Iona Ship Wreck - Yanbu

The Iona wreck in Yanbu is one of our favourite Red Sea wrecks, easily making it a standout. She’s an old steamship, sunk way back in 1918, which means she’s had over a century for the reef to truly swallow her whole. You don't just see a wreck; you see a living, breathing reef that happens to have a ship at its core. Dropping down, the first thing that hits you is the sheer scale. She lies fairly deep, so plan your bottom time carefully, but it’s worth every second. We love nosing around the bow, which is often swarming with schools of yellowfin barracuda, just hanging in the gentle current. Further back, the engine room is a highlight, though it’s a penetration for experienced wreck divers only. Inside, it's dark, silty, and utterly captivating, with the occasional flashlight beam picking out a massive moray eel tucked into a crevice. Outside, the decks are a jumble of twisted metal and colourful soft corals. Look for the resident clownfish families peeking out from their anemones, making homes in the strangest places on the wreck. Visibility can be epic here, sometimes over 30 metres, which allows you to appreciate the wreck's full silhouette against the blue. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history intertwined with vibrant marine life, and a strong contender for the best wreck in the region.

Location: Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 24.053823, 37.857220
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: محمية ينبع الساحلية

Best Time to Dive in Yanbu

The warmest water temperatures in Yanbu occur in January, averaging 25.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 25.7°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 25.7°C (air: 22.7°C)
February: 25.7°C (air: 22.4°C)
March: 25.7°C (air: 23.8°C)
April: 25.7°C (air: 25.7°C)
May: 25.7°C (air: 28.1°C)
June: 25.7°C (air: 30.1°C)
July: 25.7°C (air: 30.6°C)
August: 25.7°C (air: 31.6°C)
September: 25.7°C (air: 31.1°C)
October: 25.7°C (air: 29.9°C)
November: 25.7°C (air: 27.6°C)
December: 25.7°C (air: 25.0°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Yanbu

Nearest Dive Centres to Iona Ship Wreck

Adventure Diver - ["PADI"]
DIVE PLAN - SSI
Galaxea - ["PADI"]
Opal Diving Club - ["PADI"]
Saudi Diving Center - SSI
Yanbu Diver - SSI

Marine Life in Yanbu

Home to 63 recorded species including 56 hard corals, 2 reef fish, 2 seagrass & algae, 1 crabs & lobsters, 1 sea cucumbers, 1 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Staghorn coral (Acropora pharaonis) - Hard Corals
Red Sea Clown Surgeon (Acanthurus sohal) - Reef Fish
Blacktail Butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus) - Reef Fish
Staghorn coral (Acropora acuminata) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora cytherea) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora humilis) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
Banded Cleaner Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) - Crabs & Lobsters
Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora vaughani) - Hard Corals
Montipora coral (Montipora stellata) - Hard Corals
Smooth cauliflower coral (Stylophora pistillata) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora polystoma) - Hard Corals
Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
Staghorn coral (Acropora yongei) - Hard Corals
Galaxea coral (Galaxea astreata) - Hard Corals
Leptastrea coral (Leptastrea bottae) - Hard Corals
Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals

Recommended Packing List for Iona Ship Wreck

Based on average water temperature of 25.7°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°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