From Jeddah: Boat Trip and Diving for Certified Divers

Jeddah’s Red Sea coast gives you a chance to spend a half-day above and below the water, with two boat-based scuba sessions at reefs, wrecks, or coral islands. The best parts are the small groups of up to 10 and the chance to reach sites such as Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, and Crazy 8 rather than staying close to shore.

I like that tanks and weight belts are included, and I like the simple onboard extras: snacks, soft drinks, and a long break between sessions. The main concern is consistency. Several bookings went smoothly, but one serious complaint described late departure, missing equipment, and poor safety arrangements. Confirm your gear and recent scuba history before you go.

Key points to know before booking

• Two boat-based scuba sessions: The trip includes two guided sessions at reefs, wreck sites, or coral islands.
• Recent experience is required: If you have not logged a scuba session within the previous six months, you will snorkel instead.
• Equipment costs extra: Tanks and weight belts are included, but a full rental package costs about 145 SAR.
• Compact group size: The boat can carry a maximum of 10 participants, including scuba participants and snorkelers.
• Five-and-a-half-hour schedule: Expect a yacht ride, two water sessions, a break, breakfast, and the return trip.
• Good value when you own gear: At $93, the price is more attractive for certified participants bringing their own mask, fins, wetsuit, regulator, and BCD.

A Red Sea outing built around two water sessions

This is a practical way to see the Red Sea from Jeddah without committing to a liveaboard or a full-day expedition. You meet at Al-Haddad Scuba, board the yacht, and travel toward a selected area. The exact site depends on conditions and the day’s plan, but possible locations include Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, Crazy 8, wreck sites, and coral islands.

The appeal is variety. A reef can give you coral and fish, while a wreck offers a different setting and a stronger sense of exploration. The available details do not promise one fixed site, so you should treat the names as possible destinations rather than guaranteed stops.

The group limit of 10 matters here. A smaller boat group usually makes equipment checks, briefings, and water entry less crowded. One especially good arrangement had four scuba participants and six snorkelers, with no other boat at the sites that day. That kind of quiet water time can make a real difference.

The experience is led in Arabic, English, Italian, or Russian. No individual guide name is supplied, so you should confirm your language preference when booking if that matters to you.

Leaving Al-Haddad Scuba for the yacht

The day starts at Al-Haddad Scuba, the operating center in Jeddah. The scheduled yacht ride takes about one hour. That is a fairly long transfer for a half-day trip, but it also gives the boat time to reach offshore sites rather than limiting the outing to the nearest accessible water.

You should arrive ready to move through the setup without wasting time. Bring your passport, visa, or other identification. One participant specifically advised carrying ID during the boat ride, so do not leave it behind at your accommodation.

The equipment question deserves attention at the start. Tanks and weight belts are part of the price, but the following items are not included:

• BCD
• Regulator
• Wetsuit
• Mask
• Fins
• Nitrox tanks

The listed rental cost for the main gear is about 145 SAR. Ask in advance whether the center has every item you need and whether the sizes are reserved for you. This is not just a comfort issue. For scuba, missing or poorly fitted equipment can affect the whole day.

One complaint described arriving at the marina without a wetsuit, regulator, or other required gear. Other bookings praised the borrowed equipment as being in excellent condition. The practical lesson is simple: confirm the equipment arrangement before departure, and inspect your kit before boarding if possible.

The first guided session at the selected site

After roughly an hour on the yacht, you reach the day’s operating area. The first scuba session lasts about one hour. You may visit a reef, wreck, or coral island, depending on the route chosen for that date.

Anas Reef and Duqais are listed among the possible areas, while Chicken Wreck offers the most obvious wreck-focused option. Crazy 8 is another named possibility. Since the operator can choose among several sites, conditions and local planning matter more than a fixed sightseeing checklist.

I like this format for certified participants who want two proper sessions rather than a quick introductory swim. You have enough time to settle into the water, look around, and use the first session to get comfortable with visibility, current, and the group pace.

Still, the six-month rule is important. If your last logged scuba session was more than six months ago, you will not be allowed to take the boat scuba option and will snorkel instead. This is not a small booking detail. If you have been out of the water for a year, as one participant had, the operator may not treat a brief refresher as enough for the offshore plan.

If your recent experience is borderline, contact the center before paying. The activity is aimed at certified divers with current practice, not at people returning after a long break.

The break and breakfast period

The schedule allows about one hour for a break, followed by a 15-minute breakfast stop. The timing gives you a chance to rest between water sessions instead of rushing directly from one into the next.

Snacks and soft drinks are included, but a full meal is not. You should bring suitable food if you need more than the supplied refreshments. Food, towels, and a change of clothes are listed as personal expenses, so pack with a wet half-day in mind.

The onboard refreshments may sound minor, but they are useful after a long water session and boat ride. One successful outing took place during Ramadan and still provided drinks and snacks. You should not assume a large breakfast, though. Think of the included food as light provisions rather than a full meal.

This is also the natural point to manage your own comfort. A dry change of clothes and a towel are not included, and you will be grateful for both after spending time in salt water. Nitrox is also not part of the package, so ask about availability and cost if you specifically require it.

