Jordan's only outlet to the sea, Aqaba is backed by purple-tinted mountains that are rich in phosphates. Beyond, are the rose-coloured deserts of Wadi Rum.
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The magnificent Whale Shark - One of the largest visitors to Aqaba's reefs.
| Beneath the clean, crystal clear waters of the Red Sea, is a unique marine environment, where divers can discover Jordan’s amazing underwater wildlife. Brightly coloured corals, sponges and sea fans are home to millions of reef fish and a range of invertebrates. Even the worlds largest fish, the Whale Shark, visits these nutrient-rich waters. These harmless, gentle giants come to dine on the rich plankton harvests that flourish in the area. Other visitors include turtles, dolphins and sea cows.
Bird Watching
Jordan is a great destination for bird-lovers, its remarkable variety of habitats, from rugged mountains and evergreen woodlands to scrubby steppe and hot dry deserts, provide perfect environments for many species of indigenous birds. Furthermore, its location at the crossroad of Europe, Asia and Africa means that migrating birds from these three continents can sometimes be seen together in the same general area within Jordan.
A total of 17 sites have been declared as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Jordan’s national parks. RSCN’s nature reserves are also IBAs. Five of the IBA sites are fully protected by law, five are partially protected, and two further have been officially proposed for legal protection.
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Help protect this delicate underwater ecosystem for generations to come by following the simple rules outlined by your dive instructor. |
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This ex-military anti-aircraft vehicle has finally found an eco-friendly use. | Great efforts are being made to ensure the protection of the Red Sea marine life, particularly from the impact of tourism. Derelict ships and military vehicles have been sunk in some cases to create artificial reefs. These wrecks provide permanent places for corals to grow and offer marine life a safe refuge to set up residency, not to mention some exciting diving for non-aquatic visitors. The Aqaba Marine Science Station showcases the marine life of the Gulf of Aqaba and the many steps that are being taken to protect it.
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Corals are not plants but living organisms. They are part of an ancient and simple group of animals known as cnidaria. A coral structure is actually composed of hundreds or thousands of these tiny animals growing together as a colony. Because of their slow rate of growth, about 1cm a year, the corals that you see in the Gulf of Aqaba are centuries old.
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The Garden Eels, which can be seen in the abundant sea-grass beds, were discovered by Ludwig Sillner, one of Jacques Cousteau’s underwater cameramen. A fact that is acknowledged in the eel’s Latin name, Gorgasia sillneri.
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