Travels & Reviews – VeGa Divers

DIVE RESORTS IN JEDDAH

La plage Resort:

Over ground arrangements– Sitting area is adequate, good ambience, area for sit out available, rest rooms, washing area for gear – available

Cafeteria – good services with drinks and food available

Under water Corals – you can see a lot of corals towards the right and left side of the resort

Aquatic marine life– you will see a variety of aquatic life from large size dolphins, sea turtles to small size frog fishes, nudibranchs, Spanish dancers,

Access to Gear and Tank Rental area – near to dive site, bit expensive on higher side

Exit and entry points – one only

Pool for divers – sea water, small and 3 mtr deep maximum, adequate for 2 to 3 students and instructor only.

Teaching for students there is 10 meter platform, mind the gaps, no rubber carpet placed.

Ease of Entry – need to have membership or you can tag with your friends who have membership, limited access

Cost per person Sr 125/-

Over ground	Underwater	Marine life	Ease of entry	Gear Rental	Overall experience
****	****	****	***	***	****

rating based on experience

* bad // ** somewhat OK// *** good// **** very good// ***** excellent

Sheraton resort:

Sheraton Resort:

Over ground arrangements– Sitting area is small good for 10-15 divers, good ambience, rest rooms – far away from diving site (Male and Female), washing area for gear – available

shower area – open, difficulty for female divers

Cafeteria – Far away, from the dive site

Under water Corals – you can see a limited corals towards the left side of the resort, right side you will not find much corals

Aquatic marine life– limited aquatic life you can see,

Access to Gear and Tank Rental area – near to dive site, bit expensive on higher side, tank per unit Sr45/-

Exit points – one only, need to swim thru a channel along the rope,

Pool for divers – Not available

Teaching for students 4 meters deep seabed near the exit poiint

Ease of Entry – need to go with the instructor only – entry and exit at a time, limited access, online booking thru https://redseamarina.com/red-sea-resort/

Cost per person Sr 150/- normal rates, unseasonable rates (WINTER) Sr115/-

Over ground	Underwater	Marine life	Ease of entry	Gear Rental	Overall experience
*****	**	**	***	***	***

SOL Resort:

Over ground arrangements– Sitting area is limited, good ambience, area for sit out available, rest rooms (male and Female), Male and female changing areas, washing area for gear – available

Shower area – near to sitting area, open and closed area.

Cafeteria – services Limited, with drinks and food available

Under water Corals – you can see a corals towards the left side of the sea bed, crossing the Sheraton resort and right side- very limited corals and creatures seen, due to construction, lot of rocks and cemented rocks.

Aquatic marine life– you will see a variety of aquatic life, with limited species

Access to Gear and Tank Rental area – near to dive site, price bit expensive side, and good quality maintained, gear from Scubapro brand, they are attached to Scuba Master dive shop.

Exit and Entry points – 1 available, walk cautiously over the ramp area

Pool for divers – Salt water, 2 mtr deep maximum, large area, needs to climb down with stairs.

Teaching for students there is 9-meter platform, no rubber carpet placed. Green carpet present

Ease of Entry – you can enter with your Dive master or instructor, or you can request any member for entry

Cost per person Sr 115/-

Over ground	Underwater	Marine life	Ease of entry	Gear Rental	Overall experience
****	**	**	*****	***	**

Blue Reef Divers (Bahader resort closed for staying):

Over ground arrangements– Sitting area is adequate, good ambience, area for sit out available, rest rooms (male and Female), Male and female changing areas, washing area for gear – available

Shower area – near to sitting area, open and closed area.

Cafeteria – good services with drinks and food available

Under water Corals – you can see a lot of corals towards the right and left side of the resort

Aquatic marine life– you will see a variety of aquatic life from sea turtle, Eel, Sting rays, nudibranchs, Spanish dancers,

Access to Gear and Tank Rental area – near to dive site, discounted price available with coupons

Exit and Entry points – 2 available

Pool for divers – Fresh water, 4 mtr deep maximum, adequate for 7 students and instructor. Timings 8 am till 2 pm only

Teaching for students there is 10-meter platform, and another at 14 meters, no rubber carpet placed.

Ease of Entry – you can enter with your Dive master or instructor, or you can request any member for entry

Cost per person Sr 115/-

Over ground	Underwater	Marine life	Ease of entry	Gear Rental	Overall experience
****	****	****	*****	****	****

Ocean Dream Resort:

Over ground arrangements– Sitting area is small, good ambience, area for sit out available for 10-15 divers only, washing area for gear – available, washroom (male and Female) available at the entrance into resort far away from the dive site, nearly 200 meters walk needed

Shower area – open type

Cafeteria – available with drinks and food, near pool area, far from the dive site

Under water Corals – you can see a lot of corals towards the right and left side of the resort

Aquatic marine life- you will see a variety of aquatic life from sea turtle, Eel, Sting rays, nudibranchs, Spanish dancers,

Access to Gear and Tank Rental area – Far from the dive site carrying things difficult, need to call the porter when ever you need of tanks,

Exit and Entry points – 2 available

Pool for divers – sea water, 5 mtr deep maximum, adequate for many students, big size pool timing from 8 am till 11am only. Far from dive site

Teaching for students there is 12-meter seabed with tiles placed.

Ease of Entry – you can enter with your Dive master or instructor, Entry and exit with your instructor only.

Cost per person Sr 150/-

Over ground	Underwater	Marine life	Ease of entry	Gear rentals	Overall experience
**	****	****	**	**	***

BOAT DIVES FOR WRECK & REEF DIVES -OFF JEDDAH COAST

we have mainly 4 wreck dives which are easily accessible, 1 wreck dive needs advanced training – boiler wreck,

These dive sites are accessed by boat only,

following are the boat booking places for diving here

Blue reef Divers

Marsa al ahlam, Jeddah and Bohariyat city

Al haddad Scuba divers

WRECK DIVES

Chicken wreck

Marble wreck

Ann Wreck

Cable Wreck

Boiler Wreck

REEF DIVES

Coral Garden 1 & 2

Elbow Reef

WRECK & REEF DIVES – YANBU

SS IONA SHIP WRECK

SS IONA, built by Gourlay Bros. & Co., Dundee in 1892 and owned at the time of her loss by Cairn Line of Steamships, Ltd. (Cairns, Noble & Co. ), Dundee, was a British steamer of 3344 tons. On June 3rd, 1915 the ship was reported to be lost at sea. There is a wreck in the Red Sea that was identified as being the SS Iona. through Engine Numbers etc. The theory is that the ship was never sunken but rather captured by the Germans and then given to their WW1 allies the Turks, who used it in the Red Sea. It was ran onto a reef off the coast of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia at a date unknown. The wreck is still well preserved.

length of the ship is 109.9 m x 13.6 x 8 m

engine: triple expansion engines, 3 boilers, single shaft, 1 screw

bow of the ship is against the Coral reef wall at the depth of 13 -14 mtrs, slanting towards leeward, and its broken horizontally and leaning towards leeward side, ship is broken from the cabin area, back side of the ship is intact and rich in corals and creatures,

stern of the ship relatively intact, touching the bottom at around 50 -52 meters. and the lower end standing on the towers of corals.

penetration of the wreck is easy as the deck is open from the top

advanced open water with nitrox back up advisable, for wreck penetration dives.

CORAL Garden:

The reef next to the SS IONA is good for the 2nd dive, depth is around 16-17 meters, Good visibility and rich life. sand is white and good light

7 Sisters reefs,