MAYA R (STERN SECTION) - Jeddah
The Maya R, or what’s left of her stern, is a fantastic wreck dive for anyone already comfortable around deeper sites. She’s not one of those intact museum pieces, but that’s precisely why we love her. Down at 25 metres, the stern section sits upright, and you can really get a feel for the scale of this old landing craft. We'd suggest dropping down onto the main deck, where you’ll find the steering mechanism – it’s a big, chunky setup, quite photogenic. Look for resident groupers often lurking in the shadowed sections of the hull. The propeller is still there, too, an impressive sight, usually covered in glassfish and small snapper. We’ve often found schools of batfish circling above the mast, just enjoying the current. It's a great spot to practice buoyancy control while navigating the various entry points and openings into the cargo hold, though penetration beyond the visible light is only for those with proper training and gear. The real magic happens as the light filters through the structure, illuminating the soft corals that are slowly reclaiming the metal.
- Location
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 21.484583, 39.131084
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 25m
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 MAYA R (STERN SECTION)
- 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 MAYA R (STERN SECTION)
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