Farasan Banks diving in Saudi Arabia. Liveaboard in the Red Sea

Farasan Banks offers fantastic diving in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea. This is a fantastic diving trip that you can experience during our winter months where you start by flying to Saudi to have a hotel night there. When you land in Saudi Arabia, you are already as far south as the border between Egypt and Sudan. The next day, after a night's rest, you travel roughly 200 km south to Al-Lith where you board your liveaboard and a few hours' boat ride later you arrive at the almost mythical reefs outside the Farasan banks. Here, outside the enormous banks, there are several smaller islands that spread out like little jewels in the blue sea, and here you will find perhaps the Red Sea's best and most exciting diving today. You are as far south as Eritrea when you are here. Farasan Banks offers the best diving in November - May here in Saudi Arabia.

Farasan Banks has a rich wildlife both above and below the surface

The sandbars and reefs at Farasan Banks are an area of ​​largely untouched reefs. Small islands covered with mangrove and here there is a rich animal life also on land. For example, ospreys and various seabirds such as soles and terns nest here. Here you have sandy beaches where turtles lay their eggs. Pristine seabeds inhabited by all kinds of marine life and dramatic walls rising vertically from the depths are the scenario that presents itself when diving at Farasan Banks. Diving here combines amazing wall dives with beautiful coral gardens.. The walls are covered with anemones, gorgonians and various sponges. There are also lots of colorful soft and hard corals and Brothers attract a large number of fish. The fish in turn attract large marine pelagic species. You can expect to see whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, white tip reef sharks, black tip reef sharks, turtles and a variety of hard and soft corals.

Årfen shark, gray reef shark, thresher shark, tiger shark, bull shark and silky shark are also seen regularly. Schools of tuna and barracuda, large Napoleon fish, schools of spadefish (often mistakenly called batfish), perhaps swordfish and other larger pelagic fish also show up. Sometimes you are lucky and can both snorkel and dive with dolphins, but also pilot whales and other larger mammals are seen here as well. The currents are often strong and can go in all directions. The reward is an incredibly rich marine life where sharks are basically guaranteed to be seen. Also several species of capes such as stingrays, eagle capes and electric capes are sometimes seen here and of course the graceful and majestic ex.

At least 30-50 logged dives

A recommendation and general rule is you have at least 30-50 logged dives to dive here. Preferably +50 dives and deep divers as well, as it is not unusual to dive to 40 m. You should also have at least advanced open water or equivalent to get the most out of your diving trip to Saudi Arabia. There are often strong currents in the area and the guides are there so that everyone can experience the diving in the best way, so should be used to diving in flowing water and have good control over your balance.

Important to know is that the nearest pressure chamber is in Jeddah and is 10 hours away by boat. It is not allowed to evacuate by speedboat in Saudi Arabia so when you dive at Farasan Banks keep in mind that it is far away and that diving is a bit restrictive. This is one of many great diving trips and liveaboards you can do with liveaboard in the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia with the help of us at Scuba Travel.

What is included?

  • Flight including meal
  • Meeting at the airport
  • Two nights in a hotel, part in a double room including breakfast
  • Transfers from the airport to the hotel and to the boat
  • 7 – 10 nights in a shared double cabin with own shower and toilet
  • All meals, snacks, drinks (no alcohol)
  • 6-9 days of diving with 3-4 dives per day (last day 1-2 dives) including guide
  • weights, belt and 12L bottle