Location: Aqaba Gulf
The Tarmac Five, a sunken barge located within the Aqaba Marine Reserve (AMR) in Aqaba, Jordan, is a notable artificial reef and dive site along the Gulf of Aqaba’s Red Sea coastline. Scuttled in 1996 after being used to lay underwater electrical cables to Egypt, the wreck rests at a maximum depth of approximately 27 meters, near the iconic Cedar Pride shipwreck and an older sunken fishing boat from the 1970s. Situated about 130 meters from shore, Tarmac Five is celebrated for its rich marine life, including blue-spotted stingrays, frogfish, and coral shrimps, making it a compelling destination for scuba divers and underwater photographers. Managed by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), the wreck contributes to the AMR’s conservation and ecotourism goals by diverting diver pressure from natural reefs.
The Tarmac Five was deliberately scuttled in 1996 by the Aqaba Marine
Park (reclassified as the Aqaba Marine Reserve in 2020) after its
operational life as a working barge for Alcatel, a company tasked with
laying underwater electrical cables connecting Jordan to Egypt. The
barge, whose exact specifications (e.g., length, tonnage) are not widely
documented, was deemed suitable for creating an artificial reef to
enhance marine habitats and support Aqaba’s growing dive tourism
industry. The scuttling followed the success of the Cedar Pride, a cargo
vessel sunk in 1985 at King Abdullah II’s request, marking a
continuation of Jordan’s strategy to develop wreck diving sites, as
noted in sources like the Aqaba Diving Association and Arab Divers.
The wreck’s placement near the Cedar Pride, approximately 20 meters
away, was strategic, allowing divers to explore both in a single dive if
air consumption permits. When scuttled, Tarmac Five landed partially
over the corner of an older sunken fishing boat, believed to have sunk
accidentally in the 1970s, adding historical intrigue to the site, per
the Aqaba Diving Association. The fishing boat’s origins are unknown,
reflecting gaps in local maritime records, but its presence enhances the
site’s layered narrative.
The Tarmac Five’s sinking occurred
under ASEZA’s oversight, with environmental precautions—such as removing
fuels, oils, and hazardous materials—to ensure minimal ecological
impact, a standard practice for AMR wrecks, as seen with the M42 Duster
(1999) and C-130 Hercules (2017). King Abdullah II’s passion for diving,
shared by the royal family, has driven such initiatives, with the AMR’s
wrecks forming part of a broader vision to position Aqaba as a global
dive destination, as highlighted in X posts from 2020–2025 and UNESCO’s
AMR profile. The wreck’s integration into the AMR, established in 1997
and elevated to reserve status in 2020, underscores Jordan’s commitment
to balancing tourism with conservation, though enforcement challenges
persist, per Tripadvisor reviews.
Resting on a sandy seabed at 10–27 meters depth, Tarmac Five has
evolved into a thriving artificial reef over nearly three decades,
fostering coral growth and marine life colonization. Its proximity to
the Cedar Pride (25–28 m) and natural reefs like Rainbow Reef and
Japanese Garden places it within a biodiverse corridor, benefiting from
the Gulf’s warm waters (21–28°C), high visibility (20–30 meters), and
minimal currents.
Key Ecological Features:
Coral Growth: The
barge’s steel structure is encrusted with hard corals (Acropora,
Porites) and soft corals (Dendronephthya), with sponges and gorgonian
fan corals adding diversity, as described by the Aqaba Diving
Association. The older fishing boat beneath it hosts similar growth,
creating a multi-layered habitat.
Marine Life: The wreck attracts a
variety of species, including:
Blue-spotted stingrays (Neotrygon
kuhlii), often seen on the sandy bottom.
Frogfish (Antennariidae),
camouflaged among corals, prized by photographers.
Coral shrimps
(Stenopus hispidus) and nudibranchs, thriving in crevices.
Reef fish
like lionfish (Pterois volitans), damselfish (Pomacentridae), and
anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), per Arab Divers.
Occasional
pelagics, such as large tuna, spotted in deeper waters near Kleta’s
Wall, a nearby technical dive site, per the Aqaba Diving Association.
