Garden Reef - Jeddah
Garden Reef is one of those Jeddah sites we keep going back to, especially if we’ve got a newer diver with us or someone just wanting a relaxed afternoon. The reef plate here isn’t particularly deep, maybe 15 metres at its deepest points, which makes for long bottom times and plenty of light. We love the way the light filters through the big staghorn formations. You often find schools of orange-lined triggerfish just hovering over the coral, totally unfazed as you drift by. Our favourite part is the sandy patches between the coral heads, where we consistently spot diamond wrasse darting around and the occasional broom filefish trying to blend in. Keep an eye out for the small-eyed and tail-spot squirrelfish tucked away in crevices, their big eyes reflecting your torch beam. We’d suggest going in the late morning; the sun angle really brings out the colours in the honeycomb corals and you might even catch a glimpse of a dusky angelfish cruising the edge. It’s a gentle drift, really, so suitable for most experience levels looking for a pretty, easy dive.
- Location
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 22.369167, 38.892834
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 5-18m
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 Garden Reef
- 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 Garden Reef
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