## Diving the Cedar Pride in Aqaba, Jordan: A Practical Guide to the Red Sea’s Classic Wreck

Off the coast of Aqaba, the Cedar Pride lies on her port side between two coral reefs, transformed from a damaged freighter into one of Jordan’s signature wreck dives. Today, this 80-plus-meter ship is a thriving artificial reef, covered in soft corals and home to dense Red Sea marine life. Garden Diving Center

This guide walks you through the story of the wreck, what to expect underwater, how to plan a dive here safely, and how conditions are changing over time.

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## The Story Behind the Cedar Pride

The Cedar Pride started life as a Lebanese cargo vessel built in the 1960s. Blue Dive Center In July 1982, while anchored in Aqaba’s port, a fire and explosion tore a hole in the hull, leaving the ship badly damaged and partially sunk. Travel and Tourism

Rather than scrap her, Jordan’s then-Crown Prince Abdullah (now King Abdullah II), an enthusiastic diver, ordered the ship to be cleaned of fuel and pollutants and deliberately scuttled to create an artificial reef for divers. Travel and Tourism On 16 November 1985, the Cedar Pride was sunk a short distance off the coast near Aqaba’s South Beach. Garden Diving Center

Key facts that are consistently reported:

– Type: Lebanese freighter
– Approximate length: ~81 m, about 20 m wide
– Scuttled: 16 November 1985 as an artificial reef Garden Diving Center
– Position: Lies on her port side across two coral reefs, bow pointing roughly north Garden Diving Center

Over several decades, the wreck has become heavily encrusted with hard and soft corals and is now described in multiple dive sources as one of the Red Sea’s most photogenic wrecks.

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## Where the Cedar Pride Lies and How Deep It Goes

The Cedar Pride rests in the Gulf of Aqaba, a short drive south of Aqaba city near the cluster of shore-accessible dive sites along the protected coast. Several operators describe it as reachable from both shore and boat, with a mooring buoy marking the site at the surface. Garden Diving Center

Depth profile based on multiple independent dive maps and operator descriptions:

– Shallowest point (starboard side / upper hull): ~10–12 m, around the main mast Garden Diving Center
– Stern seabed: ~16 m Garden Diving Center
– Bow seabed: ~21 m Garden Diving Center
– Swim-through under the hull: ~25–27 m depending on exact route Garden Diving Center
– Overall depth range quoted by most centers: roughly 10–27 m

That depth range makes the Cedar Pride accessible to many Open Water and Advanced divers, with space for more experienced divers to explore deeper sections and limited penetration routes.

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## What It’s Like to Dive the Cedar Pride

### The Descent and First View

Most guided dives follow the mooring line down toward the stern. From around 10–12 m, you get a full side-on view of the wreck lying across the reef, with the mast and superstructure framed against the blue water — this is one of the classic photo angles frequently shown in operator galleries and magazines. Garden Diving Center

From the stern, routes usually:

1. Traverse along the lower hull near the seabed,
2. Swing under the bow section,
3. Cross beneath the hull through the sand-bottomed swim-through,
4. Then ascend along the main mast and superstructure, finishing with a safety stop near the mooring line. Adventure Divers

### Wreck Structure and Penetration

The Cedar Pride is largely intact, and multiple dive descriptions mention:

– Two large cargo holds accessible from the side or top
– A visible lifeboat near the stern at ~20 m
– A trapped air pocket in the rear cargo hold where divers can briefly surface (but still keep their regulator in) Travel and Tourism

Penetration is possible but should only be done with proper wreck training, redundant lighting, and a guide who knows the layout. Operators repeatedly emphasize that penetration and the deeper swim-through are for experienced divers only. Garden Diving Center

### Coral Growth and Marine Life

Over decades underwater, the Cedar Pride has become a dense artificial reef. Dive sources consistently highlight:

– Extensive soft coral and sea fan gardens along the hull and masts
– Regular sightings of lionfish, angelfish, snappers, barracuda, and reef damsels, along with common Red Sea species like butterflyfish and wrasse
– Occasional turtles and seahorses reported around the wreck and nearby coral blocks

Because the wreck bridges two natural reefs, you effectively get a combination of classic Red Sea reef diving and wreck exploration in a single profile.

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## Conditions: Visibility, Water Temperature, and When to Go

### Visibility and Currents

Travel boards and official tourism pages consistently describe diving in Aqaba as:

– Good to excellent visibility, often 20–30 m or more Blue Dive Center
– Generally mild currents around the main recreational sites, including wrecks

That said, visibility and current can vary with wind, recent storms, and boat traffic, so guides will usually make a site-by-site call on the day.

