Diving and culture in Jordan – Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum
Dive the Red Sea near Aqaba past colorful reefs, wrecks and even airplanes, and to iconic sites such as Wadi Rum, Petra, the Dead Sea, Bethany and Mount Nebo. A varied trip that combines culture, nature and adventure.
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Diving and culture in Jordan: 10-day trip along Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum
Diving among wrecks, sleeping under the stars and getting lost in Petra: welcome to Jordan! It may not be the first country you think of when you think of a diving vacation, but that’s what makes it so surprising. Off the coast of Aqaba, dozens of dive sites await you. Here you dive past colorful reefs, wrecks of planes and ships and even an underwater museum with tanks and helicopters. The water is crystal clear, warm and almost always calm. Perfect conditions for relaxed diving.
A unique combination of diving and culture
During this 10-day trip you will discover the best of Jordan, both under and above water. You will make beautiful dives, but also visit the unique nature of Jordan. You’ll swim past turtles, moray eels and schools of reef fish, as well as explore ancient temples, desert villages and the salty waters of the Dead Sea.
Diving in Aqaba
Aqaba is located on the Red Sea and is Jordan’s only coastal city. The dive sites are close together and easily accessible. You can discover wrecks like the C-130 Hercules and the Cedar Pride, as well as coral gardens like the Japanese Garden or the impressive underwater museum. The good visibility and lack of current make it an ideal spot for both novice and advanced divers. There is also plenty to discover for those who enjoy photography, wrecks or technical diving.
Best travel time for a diving vacation to Jordan
You can dive well year-round in Jordan: the water is calm, warm and clear almost all year round. Keep in mind that it can be very hot in Jordan in the summer. The best months are March, April, May, September, October and November.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for diving in Jordan
The water in the Red Sea near Jordan is quite warm. In the summer months, a 3mm will suffice. If you go in the winter months, bring a 5mm wetsuit.
What will you experience on this diving vacation?
View itinerary here
Day 1 | Travel to Jordan
Today you will fly to Amman, the capital of Jordan. With a direct flight, travel time is about 4 hours and 45 minutes. With a transfer, the flight takes around 7 hours. Often the transfer is in Istanbul or Vienna.
Upon arrival you will be waited for and taken to the first hotel of the trip, where you will stay for 1 night. You will stay at a 3* hotel in Amman where you will also have dinner.
Amman is a vibrant city where you can get to know Jordan’s culture well.
Day 2 | Day trip to Mount Nebo, Bethany and the Dead Sea
Today there is a full program and start the journey to the south of Jordan: port city of Aqaba. If you were to go directly, the drive takes about 4 hours. We take advantage of this day to visit some special places in Jordan.
After you have breakfast at the hotel, the transfer will pick you up at the hotel at 08:00. The first stop is immediately a place of great historical and religious significance: Mount Nebo. This is where Moses is said to have last looked out over the Promised Land, just before he died. From the viewpoint you look out over the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and, on clear days, even as far as Jerusalem. You will visit the ancient monastery, where mosaics and ruins tell stories of ancient pilgrimages.
Then you travel on to another holy place: Bethany beyond the Jordan River, the place where, according to tradition, John the Baptist baptized Jesus. This spiritual site has been mentioned as a baptismal site since Byzantine times and today is a serene, impressive place along the river.
Then it is time to relax at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. The rest of the afternoon is all yours. Float in the salt water, cover your skin with medicinal mud, and enjoy a sumptuous lunch at a comfortable waterfront hotel. Lunch is also thought of today, you will have lunch at fine restaurant by the Dead Sea.
At the end of this special day, the transfer will take you to Aqaba, on the Red Sea. It is a drive of about 3 hours. Here you check into the hotel, where dinner awaits you and you can rest from a day full of impressions.
Day 3 to 7 | Diving with Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers
For the next 5 days you will dive with Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers. A diving day looks like this:
After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up at 9:30 a.m. and taken to the port. It is a short 10-minute drive. The boat is already waiting for you and will take you to the first dive site in about 30 minutes. Per day you will make two dives.
Diving takes almost the entire day, it is a wonderfully relaxing day. There is buffet-style lunch on board as well as refreshing drinks and snacks for during the surface interval. You will stay on the boat for 5 to 6 hours, so there is even time for a nap between dives.
During the 5- to 6-hour boat trip, you will make two guided dives at different dive sites in the Red Sea. The experienced guides will make sure you enjoy every minute underwater safely and relaxed.
There are 21 dive sites you can go to, many accessible to both beginner and advanced divers. Some well-known dive sites are:
- Underwater Military Museum:one of the special dive site with 21 military vehicles that form an underwater battlefield: from tanks to a helicopter. Located at accessible depths (7-28 meters), the wrecks attract abundant marine life and offer a unique blend of culture, artificial reef and spectacular diving experiences.
- C-130 Hercules airplane wreck: The C-130 Hercules is a shallow airplane wreck dive (12-17 meters) suitable for all levels, with clear water, calm conditions and an intact cockpit that you can see inside. You’ll dive among puffer fish, crocodile fish, moray eels and schools of reef fish in a location that feels like an underwater movie set.
