The Red Sea is full of underwater caves that were formed thousands of years ago, making it a popular destination for divers and other water sports enthusiasts. One of the easiest places to go cave diving is along the coast of Jeddah. This stretch of water is characterized by deep caves and sparkling coral reefs rich in marine life. It’s also a spawning ground for aquatic creatures such as sharks and manta rays, which can grow to be 7 meters wide.
What Are Sea Caves?
Nabil Qouqandi, a diving instructor, says that sea caves are not really caves in the literal sense. They are more like rocky cavities, grottoes, or cracks in coral reefs that allow divers to swim in and out while exploring. However, some sea caves reach depths of more than 60 meters and are best left to professional divers. These tend to be farther north of Jeddah near the Gulf of Aqaba, bordering NEOM.
Certification Requirements
Sea caves are narrow and have many channels, so diving in them can be risky and requires technical skills. Visitors must be accompanied by trained divers, who use equipment such as ropes to enter and exit the caves and who know the signals to use to communicate among themselves and with the crew of the boat. A few outfitters that can help beginners organize a cave diving experience are Jeddah Tec Diver, Dive Point, and Blue Deep Diver.
Yasmine Pasha, a young Saudi diver who jokes that she’s lived more under the sea than on land, says the Blue Reef Divers Center at Bhadur Resort in Jeddah is popular among tourists, as it is fully equipped for ocean diving. Training courses range from SAR 600-2,000 (about US$160-530) and last three to seven days, depending on the instructor, she says.
How Long Does a Cave Diving Trip Take?
Usually, boats head about 30 minutes west of Durrat Al Arous. During this trip, you may see all kinds of fish, including grouper and Nagel fish. Groups are led on descent into the caves which may last up to 45 minutes.
What You Can See on a Cave Diving Adventure
Some caves are similar to valleys, with an opening at the top that gets narrower at the bottom. These are easiest for most divers because they are punctuated by lighting from the top, unlike the completely closed caves that require searchlights. The nature divers will encounter in each cave is different. Some caves are empty, while others are filled with abundant coral and marine life.
A diving trip into a sea cave can be thrilling even if you’re just a beginner. “My experience was fantastic, starting from the training sessions that preceded the descent through using diving equipment to go 15 meters deep,” says Musleh Al Safadi, a tourist who explored the caves of Abu Al Madafa. “The journey consisted of exploring narrow passages in natural caves surrounded by coral reefs.” He adds that because you are plunging into darkness, the best pictures are taken at the entrances to the caves — though the sun’s rays pierce through the darkness, lighting up the coral reefs in unforgettable ways.