### Water Temperature and Seasonality

Published dive temperature charts for Aqaba show:

– Winter (Dec–Feb): roughly 20–22 °C
– Spring (Mar–May): around 21–23 °C
– Summer (Jun–Aug): about 24–27 °C, sometimes higher
– Autumn (Sep–Nov): typically in the mid-20s °C Garden Diving Center

You can dive the Cedar Pride year-round, but many operators highlight spring and autumn as the sweet spots: warm water, high visibility, and more comfortable air temperatures than peak summer. Blue Dive Center

### Climate Change and Extreme Heat

Recent reporting shows that Aqaba has experienced record-breaking summer heat, with nighttime temperatures staying above 35 °C and daytime highs reaching around 49.6 °C in 2025. Guardian

That has two practical implications:

– Surface intervals can be extremely hot in mid-summer; shade, hydration, and sun protection matter as much as your dive gear.
– Ongoing warming and heatwaves may gradually affect coral health in the wider Aqaba Marine Reserve; conditions you read in older dive guides may not fully match what you see today.

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## Who the Cedar Pride Is Suitable For

Because the top of the wreck is around 10–12 m and the seabed hits ~27 m, the site can be tailored to different levels:

– Newer/Open Water divers
– Can stay above ~18 m, exploring the superstructure, mast, and upper hull where coral growth is dense. Garden Diving Center
– Advanced/experienced divers
– Can drop to the bow and stern seabed, pass under the hull at ~25–27 m, or carry out limited wreck penetration with proper training and procedures. Garden Diving Center

If you are still gaining confidence, you can request a conservative profile that avoids overhead environments and stays within your training limits. Dive centers around Aqaba repeatedly emphasize small groups and matching routes to certification level.

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## Safety and Environmental Tips

Because the Cedar Pride sits in a fringing reef system that Jordan has spent decades protecting, it’s worth approaching it with both safety and conservation in mind.

### Safety Basics

– Dive with a licensed local operator. Aqaba’s dive centers know the wreck’s mooring lines, common down-current areas, and safe penetration routes.
– Respect depth and training limits. The swim-through and interior sections are overhead environments; they should be treated as true wreck dives with appropriate skills. Garden Diving Center
– Monitor no-decompression time carefully. A typical Cedar Pride profile includes time at 20–27 m; many guides plan a multi-level ascent using the main mast and upper hull to extend bottom time safely. Garden Diving Center

### Environmental Considerations

The wreck lies within Jordan’s protected coastal zone, which hosts hundreds of coral species and a wide range of fish.

To keep it thriving:

– Maintain excellent buoyancy around soft corals and sea fans on the hull and mast.
– Avoid touching the air pocket inside the hold with bare skin or exhaling directly into it, which can alter its gas mix and micro-environment. Travel and Tourism
– Follow local guidance on no-take rules; the area is intended as a refuge for marine life and a long-term dive resource.

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## Practical Trip-Planning Notes (and What Might Be Outdated)

Because operators, regulations, and climate conditions evolve, some practical details you see in older dive articles may no longer be accurate.

Things that can change and should be re-checked close to your trip:

– Exact access point: Some guides emphasize shore entry; others focus on boat diving. Both are currently described as possible, but coastal infrastructure and permissions can shift. Garden Diving Center
– Marine park zoning and fees: Aqaba’s protected coastal management has been updated over the years; zoning or fee structures may differ from older 2010s-era blog posts.
– Seasonal comfort: Temperature tables on dive-center sites are accurate for the period they were recorded, but recent extreme heat events suggest on-land conditions in midsummer may now be harsher than those older averages imply. Garden Diving Center

Before you lock in dates, it’s worth checking a recent Aqaba diving conditions update from a local center and current travel advisories for Jordan.

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## How the Cedar Pride Fits into a Wider Aqaba Dive Trip

The Cedar Pride is just one of several wrecks and coral sites along Jordan’s 26 km coastline. Many itineraries pair it with nearby reefs such as Rainbow Reef and Japanese Gardens, mentioned in dive-site descriptions as neighboring locations, as well as other artificial reef wrecks like the C-130 Hercules and underwater military museum.

On RealJourneyTravels, this article would naturally link to:

– An in-depth Aqaba city and Red Sea coast guide ([Aqaba travel guide](#))
– A broader overview of Jordan’s Red Sea wrecks and reef diving ([Diving in Aqaba and the Red Sea](#))