Chicken Wreck - Jeddah
The Chicken Wreck, just off Jeddah, isn't some ancient galleon. It’s a fishing boat, sunk in the 1980s, but what it lacks in historical drama it makes up for in pure, unadulterated fish action. We love how accessible it is, sitting upright on the sandy bottom, the wheelhouse still largely intact. It’s an easy dive, often with minimal current, making it perfect for newer wreck enthusiasts or photographers who want to take their time. Drop down and you'll immediately understand why it got its name – chicken wire, once used for fish traps, still drapes parts of the superstructure. This framework, now completely encrusted, creates perfect hideouts. We’ve seen huge schools of yellowfin goatfish schooling so tightly they become a shimmering wall, and moray eels peeking out from every nook. Look closely inside the cabins; nurse sharks sometimes nap there, completely unfazed by divers. Our favourite is exploring the stern, where the prop shaft is a magnet for colourful nudibranchs. Visibility here is usually good, often 15-20 meters, but an early morning dive often means calmer waters and fewer other boats.
- Location
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 21.786837, 38.825535
- Type
- wreck
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 Chicken Wreck
- 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 Chicken 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