Cable Wreck - Jeddah

The Cable Wreck, sitting off Jeddah, isn't your typical Red Sea wreck. It’s no Thistlegorm, but we think it’s got its own quiet charm. We’re talking about a rather broken-up cable layer, maybe 100 metres long, that met its end sometime in the 1970s. What’s left feels less like a ship and more like a series of interesting metal structures, draped in soft corals. You'll find yourself navigating through large sections of twisted steel, with schools of fusiliers often so thick they briefly block out the sun. Look closely and you’ll spot crocodilefish camouflaged on the plates, and often we’ve seen moray eels peering out from the deeper nooks. Our favourite part has to be the stern section; it’s largely intact and you can swim through a few open areas, getting a real sense of its former scale. The visibility here is usually excellent, giving you a clear view of the wreck’s entire footprint from above. This site really suits divers who enjoy a more exploratory wreck, somewhere you can take your time and appreciate the smaller details rather than a quick swim-through.

Location
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
21.702200, 38.820330
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Cable Wreck

Vessel Type
cable ship
Cause
unknown

The 'Cable Wreck' is one of the Red Sea's intriguing mysteries off the coast of Jeddah. Its true name and the circumstances of its sinking are not officially recorded, leaving its story to the speculation of the divers who explore it. Given its moniker, it is widely believed to have been a specialized cable-laying vessel, a crucial type of ship responsible for installing and maintaining the undersea communication lines that connect the world.

As a dive site, the wreck offers a unique structure to explore, different from a standard cargo ship or tanker. Divers can search for remnants of its specialized equipment, like large cable drums or guide wheels, that would confirm its past life. Whatever its history, the Cable Wreck is now a spectacular artificial reef, fully embraced by the vibrant ecosystem of the Red Sea. Its metal framework is adorned with a dazzling array of soft and hard corals and is patrolled by schools of colourful reef fish, making it a captivating dive into the unknown.

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 Cable Wreck

Marine Life in Jeddah

Home to 4 recorded species including 4 reef fish.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Cable Wreck

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