What is the best time to dive Yanbu?

The best months to dive Yanbu in Saudi Arabia are October, November, December, January, February, March, April. Water temperatures range from 22°C to 32°C during peak season.

Yanbu reaches a maximum depth of 35 m, with visibility ranging from 15–35 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Yanbu?

Yanbu is known for encounters with hawksbill turtle, Napoleon wrasse, grey reef shark, clownfish, moray eel, lionfish. The site features reef, wall, wreck, shore diving across 30 named sites, with a marine life score of 72/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Yanbu good for beginners?

Yanbu is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be mild and depths reach 35 m. A minimum Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Yanbu?

A 2-tank dive at Yanbu averages around $100 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

Yanbu Diving — Score: 67.3/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Beginner Friendly

Yanbu

Saudi ArabiaRed Sea

67.3

SCORE

24.0895°N

38.0618°E

Yanbu sits on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast with undived reefs that have been off-limits to international tourism until recently. The Seven Sisters reef system offers some of the healthiest coral in the northern Red Sea, with easy shore access and minimal diver traffic. Saudi Vision 2030 is rapidly developing infrastructure while the marine ecosystem remains virtually untouched.

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Reef City

Visibility15–35 m

Temperature22–32°C

Max Depth35 m

Currentmild

2-Tank Dive$100

Best MonthsOctober, November, December, January

CertificationOpen WaterBeginner Friendly

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

72.0

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

72.0

Coral & reef health

78.0

Visibility & conditions

75.0

Dive site variety

62.0

Water temperature

75.0

Depth & access

62.0

Operator quality

65.0

Topside experience

52.0

Getting there

68.0

Value & cost

68.0

Crowding

82.0

Social proof

48.0

Key species

hawksbill turtle Napoleon wrasse grey reef shark clownfish moray eel lionfish

Dive types

reefwallwreckshore

Traveling with non-divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for non-divers

Yanbu Old TownRoyal Commission parksdesert excursionsMedina day trip

Nearby cultural sites

Yanbu Old Town
Hejaz Railway ruins

Non-diver score

5/10

Limited topside — plan ahead for non-diving partners.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifebasic

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber10 km — Yanbu General Hospital Hyperbaric Unit

Nearest Hospital5 km

Yanbu General Hospital has a hyperbaric chamber; additional facilities in Jeddah (350 km) — DAN coverage recommended

Skill LevelBeginner Friendly

Current Strengthmild

Top operators

Dream Divers Saudi

PADI

4.5

80 reviewsNITROX

Compare this dive site

Yanbu in Saudi Arabia scores 67.3/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for reef diving with 15–35m visibility and 22–32°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$100 USD. Peak season: October, November, December.

Last updated: 2026-05-25

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Newly certified divers building confidence
+ Wreck diving enthusiasts
+ Groups seeking 30+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You need shore access — this is mixed-only

Verdict

Choose Yanbu over similar Red Sea destinations when crowding matters more than social proof

How Yanbu compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Yanbu	67.3	15–35m	$100	reef, wall
St. John's Reef	72.6	20–40m	$80	reef, wall
Hurghada	72.3	15–40m	$55	reef, wreck
Fury Shoals	72.0	20–40m	$75	reef, drift
Safaga	70.3	15–40m	$55	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

45+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“Accessible to most certified divers with basic open water skills.”

What will challenge you

→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 35 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 10°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.

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
mild
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
mild
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	25–35	27	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Feb	25–35	27	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Mar	25–35	27	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Apr	25–35	27	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
May	25–35	27	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Jun	15–25	30	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Jul	15–25	30	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, manta season
Aug	15–25	30	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, manta season
Sep	15–25	30	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, manta season
Oct	15–25	30	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Nov	25–35	27	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Dec	25–35	27	Mild	Calm	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 subjects79

Wide angle74

Viz stability72

Hover friendliness100

Natural light53

Recommended kit

→Macro lens (60mm or 105mm), focus light, dual strobes positioned for fill
→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. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,950–$2,750

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $810–$990
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $90–$100
Food / day: $15–$30
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$3,000–$4,500

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

Flights (RT from US): $1,150–$1,450
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $100–$130
Food / day: $35–$65
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$5,100–$8,100

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $1,800–$2,200
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $130–$170
Food / day: $75–$150
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

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

Yanbu Diving — Saudi Arabia