First Bay, located within the Aqaba Marine Reserve (AMR) in Aqaba, Jordan, is a popular snorkeling and scuba diving site along the Gulf of Aqaba’s Red Sea coastline. Situated just north of South Beach, approximately 5–6 miles south of Aqaba city center, First Bay is a classic dive spot known for its accessibility, diverse marine life, and fringing coral reef, despite significant coral damage at shallow depths. Part of the AMR’s 7-kilometer protected coastline, established in 1997 and reclassified as a marine reserve in 2020, First Bay offers a vibrant underwater experience with species like lionfish, moray eels, and butterflyfish, set against a backdrop of soft corals and brain coral bommies.
First Bay’s history as a dive site is tied to the development of the
Aqaba Marine Park, established in 1997 to protect Jordan’s 27-kilometer
Red Sea coastline from coastal development, tourism pressures, and
fishing. The AMR, managed by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
(ASEZA) since 2001 under By-Law No. 22, encompasses First Bay within its
2.8-square-kilometer area, safeguarding its fringing reefs and marine
life. The site’s prominence grew with Aqaba’s dive tourism boom, spurred
by royal initiatives, including King Abdullah II’s support for
artificial reefs like the Cedar Pride (1985) and the Underwater Military
Museum (2019), which divert pressure from natural reefs like First Bay.
The Gulf of Aqaba, a northern extension of the Red Sea, has hosted
coral reefs for millennia, with First Bay’s fringing reef forming part
of a narrow band (less than 300 meters wide) along rocky shorelines.
Unlike deeper wrecks like Tarmac Five, First Bay’s shallow reef (0–18
meters) has suffered from human impacts, including coastal pollution and
tourism, as noted in Snorkeling-Report’s 2023 assessment. The site’s
location near Aqaba’s port and urban developments, such as Ayla Oasis,
has exacerbated coral damage, though conservation efforts like ASEZA’s
zoning aim to mitigate these threats, per UNESCO’s AMR profile.
First Bay’s name likely reflects its position as one of the first
accessible beaches south of Aqaba’s city center, though specific naming
origins are undocumented. Its integration into the AMR’s 19 dive sites,
alongside Seven Sisters and Japanese Garden, underscores its role in
Jordan’s ecotourism vision, with X posts from 2020–2025 highlighting the
AMR’s UNESCO World Heritage bid, including First Bay’s contributions.
First Bay features a fringing coral reef typical of the Gulf of
Aqaba, with a reef flat, edge, and drop-off descending to 18–20 meters.
The reef’s shallow sections (0–10 meters) are heavily damaged, with
significant dead coral due to pollution, snorkeler traffic, and coastal
runoff, as reported by Snorkeling-Report. Deeper areas (10–18 meters) at
the drop-off’s foot host healthier coral bommies, including soft corals,
massive porous corals, and brain corals, creating a vibrant ecosystem
despite surface degradation.
Key Ecological Features:
Coral
Diversity: First Bay supports a subset of the AMR’s 300 coral species,
with approximately 50–70 species present, including soft corals
(Dendronephthya), brain corals (Platygyra), and porous corals (Porites).
Healthy clusters are found at 10–18 meters, while shallow areas (<10 ft)
show 70–80% dead coral, per Snorkeling-Report.
Fish Species: Over 100
of the AMR’s 512 fish species inhabit First Bay, including:
Lionfish
(Pterois volitans), camouflaged among corals.
Stonefish (Synanceia
verrucosa), blending with the seabed.
Moray eels (Gymnothorax),
hiding in crevices.
Butterflyfish (Chaetodon), Klunzinger’s wrasse
(Thalassoma rueppellii), damselfish (Pomacentridae), surgeonfish
(Acanthuridae), masked pufferfish (Arothron diadematus), and yellow
boxfish (Ostracion cubicus), per Snorkeling-Report.
Invertebrates:
Sea anemones, nudibranchs, and coral shrimps thrive in deeper bommies,
with seagrass beds (Halophila stipulacea) nurturing juvenile fish, as
noted by UNESCO.
Environmental Conditions: The Gulf’s warm waters
(21–28°C), high visibility (20–30 meters), and mild currents
(north-to-south, per Snorkeling-Report) support marine life, though
shallow coral degradation reflects human impacts.
