What is the best time to dive Suakin Archipelago?

The best months to dive Suakin Archipelago in Sudan are October, November, December, January, February, March. Water temperatures range from 24°C to 31°C during peak season.

How deep is Suakin Archipelago?

Suakin Archipelago reaches a maximum depth of 45 m, with visibility ranging from 20–40 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Suakin Archipelago?

Suakin Archipelago is known for encounters with hammerhead shark, manta ray, dugong, giant moray, bluespotted stingray. The site features reef, wall, wreck, drift diving across 12 named sites, with a marine life score of 85/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Suakin Archipelago good for beginners?

Suakin Archipelago is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be moderate and depths reach 45 m. A minimum Advanced Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Suakin Archipelago?

A 2-tank dive at Suakin Archipelago averages around $150 USD, placing it in the luxury tier. Most diving here is done via liveaboard, so factor in multi-day packages when budgeting.

Suakin Archipelago Diving — Score: 65.8/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Advanced

Suakin Archipelago

SudanMiddle East

65.8

SCORE

19.1000°N

37.3500°E

The Suakin Archipelago lies near the ruined Ottoman port city of Suakin, one of the most atmospheric ghost towns in the world. Underwater, the reefs are virtually untouched by tourism, with walls plunging into blue water where hammerheads school at depth and dugongs graze in the shallows. Expedition-level logistics required.

Ghost Port's Untouched Red Sea Reefs

Visibility20–40 m

Temperature24–31°C

Max Depth45 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$150

Best MonthsOctober, November, December, January

CertificationAdvanced Open WaterAdvanced

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

85.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

85.0

Coral & reef health

82.0

Visibility & conditions

85.0

Dive site variety

58.0

Water temperature

85.0

Depth & access

70.0

Operator quality

70.0

Topside experience

30.0

Getting there

18.0

Value & cost

50.0

Crowding

95.0

Social proof

62.0

Key species

hammerhead shark manta ray dugong giant moray bluespotted stingray

Dive types

reefwallwreckdrift

Traveling with non-divers?

This destination is primarily accessed by liveaboard — not ideal for non-diving partners. Consider planning separate shore-based activities before or after your liveaboard trip.

Activities for non-divers

Suakin ghost city ruinsdhow harbour visit

Nearby cultural sites

Suakin Ottoman ruins

Non-diver score

4/10

Limited topside — plan ahead for non-diving partners.

Family FriendlyNot recommended

Restaurants & Nightlifenone

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber50 km — Port Sudan Navy Hospital Chamber

Nearest Hospital50 km

Chamber at Port Sudan; liveaboard carries O2; limited infrastructure

Skill LevelAdvanced

Current Strengthmoderate

Top operators

MY Royal Evolution

PADI

4.7

30 reviewsNITROX

Compare this dive site

Suakin Archipelago in Sudan scores 65.8/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for reef diving with 20–40m visibility and 24–31°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$150 USD. Peak season: October, November, December.

Last updated: 2026-05-25

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Marine life enthusiasts seeking hammerhead shark encounters
+ Wreck diving enthusiasts
+ Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
+ Wide-angle photographers wanting crystal visibility

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You're on a tight budget — avg $150/dive
− You get seasick or prefer shore-based diving

Verdict

Choose Suakin Archipelago over similar Middle East destinations when crowding matters more than getting there

How Suakin Archipelago compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Suakin Archipelago	65.8	20–40m	$150	reef, wall
Sanganeb Reef	68.0	20–45m	$150	reef, wall
Sha'ab Rumi	67.6	20–40m	$200	wall, drift
Daymaniyat Islands	67.2	10–25m	$100	reef, wall
Fujairah	59.4	5–15m	$85	reef, wreck

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

70+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“Intermediate minimum — deep profiles and variable viz.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 45 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.
→Liveaboard only. Self-sufficiency matters — you're far from dive medical support.

What will surprise you

→You'll do 3–4 dives a day for a week straight. Fitness and sleep discipline matter more than your certification level.
→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 7°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.
→Permit-restricted access. Book 6+ months ahead through a licensed operator.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
peak
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	20–30	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Feb	20–30	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Mar	20–30	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Apr	20–30	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
May	36–40	31	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Jun	36–40	31	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Jul	36–40	31	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Aug	36–40	31	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Sep	36–40	31	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Oct	20–30	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Nov	20–30	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Dec	20–30	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects62

Wide angle83

Viz stability80

Hover friendliness55

Natural light47

Recommended kit

→Wide-angle or fisheye (8-15mm range), dual strobes for close-focus wide angle
→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. This is a liveaboard destination, so the dive package rolls accommodation and food into one nightly rate.

Budget

$3,150–$3,800

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $720–$880
Diving / day: $330–$380
Transfers + misc: $100–$250

Mid-range

$3,900–$5,200

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,150–$1,450
Diving / day: $380–$500
Transfers + misc: $100–$250

Splurge

$5,400–$7,000

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $1,800–$2,200
Diving / day: $500–$650
Transfers + misc: $100–$250

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Suakin Archipelago Diving — Sudan

Score breakdown

Marine Life

Key species

Dive types

Traveling with non-divers?

Activities for non-divers

Nearby cultural sites

Non-diver score

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

Top operators

MY Royal Evolution

Who should dive here

Best for

Skip if

Verdict

How Suakin Archipelago compares

What your dive shop won't tell you

When to dive it

Dive forecast

Photography brief

What this site will teach you

Deep diving comfort

7-day trip, per person

Budget decision guide

Build a trip around it