Habitat Function: The wreck’s cavities and surfaces provide shelter for
juvenile fish and invertebrates, supporting the AMR’s 512 fish species
and 300 coral species, as noted in UNESCO’s report. Its role as a
habitat mirrors the Cedar Pride, which hosts turtles and napoleon
wrasses.
Environmental Conditions: The Gulf’s stable conditions—low
tidal range (0.5–1 m), warm temperatures, and clear waters—promote coral
health, though land-based pollution (e.g., plastics, sewage) threatens
the site, per Tripadvisor reviews.
The Tarmac Five’s ecological
significance lies in its ability to divert diver traffic from natural
reefs, reducing physical damage to corals like those at Seven Sisters,
as emphasized by ASEZA’s Abdullah Abu-Awali. Its placement over the
fishing boat, however, raises questions about unintended ecological
impacts, as the overlap may have disrupted the older wreck’s habitat,
though no studies confirm this. The wreck’s proximity to Kleta’s Wall, a
deep gulley (40–75+ m) with large gorgonian fans, enhances its appeal
for technical divers, but its shallow sections ensure accessibility for
recreational divers and snorkelers.
Tarmac Five is a versatile dive site, accessible by boat or shore,
with a maximum depth of 27 meters and shallow sections at 10–15 meters,
suiting open-water and advanced divers. Its proximity to the Cedar Pride
allows for combined dives, while its marine life and compact structure
make it ideal for photography and exploration, as described by Wonders
Travel and the Aqaba Diving Association.
Diving Details:
Access:
Boat Dive: Most divers reach Tarmac Five via dive boats from
centers like Deep Blue Dive Center or Nemo Dive Center, mooring near the
Cedar Pride’s stern (180 m from shore). A short swim (20 m) reaches
Tarmac Five, with a mooring line aiding descent, per Arab Divers.
Shore Dive: Possible from South Beach, requiring a 130-meter swim over
seagrass and small corals. Fire corals near shore demand caution, per
Wonders Travel.
Dive Profile:
Depths range from 10 meters
(deck) to 27 meters (seabed), with the fishing boat at 25–27 meters. The
barge’s flat structure, unlike the Cedar Pride’s cargo holds, limits
penetration but offers open exploration, as noted by the Aqaba Diving
Association.
Key features include the coral-encrusted hull, scattered
debris, and the fishing boat’s corner beneath, hosting frogfish and
shrimps. Blue-spotted stingrays patrol the sandy bottom, per Dive
Magazine.
Visibility of 20–30 meters and mild currents ensure easy
navigation, with water temperatures of 21–28°C requiring 3–5mm wetsuits,
per Arab Divers.
Highlights:
Marine life: Stingrays, frogfish,
and nudibranchs are photographic gems, with lionfish and anthias adding
vibrancy, per Evendo.
Combined dives: Divers often explore Tarmac
Five after the Cedar Pride, using it for safety stops (10–15 m),
extending bottom time, per Wonders Travel.
Technical diving: Nearby
Kleta’s Wall (40–75+ m) offers deep exploration with gorgonian fans and
pelagics, though it requires normoxic trimix, per the Aqaba Diving
Association.
Duration: 20–30 minutes as part of a Cedar Pride dive or
45–60 minutes for a dedicated dive. Night dives reveal nocturnal species
like crabs and shrimps, per Deep Blue Dive Center.
Equipment and
Training: Dive centers provide gear (~30–50 JOD per dive) and PADI
courses (~300 JOD for Advanced Open Water). Guided dives enforce
no-touch policies, per Nemo Dive Center.
Snorkeling:
Limited
appeal due to the 10–27-meter depth, though shallow sections (10–12 m)
are visible in clear conditions. Snorkelers prefer nearby sites like
Seven Sisters or The Tank, per Snorkeling-Report.
Photography:
Macro lenses capture nudibranchs and shrimps, while wide-angle shots
frame the wreck’s corals and fish schools, per Evendo. The fishing
boat’s overlap adds unique compositions.
Tripadvisor reviews praise
Tarmac Five’s “hidden gem” status and marine life, but some divers note
its smaller scale compared to the Cedar Pride, suggesting it’s best as a
secondary site. Overcrowding during peak seasons (summer) can detract
from the experience, per Wonders Travel.
