ORPHEUS - Yanbu

The Orpheus in Yanbu is one of those wrecks that really sticks with you. We love how accessible it is, literally just sticking out of the water, which means even snorkelers can get a proper look. This bulk carrier went down in 1979, and she’s been slowly coming apart ever since, now forming a sprawling, shallow playground for divers. You’ll find her massive hull plates split open, creating swim-throughs you can fin through, sunlight dappling the coral that’s taken over the steel. Our favourite part is exploring the shallowest sections, where the light penetration is incredible. You can glide over the bridge structure, now a vibrant reef, watching fusiliers dart amongst the twisted metal. Look closely and you’ll spot crocodilefish perfectly camouflaged on the deck plates, and we often see small reef sharks patrolling the deeper edges of the wreckage. It’s an epic site for photographers, especially early morning when the light is soft, or late afternoon for those golden hour shots against the superstructure. Currents can pick up, so we’d suggest timing your dive for slack tide to really savour the details.

Location: Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 24.430834, 37.158333
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 2m

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 ORPHEUS

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 ORPHEUS

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