HARISA - Jeddah
Harisa is one of those wrecks that just grabs you. We love how accessible it is, sitting upright in the shallows just off the Jeddah corniche. You can practically swim to it from the beach, making it perfect for an easy shore dive or even just a snorkel. This isn't some deep, dark tech dive, it's a historical piece, a cargo ship that ran aground in the 1970s. The stern is the most interesting part; the propeller is still there, massive and barnacle-encrusted, with schools of surgeonfish darting around it. Inside the cargo holds, sunlight filters through, illuminating big groupers that lurk in the shadows. We've seen moray eels peeking out from every crevice, and the hard corals growing on the superstructure are surprisingly healthy, given its proximity to the city. It’s a great spot for newer wreck divers to get comfortable with penetration, or for experienced divers just looking for a relaxed exploration. We'd suggest going in the morning before the crowds pick up, the visibility is usually at its best then.
- Location
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 21.483889, 39.167500
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 0m
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 HARISA
- 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 HARISA
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