Reef Structure: The
reef flat (0–5 m) is damaged, with a degraded edge (<10 ft); the
drop-off (10–18 m) hosts vibrant bommies, creating a contrast between
shallow and deep ecosystems, per Snorkeling-Report.
First Bay’s
biodiversity, though reduced in shallow areas, remains significant,
supporting the AMR’s role in the Red Sea’s WWF “Global 200 Eco-Region.”
Its damaged corals highlight broader challenges facing Aqaba’s reefs,
with only 1 square kilometer of healthy reefs within the AMR’s 4 square
kilometers, per Marine Insight.
First Bay is a shore-accessible dive and snorkel site, ideal for
beginners due to its shallow depths (0–18 meters), mild currents, and
proximity to South Beach. Its damaged corals are offset by vibrant fish
and deeper bommies, making it a classic spot, though less renowned than
Seven Sisters or Cedar Pride, per Snorkeling-Report.
Snorkeling:
Access: Enter from First Bay Beach, north of South Beach, near the Camel
Dive Center and Larain Plaza Hotel. Swim 20–50 meters to the reef flat,
with a recommended entry point before a fence to follow the
north-to-south current, per Snorkeling-Report.
Highlights: Snorkelers
encounter lionfish, moray eels, and butterflyfish at 0–5 meters, with
soft corals and brain coral clusters visible in shallow areas. The reef
edge’s dead coral is offset by fish diversity (damselfish, wrasse),
though deeper bommies (10–18 m) are less accessible, per
Snorkeling-Report.
Equipment: Masks, fins, and snorkels (~5–10 JOD)
are rentable at dive centers like Aqaba International Dive Center or
Coral Garden, with life vests for novices, per industry norms.
Duration: 1–2 hours, with breaks on the beach; combine with South Beach
sites for a half-day.
Scuba Diving:
Access: Shore entry from
First Bay Beach or boat dives via centers like Deep Blue Dive Center or
Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers. The reef is 20–50 meters offshore, with a
gentle slope to 18 meters, per Snorkeling-Report.
Dive Profile:
Depths: 0–5 meters (reef flat, damaged), 5–10 meters (reef edge, dead
coral), 10–18 meters (drop-off with bommies).
Highlights: Explore
soft corals, brain corals, and bommies at 10–18 meters, spotting
stonefish, lionfish, and pufferfish. Schools of surgeonfish and wrasse
add vibrancy, per Snorkeling-Report.
Conditions: No significant
currents, 20–30-meter visibility, and 21–28°C water temperatures ensure
comfort, with 3mm wetsuits sufficient, per Wonders Travel.
Duration:
45–60 minutes per dive; often paired with nearby sites like The Tank or
Seven Sisters for multi-dive days (4–6 hours).
Equipment and
Training: Dive centers provide gear (~30–50 JOD per dive) and PADI
courses (~100 JOD for Discover Scuba, ~300 JOD for Open Water), with
guided dives enforcing no-touch policies, per Aqaba Sharks Bay Divers.
Photography: Macro lenses capture nudibranchs and shrimps in bommies,
while wide-angle shots frame fish schools, per Cat is Out of the Office.
Other Activities:
Glass-bottom boat tours (~15–25 JOD) offer
views of First Bay’s shallow corals for non-swimmers, though less
detailed than diving, per Coral Vision Glass Boat reviews.
Tripadvisor reviews praise First Bay’s “colorful fish” and accessibility
but note disappointment with shallow coral damage, recommending deeper
dives or nearby sites for healthier reefs, per Snorkeling-Report.
First Bay contributes to the AMR’s ecological and cultural narrative,
reflecting Aqaba’s role as Jordan’s Red Sea gateway:
Ecological
Value: Despite shallow damage, First Bay’s deeper bommies support the
AMR’s 300 coral species and 512 fish species, nurturing juvenile fish
and invertebrates, per UNESCO. Its role in the Red Sea’s “Global 200
Eco-Region” underscores its conservation priority, though only 25% of
its shallow corals remain healthy, per Marine Insight.
Conservation
Role: ASEZA’s zoning bans fishing and anchors near First Bay, protecting
deeper corals, though enforcement gaps allow illegal fishing, per
Tripadvisor reviews. The AMR’s 2020 reserve status aims to address such
threats, per X posts.
