NEJMAT EL PETROL XVIII (POSSIBLY) - Jeddah
The Nejmat El Petrol XVIII, a tanker that came to grief in 1991, isn’t your typical Red Sea wreck, and that’s precisely why we love it. Instead of a deep, dark plunge, you’re looking at a site topping out at 18 metres, making it approachable for most divers. We’d suggest going early in the morning, before the boat traffic picks up. The wreck itself lies on its starboard side, largely intact, with the stern particularly well-preserved. You can swim through the superstructure, a real treat as shafts of light pierce the gloom, illuminating the schools of glassfish that shimmer inside. Keep an eye out for lionfish tucked into every shadowy corner, and we’ve often seen large groupers patrolling the deeper parts of the hull. For photographers, the engine room offers some moody shots, especially when there’s a gentle current pushing visibility. It’s a compelling piece of history, now a thriving artificial reef, offering a different flavour of Jeddah diving.
- Location
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 21.441100, 39.110455
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 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 NEJMAT EL PETROL XVIII (POSSIBLY)
- 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 NEJMAT EL PETROL XVIII (POSSIBLY)
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