Aqaba is a city in Jordan that’s located on the northernmost tip of the Red Sea. It’s a great tourist destination for the reasons you’d typically travel: great food, people, culture, and history. However, what distinguishes Aqaba from the other popular tourist destinations in the world is its watersports. The city offers flyboarding, kite surfing, sailing, and more. However, Aqaba’s most popular watersport is snorkeling, and here’s why.
Natural and Artificial Reefs Artificial reefs refer to wrecks that have settled on the seafloor, like tanks, and natural reefs refer to underwater ecosystems, like a coral reef. A snorkel, flippers, and goggles are more than enough to take in these sights.
For example, there is an American M42 Duster Tank, colloquially known as ‘The Tank,’ resting on the seabed. It was scuttled as an artificial reef in 1999 by the Jordanian Royal Ecological Diving Society and is a very popular artificial reef among tourists. If artificial reefs aren’t your cup of tea, the Red Sea is brimming with coral reefs to visit too.
Ease
Watersports are popular in Aqaba, and snorkeling is enjoyed by many. You’ll find a vibrant market for snorkeling here. It’s a great way to meet people since many people are always ready to go snorkeling. Moreover, snorkeling lacks the heavy gear of scuba diving. You only need three light pieces of equipment (flippers, goggles, and a snorkel) to experience the underwater elements of the Red Sea. (But you also might want to bring an underwater video or camera to capture the beautiful coral and fishes.) The nature of the sport, the rich diversity of corals and fishes, and the amazingly clear waters make it an ideal place for snorkeling.
Aquatic Life
The Gulf of Aqaba is on the northernmost tip of the Red Sea and spans about 24 kilometers. The entire Red Sea reefs span approximately 4,000 kilometers and are about 7,000 years old. They’re relatively untouched and support the sea’s diverse ecosystem. However, the coral reefs aren’t the only beautiful elements of the Red Sea. There are also many rare fish species found in it. The solitary sailfish is exclusively a resident of the Red Sea, and it’s the fastest fish known to man. You can also find the Carpet Flathead Fish (crocodile fish), Tasseled Scorpionfish, Lionfish, and many more underwater counterparts to land animals. You should pack your camera since there’s a lot to memorialize.
Aqaba is brimming with potential for a host of snorkeling adventures, so you should start planning some snorkeling trips in the city. Get in touch with us at Deep Blue Dive Center, and we’ll set up your snorkeling trips with the best dive spots for the sights. We also offer PADI-certified diving courses if you wish to take your underwater adventures to the next level. Contact us now for the ultimate snorkeling getaway in Aqaba
