Jordan Water Sports
Jordan is famous for its outdoor sports and water sports. Jordan has a number of avenues for such sports, which makes it one of the much sought after destinations. People find Jordan very attractive as an exciting diving destination because of its uncrowded reefs covered with hard and soft corals. The seas in the area are generally calm with a visibility range of over 15 metres.
The coast that lies to the south of Aqaba on the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba is full of tropical fish and coral. The area is famed for its diving and snorkeling throughout the year. The coral reefs are to be found quite close to the shore and the temperature of the water does not normally fall below 20 C. Aqaba is famous for its watersports and there are a number of hotels and private clubs which offer water-sporting activities. Stroll along the tranquil beaches of Aqaba, or take a swim towards the coral reefs which have innumerable species of coral and fish. The reefs in Aqaba support many unique species of marine life such as Frog fish, Ghost Pipe fish, Harlequin shrimp, and Seahorses. Divers wound find Jordan quite interesting as they would find Napoleon Wrasse, turtles, grouper, barracuda, and jacks. You will also find some small species of fish such as anthias and chromis. The sight of the shoals of these small fish is really incredible.
There are a number of dive centers at Aqaba which offer PADI courses, hire out equipment, and conduct boat tours. You should bear in mind that it is forbidden to remove coral or shells, to use harpoon guns and fishing spears. Extremely strict laws have been passed for safeguarding marine life. One of the notable features at Aqaba is that you can have the unique experience of undertaking Dolphin, Shark, and Whale watching trips.
The Red Sea resort of Aqaba is warm, sunny, and very alluring which invites you to enjoy the palm fringed clear waters of the Gulf of Aqaba. The Red Sea which is ringed by mountains changes it colors as the sun keeps changing its positions. This stunning underworld of coral, fish, and other marine life is very close to the beach. Snorkeling, water skiing, wind surfing, fishing, boating, paddle-boating, and scuba diving are extremely popular water sports.
There are a number of dive sites in and around Aqaba, but sites which need special mention are those near the Saudi Border and Power Station both of which offer the chance of seeing some large marine species as well as soft corals. Other dive sites worth making a mention are the Gorgonian 1 and the Aquarium which exhibit a tremendous variety of reef fish. But, one of the top dive sites that is made of the best wrecks and one which can be easily accessed from the shore is the ‘Cedar Pride’, an 80-metre long Lebanese freighter that sank in 1986. The wreck lies in depths between 12 to 27 meters and has become covered with coral and marine life. This makes for an excellent dive at any time of the day or night and is one of the most exciting water sports.
One of the thrilling water sports is snorkeling, but there is no snorkeling near the town as the existing reefs were destroyed to facilitate access to the port. If you are interested in serious snorkeling, you will have to go towards the south where the reefs are close to the shore. The best way to go snorkeling is through one of the reputed dive centers.
