Qabriyah - Yanbu
Iliuliuk Reef isn't your typical tropical escape. Think cold water, rugged beauty, and a surprising amount of life. We've seen giant octopuses peeking out from rocky crevices and the vivid purple of sunflower stars clinging to the substrate. Keep an eye on the surface, too, because orcas sometimes cruise through, and the gulls and cormorants are always putting on a show. It's a dive for those who appreciate the raw, wild side of the ocean.
- Location
- Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 24.013802, 37.973880
- Type
- reef
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
- 7 sisters (الشعاب السبعة) - 28m (reef)
- alfasma - 17m
- Alharrah الحرة - 13m (reef)
- Al Sheab el Akhdar
- Barracuda Beach
- CONDRECO IOZ - 8m (wreck)
- IONA/IONIAN (POSSIBLY) - 30m (wreck)
- Iona Ship Wreck (wreck)
- Marker 32 المركب - 29m
- ORPHEUS - 2m (wreck)
- Reef Marker-13 (reef)
- Seven sisters
- Sharm Yanbu
- Sink Hole (cenote)
- Thestis Reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Qabriyah
- 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 Qabriyah
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