The second session and the ride back

The second scuba session lasts another hour. Having two sessions is the strongest reason to choose this trip over a short coastal swim. You get a second chance to see the area after your first session has helped you adjust to the boat, equipment, and water.

The quality of the day depends heavily on the guide and the center’s preparation. Several bookings described the staff as friendly, helpful, professional, punctual, and smooth to deal with. One praised a divemaster for working hard and doing a good job. Another person found the operation unsafe and disorganized, with no apparent instructor and equipment unavailable at the marina.

That difference is too large to ignore. Scuba requires clear briefings, functioning equipment, proper supervision, and a sensible plan for participants with different experience levels. Before entering the water, you should know who is supervising, what the route is, and what happens if you need help.

After the second session, the yacht ride back takes about 80 minutes. The full activity is advertised at 330 minutes, or roughly five and a half hours. The listed schedule includes about one hour out, two one-hour water sessions, an hour break, 15 minutes for breakfast, and about 80 minutes back. Allow the full half-day rather than planning a tight connection afterward.

What the $93 price really includes

At $93 per person, the price is reasonable if you already own the main pieces of scuba equipment. You receive the boat trip, two guided sessions, tanks, weight belts, snacks, and soft drinks. For a certified participant with a complete kit, that is a straightforward package.

The value changes if you need to rent everything. Adding about 145 SAR for a BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, and fins can make the total notably higher. Nitrox costs extra as well, and food beyond the light onboard snacks is your responsibility.

I would compare the final price with the amount of water time you want. Two one-hour sessions plus the boat transfers make this more useful than a sightseeing cruise with a single short swim. On the other hand, if you are mainly interested in snorkeling, the cost may feel high unless the boat route and coral sites are your main goal.

Snorkelers are welcome, and the operator says the trip suits both seasoned snorkelers and first-timers. Keep in mind that the scuba and snorkeling sites may not always be identical. That distinction mattered to one booking, where the participant expected boat scuba but was offered shore sessions after the center judged the long gap since the last logged session.

Who will get the most from this trip

This outing suits you best if you are:

• Certified and have logged a scuba session within the last six months
• Comfortable with a small boat group
• Interested in reefs, wrecks, and offshore coral areas
• Happy with a flexible route rather than one guaranteed site
• Bringing your own mask, fins, wetsuit, BCD, and regulator, or willing to pay for rental
• Looking for two guided sessions in a single half-day

It is less suitable if you are returning after a long break, need a structured refresher course, or expect every piece of equipment and a full meal to be included.

The trip can also work for mixed groups. Snorkelers and scuba participants may share the yacht, which lets friends or couples with different interests spend the day together. Just remember that the water activities may use different sites or arrangements.

Safety and organization deserve a direct check

The strongest positive pattern is the praise for staff professionalism, punctuality, helpfulness, and the small group size. Good equipment condition was also singled out, which is important for a technical activity.

But the negative account is serious, not a minor complaint about comfort. It described an hour of waiting, a move to the marina without the promised equipment, no clear instructor presence, and an extra charge for a short shore refresher. You should not brush aside concerns like these.

I recommend asking three direct questions before the activity date:

1. Is my certification and recent logged experience acceptable for the boat sessions?
2. Which equipment is reserved for me, and what is the final rental cost?
3. Who will supervise the scuba group on the boat?

If the answers are vague, reconsider. A strong price cannot compensate for uncertain safety arrangements.

The operator offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms give you some flexibility while you confirm the practical details.

Should you book the Jeddah Red Sea trip?

Book it if you are a current certified scuba participant, want two one-hour sessions, and value access to named reef and wreck areas from a small boat. The $93 starting price is fair when tanks, weights, refreshments, and boat transport are enough for your needs.

I would be more cautious if you need extensive rental gear or have not been in the water for six months. Confirm the equipment, supervision, and recent-experience rule before committing. For the right participant, this can be a memorable Red Sea day with coral, fish, and the chance to find a quiet site. For an infrequent scuba participant, the trip may turn into snorkeling or a separate refresher at extra cost.

FAQ

Where does the activity begin?

You meet at Al-Haddad Scuba in Jeddah.

How long does the full activity take?

The advertised duration is 330 minutes, or about five and a half hours.

How many scuba sessions are included?

The schedule includes two guided boat-based scuba sessions, each lasting about one hour.

What scuba sites might the boat visit?

Possible areas include Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, Crazy 8, wreck sites, and coral islands. The exact destination can vary.

What equipment is included?

Tanks and weight belts are included. BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, masks, and fins are available to rent for about 145 SAR.

Is Nitrox included?

No. Nitrox tanks are not included in the price.

What happens if I have not scuba dived in six months?

You will not be allowed to take the scuba option and will snorkel instead.

Are snacks and drinks provided?

Yes. Snacks and soft drinks are included, but a full meal is not. Breakfast is listed as a 15-minute stop.

What languages are available?

Guiding is available in Arabic, English, Italian, and Russian.