Aqaba and the Red Sea

Aqaba, On The Northern Tip Of The Red Sea, Has Warm Clear Water, Coral Reefs And Shipwrecks Such As The Cedar Pride, The Tank And Japanese Gardens Dive Sites, All Protected By The Aqaba Marine Park (1997). A Resort And Duty Free City, With Aqaba Fort, The Hejaz Railway Station And A Short Drive To Wadi Rum And Petra. · Aqaba, Aqaba

Aqaba is Jordan's only coast, about 27 km of shore on the Gulf of Aqaba, with Eilat in Israel and Taba in Egypt visible across the water. It is a resort, port and diving city, not a historic centre, and it is honest to say so. The draw is the Red Sea: warm clear water, coral reefs and wrecks inside the Aqaba Marine Park along the South Beach, including the Cedar Pride, the Tank, the Japanese Gardens and the Seven Sisters. Diving runs all year, the water stays about 21 to 28 C, and the reefs start close to shore. The public beach is basic and busy, while resort beaches sell day passes. On land you can see Aqaba Fort, the small Archaeological Museum, the ruins of Ayla, the Hejaz railway station and the Great Arab Revolt Plaza with its giant flagpole. Summers are brutally hot, often 40 C or more, winters are mild, and Petra and Wadi Rum are easy day trips. Come for the sea, sayadieh fish rice and a warm break between desert days, but do not expect old streets, souks or crowds of monuments, so plan it as a rest stop.

Jordan's only seaport and coast on the Gulf of Aqaba at the Red Sea, with dive sites along the South Beach Marine Park about 10 to 20 km south of town, Aqaba, Aqaba, Jordan

The sea and the Corniche are open at all hours. Dive centres and boat trips usually run daily from the morning, with fewer departures in rough weather. Aqaba Fort and the museum keep short daytime hours and can CLOSE on some days, so confirm locally. Resort beaches sell day passes during the day. The Ayla ruins are FREE and open to walk around in daylight.

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