Tarmac Five contributes to the AMR’s conservation and cultural
narrative, reflecting Jordan’s innovative approach to marine tourism:
Conservation Role: As an artificial reef, Tarmac Five reduces
pressure on natural reefs, protecting the AMR’s 1 square kilometer of
corals (300 species), per UNESCO. Its sandy bottom placement minimizes
ecological disruption, unlike wrecks over reefs, as noted by ASEZA.
Biodiversity Support: The wreck’s corals and fish bolster the AMR’s 512
fish species, nurturing juvenile habitats, per Snorkeling-Report. Its
role mirrors the Cedar Pride’s success, hosting species like frogfish
not found elsewhere, per Arab Divers.
Ecotourism Impact: Tarmac Five
enhances Aqaba’s dive tourism, a key economic driver in the duty-free
zone, alongside projects like Saraya Aqaba, per TIME’s 2023 “World’s
Greatest Places” list. Its proximity to the Cedar Pride makes it a
cost-effective dive, per Wonders Travel.
Royal Legacy: The wreck
aligns with King Abdullah II’s diving passion, building on the Cedar
Pride’s 1985 scuttling. X posts from 2020–2025 highlight royal support
for the AMR’s UNESCO World Heritage bid, including Tarmac Five’s
contributions.
Cultural Narrative: The wreck’s tie to Jordan’s
maritime infrastructure (cable-laying) and the fishing boat’s accidental
sinking add historical depth, though the latter’s undocumented origins
limit storytelling, per the Aqaba Diving Association.
Scientific
Potential: The wreck’s coral growth supports research on artificial
reefs, aiding the AMR’s goal to become a global marine biology hub, per
2021 X posts.
However, Tarmac Five’s significance is tempered by
challenges. Pollution from Aqaba’s port and coastal developments, noted
in UNESCO’s AMR report, threatens its ecosystem. Tripadvisor reviews
cite fishing nets near wrecks, with lax enforcement undermining
conservation, reflecting broader AMR issues. The wreck’s overlap with
the fishing boat raises questions about scuttling precision, potentially
disrupting the older habitat, though no studies confirm this.
Location: Within the AMR, near South Beach, 6 miles south of Aqaba
city center (approx. 29.430867, 34.973733). Tarmac Five is 130 meters
offshore, 20 meters from the Cedar Pride, near Rainbow Reef and Japanese
Garden.
Access:
By Air: King Hussein International Airport (AQJ),
10 km from Aqaba, with taxis to South Beach (~15–20 min, ~5–10 JOD).
By Road: From Amman, a 4–5-hour drive (330 km) via the Desert Highway.
JETT buses (~7 JOD) or taxis (~50–70 JOD) reach Aqaba; taxis to South
Beach (~3–5 JOD) or local buses. From Aqaba, follow King Hussein St.,
turn left onto Prince Mohammed St., and park near South Beach.
By
Sea: Ferries from Taba/Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) to Aqaba port; taxis to
South Beach (~10–15 min).
Opening Hours: South Beach is open daily,
~7:00 AM–6:00 PM; dive centers may extend hours for night dives. Confirm
via ASEZA or Deep Blue Dive Center.
Admission: Free beach access;
diving (~30–50 JOD per dive, including gear/guide), boat dives (~40–60
JOD). Book via Nemo Dive Center or Aqaba International Dive Center.
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: 20–30 minutes as part of a
Cedar Pride dive; 45–60 minutes for a dedicated dive. Multi-dive days
(4–6 hours) combine with New Canyon or C-130 Hercules.
Nearby
Attractions: Cedar Pride, C-130 Hercules, Seven Sisters (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: South Beach’s sandy shore is
accessible, but rocky entries challenge mobility-impaired divers. Dive
centers support disabled divers. Restrooms, shaded areas, and parking
are available; bring water/snacks, as vendors are sparse.
Tips: Book
dives via https://diveaqaba.com or https://nemodive.com. Use reef-safe
sunscreen, water shoes, and rash guards. Follow conservation rules (no
touching corals/wreck). Early morning dives avoid crowds. Negotiate taxi
fares upfront. Check for festivals via https://www.visitjordan.com.