- Cedar Pride wreck: The Cedar Pride is Jordan’s most famous wreck: a former cargo ship that lies 10 to 27 meters deep and is beautifully overgrown with coral. You can dive over it as well as inside, with chances of seeing turtles, barracudas, scorpion fish and lobsters on night dives.
- Black Rock: Beautiful coral garden directly beneath the surface of the water. Also nice for snorkelers. You will see emperor fish, snappers, parrot fish and a turtle regularly.
After a day of diving, return to the hotel in Aqaba. The hotel’s fine location puts you in the heart of the city in just a few minutes. Here you will find several restaurants where you can enjoy local dishes such as mansaf or maqluba. You’ll also find restaurants serving international cuisine.
Day 8 | To Wadi Rum and sleep under the stars
After a last breakfast in Aqaba, it is time to check out and continue to Wadi Rum. Usually you won’t leave until around 1:00 pm, so you can take it easy. Wadi Rum is only a 30-minute drive away.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Wadi Rum is a protected desert area that feels like another planet. Vast sandy plains, towering sandstone mountains, narrow gorges and natural arches form a breathtaking backdrop here.
You will begin with a visit to the visitor center, where you will learn more about the geology, history and culture of this unique area.
Then it’s time for adventure: you get into a local jeep and trek deeper into the desert with the guides. Along the way, stop at extraordinary rock formations and panoramas that never cease to amaze. The silence here is almost palpable and the views are endless.
After a beautiful sunset in the desert, you will return to the camp in the middle of Wadi Rum, where you will spend the night in a Deluxe Tent Room. Here you will enjoy a traditional dinner and enjoy the beautiful starry heml surrounded by the tranquility of the desert.
Day 9 | To world wonder Petra and overnight stay
After a special night under the stars in Wadi Rum and an early breakfast, depart for Petra around 8:00 am. The drive takes about 2.5 hours and takes you to one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world. Petra has been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World for a reason.
You will discover this ancient rock city together with an experienced guide, who will take you through its history, stories and hidden places. The hike begins in the Siq, a narrow gorge with towering rock walls that leads you step by step deeper into the valley. After each turn, the excitement mounts, until suddenly you come face to face with the iconic Treasury (Al-Khazneh): the symbol of Jordan and a magical moment you won’t soon forget.
But Petra is much more than just this famous monument. You’ll walk along ancient Roman roads, explore the amphitheater and admire the impressive tombs carved into the sandstone. Those who wish can also make the ascent to the Monastery (Ad Deir), which overlooks the mountains and ruins. The climb is tough, but absolutely worth it.
After a day full of impressions, a delicious lunch awaits you. Then drive to the hotel to check in, where you can relax, have dinner and enjoy a well-deserved night’s sleep. This is the last hotel of the trip, and you will stay there for 1 night.
Day 10 | The journey home
The last day is already here and today you will return home. Depending on the flight time, have breakfast at the hotel. If there is no time for this, breakfast will be packed for you and you can take it with you.
The last transfer is waiting for you and will take you to the airport. The drive from Petra to Amman airport takes about 2.5 hours.
Highlights of this trip
What can you expect from the underwater world in Jordan?
Underwater Military Museum
Aqaba is home to one of the most unique diving sites in the world: the Underwater Military Museum. There are more than 20 military vehicles on the sea floor, including tanks, a helicopter, an ambulance and a fighter plane. Everything is strategically placed as if in action, making for a spectacular underwater spectacle. The reef, meanwhile, is slowly growing over the steel, merging nature and history. You dive between 15 and 28 meters deep here, so it’s also doable for advanced divers. A bizarre but impressive dive you won’t soon forget.
Diving ín an airplane
Two impressive aircraft wrecks lie on the seabed in Aqaba: the C-130 Hercules and the Lockheed TriStar. Deliberately sunk in 2017, the C-130 is only 17 meters deep, ideal for divers of all levels. The TriStar followed in 2019 and rests at depths of 18 to 28 meters. At 50 meters long, this is an impressive wreck to dive over and through. Both wrecks attract colorful marine life and form artificial reefs that become more beautiful year after year. A must for lovers of wreck diving and special underwater stories.
Pristine coral gardens full of color
The coral gardens often begin just off shore, making them ideal for shore diving as well as boat diving. You’ll swim past large table corals, brain corals and graceful fan corals, all surrounded by brightly colored reef fish. The coral here is remarkably well preserved, in part because the Red Sea off Jordan is calm and protected. Thanks to the clear water, the colors come out beautifully and this is a great place for underwater photography or just enjoying the reef life in peace.
The accommodations
The stay and the diving school
In total, you will stay overnight at 4 different locations. Hotels for overnight stays in Amman (first night) and Petra (last night) will be based on availability. These are always 3-star hotels.
