BLUE SEA - Jeddah
The Blue Sea wreck is just a fantastic dive if you love big pieces of history on the seafloor. Sunk way back in 1976 after catching fire in Jeddah port – imagine the commotion – this 159-meter behemoth now rests upright, starting in about 20 meters and dropping down to around 40. We love how intact it is; you can really get a sense of its scale. Swim along the deck, peer into cargo holds that now house schools of yellowfin goatfish, and marvel at the superstructure. Look for lionfish tucked into shadowy corners and the occasional hawksbill turtle cruising by. Our favourite is exploring the bow, where the anchor chains still hang, draped in soft corals. It's a proper wreck dive, best for those comfortable with deeper profiles and keen on exploration rather than just fish spotting. If you get there early, before the boat traffic picks up, the visibility can be truly stunning.
- Location
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 21.498300, 39.120000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 40m
Wreck History - BLUE SEA
- Year Sunk
- 1976
- Vessel Type
- passenger ship
- Cause
- fire
The final voyage of the Blue Sea ended in a dramatic blaze in the port of Jeddah in November 1976. The motor vessel was berthed with a full complement of crew and several hundred Muslim pilgrims on board when a fire erupted. In what was a major success for maritime safety, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the burning ship before the fire could claim any lives.
To prevent the fire from spreading to other vessels and port infrastructure, the blazing Blue Sea was towed out of the harbor. It succumbed to the flames and damage during the night, sinking to its final resting place. Today, the wreck lies at 40 meters, making it a dive for advanced and technical divers. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the past-a passenger vessel that once carried hundreds of people, now silent on the floor of the Red Sea, its decks and corridors home to the region's rich marine life.
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
- Abo Almadafee أبو المدافع - 18m (wreck)
- ABUSABAA I - 15m (wreck)
- Abu Tair - 24m (reef)
- AGIA VARVARA - 11m (wreck)
- Al Bedayah
- AlBuhairat - 5-25m (reef)
- ALEXANDER III - 10m (wreck)
- Al Fahal East
- Al Fahal North
- Al Fahal South
- Al Fahal vis Wreck (wreck)
- Al leeth
- AL MEDINA - 1m (wreck)
- Altafyah Middle Reef - 20m (reef)
- ALYAMAMA - 4m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to BLUE SEA
- 17Sixty - ["PADI"]
- Advanced Diver Center
- Al-Haddad Scuba - SSI
- Al-Haddad SCUBA - Sheraton Resort
- Al Sanbouk - ["PADI"]
- Benya Marine Group - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Jeddah
Home to 4 recorded species including 4 reef fish.
Notable Species
- Armed Squirrel-fish (Neoniphon sammara) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for BLUE SEA
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