OM EL KHEIR - Jeddah
Om El Kheir in Jeddah isn't about depth, it's about history and the sheer presence of a ship. Lying in just 2 meters of water, this isn’t a dive for chasing mantas or exploring deep canyons. Instead, we love it for its accessibility and the way it shows off the Red Sea’s knack for reclaiming man-made objects. This wreck, a large fishing vessel that ran aground, is so shallow you can almost touch it from the surface. We always recommend going at high tide to get the best of it. As you fin around the bow, the superstructure rises out of the blue, encrusted with a mosaic of hard corals. Schools of damselfish flutter in and out of the bridge, and we've often spotted parrotfish grazing right off the hull. The real magic happens when you push through the engine room or explore the cargo holds, now home to moray eels peering from shadowy crevices. It’s a photographer’s dream, especially with sunlight dappling through the deck plates. This site is our pick for new wreck divers or anyone who appreciates a tangible piece of history, just don't expect big pelagics.
- Location
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 21.506111, 39.161667
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 2m
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 OM EL KHEIR
- 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 OM EL KHEIR
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