- 3 star hotel in Amman
- Lacosta hotel in Aqaba
- Aladdin Camp in Wadi Rum
- 3 star hotel in Petra
Lacosta hotel in Aqaba
During your stay in Aqaba, you will stay at the modern and attractive Lacosta Hotel. This 4-star hotel is located right in the center of town, within walking distance of lively restaurants, stores and attractions such as the Fortress of Aqaba and the Royal Yacht Club.
The rooms are comfortable and fully equipped: air conditioning, a private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, kettle and even a refrigerator. If you still have enough energy left, you can go to the gym located in the hotel.
In the morning, you’ll enjoy a full continental breakfast with tons of choices. The restaurant is also open in the evening, so if you don’t want to go out anymore you can also come here for dinner.
Aladdin Camp in Wadi Rum
Sleep under a starry sky like you rarely see: that’s what awaits you during your stay at Aladdin Camp in Wadi Rum. The camp is located in the middle of the desert, surrounded by impressive mountain formations and an absolute silence you won’t find anywhere else. You will stay in a spacious deluxe tent room with a comfortable double bed, air conditioning (for both cooling and heating), private bathroom with hot water and all the conveniences you need.
Although there is no WiFi or cellular network available in the camp, you soon feel how nice it is to really disconnect from the outside world. Should the need arise, there is always an emergency phone available with a local SIM card that you can use free of charge.
In the evening you will enjoy an extensive buffet dinner with local dishes, and in the morning a fresh breakfast awaits you. Between the red sand dunes and jagged rock formations, this place feels like another world. A unique experience you won’t soon forget, especially when at night you see the sun slowly sink behind the mountains and the stars appear one by one in the sky.
The dive center
The diving school and facilities
Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers
Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers is a PADI 5 Star Dive Center and Eco Center in the heart of Aqaba, founded in 2012 by local diver Hamza Abumahfouz. What began as the dream of one fanatic grew into a warm family business with a close-knit team of local and international professionals.
They are known for their personal touch, high quality and commitment to conservation. Daily they organize on the water for diving and snorkeling trips, PADI courses (from Discover Scuba to Divemaster) and night dives, for example. It is possible to do shore dives, but you go mainly on one of the two comfortable boats.
A day on the water with Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers is wonderfully relaxing. The crew takes their time with you, there is no rushing. The crew also prepares lunch for you on the boat. This is often lunch with traditional Jordanian dishes and always freshly prepared.
The diving school is affiliated with Green Fins and has received multiple awards for sustainability. The team speaks both English and Arabic.
The boats of Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers
Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers has two boats: Sharks Bay and The Genie. These boats are made specifically for divers and have all the conveniences you could want. You can leave your equipment on the boat and the crew what it for you after a day of diving.
In addition, the boats have a beautiful interior and exterior with enough space to have a good briefing, take a nap, enjoy the sun or just sit in the shade. There are also 2 toilets on board and even a shower. Luxury, right? Thus, being at sea all day is by no means a punishment.
Travel costs
What is included
This diving vacation to Jordan is available from US$ 2.260 per person based on two people in one room. The diving trip can be expanded as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about this diving vacation to Jordan? Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from US$ 2.260 p.p.
- 1 night in 3* hotel in Amman incl. dinner and breakfast
- Lunch on day 2 (Dead Sea)
- 6 nights at Lacosta hotel in Aqaba including breakfast
- 10 dives with Aqaba Shark Divers
- Lunch on dive days
- 1 night at Rum Aladdin camp in a Deluxe tent room including dinner and breakfast
- Jeep tour in Wadi Rum
- 1 night in 3* hotel in Petra including breakfast
- Lunch on day 7 (Petra)
- English speaking guide (5 days)
- Return transfers
- Marine entrance fee
- VZR & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Amman from US$ 714 p.p.
- Tipping drivers and guides
- Lunch on day 8 (Wadi Rum)
- Diners
- Entrance fee of Jordan Pass
- Dive & Travel Insurance
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe. However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide. Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Nitrox - $10 per tank
- 15L tank - $5 per tank
- Diving equipment - $20 per day
Email this diving holiday
Want to save or share the details of this diving trip with someone? You can do so by sending the trip by email.
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Frequently asked questions about Jordan
Diving general
In Aqaba, you make exclusively boat dives. You’ll be on the water all day, enjoying lunch on the boat. The diving day lasts a total of 5-6 hours.
The dive sites are close: about a 20-minute boat ride away.
Yes, it is possible to make a night dive.
No, there is no house reef. All dives are made by boat.
Yes, PADI courses are given.
Yes, the diving school is only a 10-minute drive from the hotel. You will be picked up every morning and taken to the diving school.
Diving equipment
Both tanks are available.
Yes, there are five 15L tanks available. The additional cost to use a 15L tank is $5 per tank.
Yes, you can. If you bring your own equipment it’s no problem at all.
Yes, you can dive here with nitrox. The additional cost is $10 per tank.
Yes, renting a full set costs $20 per day.
Your diving equipment stays on the boat, so you do not have to drag your equipment on any day. After diving, everything is also washed on the boat by the crew.
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