 meters, making it one of our favourite wreck dives in the Jeddah area. We love how accessible this wreck is, even for newer divers, but don’t mistake "accessible" for "boring." At 152 meters long, there’s plenty to explore. We usually kick off over the bow, where the superstructure still looms large, a ghost ship shape against the sun. Inside the bridge, you’ll often find schools of snapper darting through what used to be the command centre. Heading aft, the cargo holds are open invitations, letting in shafts of light that illuminate giant morays peeking from the shadows. The sheer scale of the Agia Varvara is what really gets us; you can spend an entire dive just exploring one section, finding new corners colonised by lionfish and soft corals. It's a proper wreck experience without the deep-water demands.

Location
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
21.474722, 39.142360
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
11m

Wreck History - AGIA VARVARA

Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

The Agia Varvara is a colossal monument to the power of the sea, lying wrecked in the shallow waters off Jeddah. This massive 153-meter carrier vessel met its end when it ran aground, and today it remains a dramatic landmark with a portion of its hull and superstructure still visible above the waves. Its shallow depth, peaking at just 11 meters, makes it an incredibly accessible site for snorkelers and divers of all certification levels.

Exploring the Agia Varvara feels like swimming through a sunken giant. The sheer scale of the ship is awe-inspiring, and its slow decay has created a complex artificial reef. The sunlit, shallow waters have encouraged prolific coral growth across its steel plates, which in turn provide a home for a huge variety of Red Sea reef fish. Divers can spend hours exploring the ship's exterior, swimming through breeches in the hull, and observing the vibrant ecosystem that has claimed this once-mighty vessel as its own.

Best Time to Dive in Jeddah

The warmest water temperatures in Jeddah occur in August, averaging 31.6°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 25.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 26.4°C
  • February: 25.4°C
  • March: 25.4°C
  • April: 26.7°C
  • May: 28.9°C
  • June: 29.6°C
  • July: 30.0°C
  • August: 31.6°C
  • September: 31.1°C
  • October: 30.9°C
  • November: 30.0°C
  • December: 28.3°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Jeddah

Nearest Dive Centres to AGIA VARVARA

Marine Life in Jeddah

Home to 4 recorded species including 4 reef fish.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for AGIA VARVARA

Based on average water temperature of 28.7°C, currents 7 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • 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