Diving and culture in Jordan – Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum
Diving in 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 diverse 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 there are dozens of dive sites waiting for you. Here you will dive past colorful reefs, aircraft and ship wrecks, 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 swim past turtles, moray eels and schools of reef fish, but also 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 town. The dive sites are close together and easily accessible. Here 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. Thanks to good visibility and lack of current, it is an ideal place for both beginner 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, the 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 met and transferred to the first hotel of the trip, where you will stay for 1 night. You will stay in 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. Here Moses is said to have looked out over the Promised Land for the last time 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’ll visit the ancient monastery, where mosaics and ruins tell stories of ancient pilgrimages.
Then you will travel on to another sacred site: Bethany beyond the Jordan River, the place where, according to tradition, John the Baptist baptized Jesus. This spiritual location has been mentioned as a baptismal site since Byzantine times and today is a serene, impressive place along the river.
Then it’s 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 has also been 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 in at 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 the following:
After you have breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up at 9:30 a.m. and taken to the port. It is a short ride of 10 minutes. The boat is waiting for you and takes you to the first dive site in about 30 minutes. You will make two dives per day.
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 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 a lot of marine life and offer a unique blend of culture, artificial reef and spectacular diving experience.
- 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 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 at depths of 10 to 27 meters 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 under the surface of the water. Also fun for snorkelers. You will see emperor fish, snappers, parrot fish and regular turtles here.
After a day of diving, return to the hotel in Aqaba. The hotel’s fine location puts you in the heart of the city within minutes. Here you will find several restaurants where you can enjoy local dishes such as mansaf or maqluba. You will 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 don’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, you will stop at extraordinary rock formations and panoramas that never cease to amaze you. The silence here is almost tangible 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 sky 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 not been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World for nothing.
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 you suddenly 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. If you want, you 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 you 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, you will 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. More than 20 military vehicles lie 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, bringing nature and history together. You dive between 15 and 28 meters deep here, so also doable for advanced divers. A bizarre but impressive dive that you will not soon forget.
Diving ín an airplane
Two impressive aircraft wrecks lie on the seabed in Aqaba: the C-130 Hercules and the Lockheed TriStar. The C-130 was deliberately sunk in 2017 and rests at just 17 meters deep, ideal for divers of all skill 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 as well as 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 in 4 different locations. The hotels for the nights 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 the city, within walking distance of cozy 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 head to the gym located in the hotel.
In the morning you will enjoy a sumptuous continental breakfast with unimaginable 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
Sleeping under a starry sky like you rarely see: this is 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), a private bathroom with hot water and all the comforts you need.
Although there is no WiFi or mobile network available in the camp, you soon feel how nice it is to really get away from the outside world. If necessary, 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 a sumptuous buffet dinner with local dishes, and in the morning a fresh breakfast is waiting for 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 in the evening you see the sun slowly sink behind the mountains and the stars appear one by one in the sky.
The diving school
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 started 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 approach, high quality and commitment to conservation. Every day 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 mainly go 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 for you; there is no rushing around. The crew also prepares a lunch for you on the boat. This is often a lunch of 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 specially made 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 nice 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. Luxurious, right? This way, being at sea all day is definitely not a punishment.
Travel costs
What is included
This diving vacation to Jordan is available from US$ 2.214 per person based on two people in one room. The diving trip can be extended as desired. A number of things are included as standard 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$ 2.214 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$ 699 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
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Frequently asked questions about Jordan
Diving general
In Aqaba, you will make exclusively boat dives. You will 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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