Al Fahal vis Wreck

The wreck often referred to in conjunction with the Al Fahal reef system is the Greek cargo ship, the SS Staphonos. In 1978, while en route to Jeddah with a full load of construction materials, including pipes, steel cables, and rebar, the Staphonos made a fatal navigational error. It struck the reef hard, grounding itself firmly upon the coral. Efforts to refloat the vessel failed, and it was eventually abandoned to the sea, where waves and weather broke it in two.

Today, the Staphonos, also known as the 'Cable Wreck' due to its cargo, is one of Jeddah's most popular dive sites. The wreck lies in two distinct sections. The bow rests on its side on the shallow reef top at around 8 meters, while the stern has slipped down the reef wall to a depth of 24 meters. The debris field between the two sections is a fascinating scatter of its cargo, with giant spools of steel cable creating a unique underwater landscape. The entire wreck is now a vibrant artificial reef, teeming with Red Sea life, including schools of goatfish, resident moray eels, and occasional visits from turtles and eagle rays.