Ecotourism Appeal: First Bay’s shore access and
beginner-friendly conditions draw divers and snorkelers, boosting
Aqaba’s economy alongside Ayla Oasis and Tala Bay, per TIME’s 2023 list.
Its affordability (~10–50 JOD) and proximity to wrecks make it
competitive with Egypt’s Red Sea, per Much Better Adventures.
Cultural Context: Aqaba’s history as a trade hub, from ancient Elath to
the Islamic city of Ayla, frames First Bay’s significance within a
maritime legacy, per Nawafir Tours. Bedouin communities near South Beach
add cultural richness, though underrepresented in dive narratives.
Scientific Potential: First Bay’s coral resilience at deeper depths
supports research on climate change adaptation, aligning with the AMR’s
goal to become a global marine hub, per 2021 X posts.
Educational
Impact: Dive centers like Coral Garden use First Bay to teach reef
preservation, but limited signage, per Snorkeling-Report, hinders
broader awareness.
First Bay’s significance is marred by shallow
coral degradation, reflecting broader AMR challenges like pollution from
Aqaba’s port and developments, per UNESCO. Its reliance on tourism risks
further damage without stricter enforcement.
Location: First Bay Beach, Aqaba Marine Reserve, 5–6 miles south of
Aqaba city center, north of South Beach (approx. 29.524°N, 34.999°E).
Access via South Beach Highway, exiting at Camel Dive Center/Larain
Plaza Hotel, per Snorkeling-Report.
Access:
By Air: King
Hussein International Airport (AQJ), 10 km from Aqaba, with taxis to
First Bay (~15–20 min, ~5–10 JOD). Flights from Amman (Royal Jordanian,
~50 min) or regional hubs.
By Road: From Amman, a 4–5-hour drive (330
km) via the Desert Highway. JETT buses (~7 JOD) or taxis (~50–70 JOD) to
Aqaba; taxis to First Bay (~3–5 JOD) or local buses from Aqaba center.
Free parking near the beach, per Snorkeling-Report.
By Sea: Ferries
from Taba/Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) to Aqaba port; taxis to First Bay
(~10–15 min).
Opening Hours: First Bay Beach is open daily, ~7:00
AM–6:00 PM; dive centers may extend hours for night dives. Confirm via
ASEZA or Coral Garden Diving Center.
Admission and Costs:
Free
beach access; snorkeling (~10–20 JOD for gear/guide), diving (~30–50 JOD
per dive, including gear/guide), boat dives (~40–60 JOD).
Book via
Aqaba International Dive Center, Coral Garden, or Viator, per
Tripadvisor.
Best Time to Visit: Spring (March–May) and fall
(September–November) for air temperatures of 20–30°C (68–86°F) and water
at 22–26°C (72–79°F). Summer (June–August) is hot (up to 50°C/122°F),
but water is comfortable (26–28°C). Winter (December–February) requires
5mm wetsuits (15–20°C/59–68°F air).
Visit Duration: 1–2 hours for
snorkeling; 2–3 hours for a dive (briefing, transport, dive). Multi-dive
days (4–6 hours) combine with Seven Sisters or The Tank.
Nearby
Attractions: Seven Sisters, The Tank, Cedar Pride (1–2 km within AMR);
Aqaba Fortress (10 km); Sharif Hussein Bin Ali Mosque (10 km); Wadi Rum
(60 km); Petra (125 km). Bedouin Garden Village near South Beach offers
dining/camping.
Accessibility Features: First Bay Beach’s sandy shore
is accessible, but rocky entries challenge mobility-impaired visitors.
Dive centers offer support for disabled divers, per PADI standards.
Restrooms, shaded areas, and parking are available; bring water/snacks,
as vendors are sparse, per Snorkeling-Report.
Tips:
Book
dives/snorkeling in advance via https://dive-inaqaba.com or
https://aqabadivingcenter.com to secure spots.
Use reef-safe
sunscreen, water shoes, and rash guards to protect reefs and skin.
Enter north of the beach before the fence to follow the current, per
Snorkeling-Report.
Early morning (7:00–8:00 AM) avoids crowds, per
Wonders Travel.
Negotiate taxi fares upfront; check for Aqaba
festivals via https://www.visitjordan.com.