wreck

Log This Dive

ORPHEUS

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.