Jordan deliberately sank this fire-damaged freighter in 1985 to turn it into an artificial reef, now a coral-covered diver's playground.
About Cedar Pride Shipwreck
After the Cedar Pride was damaged by fire, the decision was taken to scuttle it off Aqaba in 1985 to create an artificial reef, a project linked to royal interest in developing the coast's diving. The wreck settled on its side on a reef slope, and marine life steadily colonised it. It has become a centrepiece of Aqaba's dive scene and a model of turning a derelict ship into a living reef.
Cedar Pride Shipwreck
The Cedar Pride is a sunken cargo ship lying off the coast of Aqaba in the Red Sea, one of Jordan's most popular dive sites. Deliberately scuttled to create an artificial reef, the wreck now rests on its side at a divable depth, encrusted with coral and teeming with marine life, an atmospheric playground for divers and snorkellers.
A Wreck Made on Purpose
The Cedar Pride was a Lebanese freighter damaged by fire in the early 1980s. Rather than scrap it, Jordan sank it off Aqaba in 1985 to form an artificial reef and dive attraction, reportedly with royal encouragement. Over the decades, corals, sponges and fish have colonised the hull, masts and decks, transforming the ship into a thriving underwater ecosystem and one of the signature dives of the Jordanian Red Sea.
The Experience
You dive or snorkel down to the wreck, swimming along its coral-crusted hull, past the masts draped in marine growth and through openings alive with fish, in the clear, warm water of the Red Sea. The ship's structure makes for dramatic underwater scenery and photography. Suitable for various levels of diver, it is one of the most rewarding and accessible wreck dives in the region.
Why It Matters
The Cedar Pride exemplifies how a sunken vessel can become a thriving artificial reef and a major draw for marine tourism, supporting both conservation and the local dive industry. As an iconic dive of the Jordanian Red Sea, it underlines Aqaba's appeal as a diving destination.
Why Visit
One of the Red Sea's best wreck dives, a deliberately sunk freighter off Aqaba now covered in coral and teeming with fish, accessible to divers and snorkellers.
✦ Photo Gallery
Best Season
🌤 Aqaba's Red Sea diving is good year-round, with warm water; summer air temperatures are extreme on land. Water clarity is generally excellent for exploring the wreck.
Quick Facts
Best time to visit
Aqaba's Red Sea diving is good year-round, with warm water; summer air temperatures are extreme on land. Water clarity is generally excellent for exploring the wreck.
Getting there
In Aqaba, Jordan; reach Aqaba first, then continue to the site.
Location
Aqaba, Jordan
Type
attraction
Insider Tips
- 1
It is a top wreck dive, suitable for a range of levels.
- 2
Snorkellers can also see the upper parts of the wreck.
- 3
The hull is now covered in coral and marine life.
- 4
Aqaba's Red Sea diving is rewarding year-round.
