Dive Site: Mar Mar Island

About Mar Mar Island

Mar Mar Island represents a pristine Red Sea diving experience within Saudi Arabia's permit-controlled Farasan Banks. This remote site, a day's steam south of Al Lith, is celebrated for its dual appeal: a dramatic wall dive on its exposed side and a tranquil reef flat on the leeward, offering a secure anchorage for liveaboards. The underwater environment is exceptionally healthy, showcasing hard coral gardens with intact table corals and vibrant reef ecosystems, largely untouched by human impact compared to more trafficked Red Sea locations. Divers here encounter a baseline of marine health, a rare sight in today's world. The topography presents a genuine wall that plunges into open water, providing an 'edge-of-the-map' feeling, while the shallow reef flats are bright and extensive. Depths for recreational diving typically extend to around 30 meters, though the wall continues far deeper. This area is characterized by its rich biodiversity, from schooling fish over the coral to larger pelagic species patrolling the blue. While the sheltered side offers calmer conditions, the exposed wall can experience stronger currents and slightly cooler water, demanding advanced diving skills. Visibility is consistently excellent, often ranging from 20 to 30 meters, with water temperatures remaining comfortable throughout the diving season. Mar Mar Island is predominantly accessed via liveaboard, forming a key stop in itineraries exploring the southern Red Sea's most remote and rewarding dive sites. The site also offers opportunities for macro enthusiasts on its shallow flats, with nudibranchs, shrimp gobies, and anemonefish inhabiting the intricate coral structures. Meanwhile, the deeper edges of the wall are known for sightings of reef sharks and potential encounters with scalloped hammerheads, tuna, barracuda, and in season, mantas and whale sharks.

Dive site facts: Mar Mar Island

Depth

5-30 m (wall extends deeper)

Typical dive

15-30 m, 50-60 min

Current

Mild to strong, variable

Visibility

20-30 m (often better)

Water temperature

22-27°C (seasonal)

Entry

Tender / negative entry

Level

Advanced Open Water (AOWD) recommended

Dive type

Wall, reef, pelagic, coral garden, macro

Night dive

Possible (East Mar Mar Island)

Region / port

Farasan Banks / Al Lith Port

Coordinates

22.2584° N, 38.7429° E

Conditions & Currents

Currents at Mar Mar Island are a significant variable, demanding diver awareness and skill. While the island's sheltered side often experiences mild conditions, the exposed wall can have noticeably stronger and cooler currents, with conditions fluctuating based on wind and tide. Divers must be prepared for potential drift dives, especially along the current-facing wall where pelagic activity is heightened. Excellent buoyancy control is essential to navigate these conditions, particularly when holding position to observe marine life or to avoid contact with fragile corals. Visibility is generally outstanding, often between 20 to 30 meters, and water temperatures are comfortable, ranging from the low to mid-20s Celsius during the diving season. Given its remote nature, self-sufficiency, honest depth and gas discipline, and comfort with drop-off diving are critical for safety and enjoyment.

Marine life & sighting chances

Anthias

Year-round · common

Fusilier

Year-round · common

Snapper

Year-round · common

Surgeonfish

Year-round · common

Angelfish

Year-round · common

Butterflyfish

Year-round · common

Parrotfish

Year-round · common

Moray Eel

Year-round · common

Turtle

Year-round · common

Whitetip Reef Shark

Year-round · common

Blacktip Reef Shark

Year-round · common

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

March-May · occasional

Tuna

March-May · occasional

Barracuda

March-May · occasional

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Diving at Mar Mar Island typically begins with a tender drop on the exposed wall side, often requiring a negative or swift descent to the target depth. The initial phase focuses on exploring the coral-plastered wall, which drops into the deep blue, encouraging divers to keep one eye on the reef for macro life and the other scanning the open water for pelagic encounters. Divers progress along the wall, maintaining good buoyancy and gas management, as depths can reach recreational limits around 30 meters. The route often involves slowly ascending onto the shallower reef flats, where the vibrant hard coral gardens and macro life are abundant. The shallow flats provide excellent opportunities for extended bottom time and slow exploration. The safety stop is typically conducted in the sheltered, shallower sections of the reef or in open water before surfacing, with the liveaboard or tender picking up divers downcurrent. Night dives are also possible on the island's East side.

Underwater photography

Mar Mar Island offers diverse photographic opportunities. For the dramatic wall and potential pelagic encounters, a wide-angle lens is essential to capture the expansive coral formations and schooling fish in the blue. Keep your camera ready for silhouettes of hammerheads or other large pelagics appearing from the deep. For the vibrant shallow reef flats, a macro lens will excel at capturing the intricate details of nudibranchs, shrimp gobies, and anemonefish. Effective lighting with strobes or video lights will bring out the true colors of the healthy corals. Maintain impeccable buoyancy to avoid disturbing the pristine reef, especially in the shallow, fragile coral gardens. Be patient when seeking shy macro subjects, and practice responsible photography to minimize impact on the untouched environment.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Gorgonia Reef

  Another exceptional offshore pinnacle in the Farasan Banks known for its large gorgonian sea fans and pelagic action.

• Mubarak Reef

  A regular stop on Farasan Banks itineraries, often visited for multiple dives.

• Long Reef

  Frequently combined with Mar Mar Island in multi-day liveaboard itineraries through the Farasan Banks.

• Dohra Nord

  Known for pelagic encounters, often involving hammerhead sharks on plateaus.

• Canyon Reef

  Often included as a check dive or final dive on Farasan Banks liveaboard routes from Al Lith.

• Shaab Ammar

  A reef system in the Farasan Banks offering multiple dive opportunities including night dives.

Getting there & logistics

Access to Mar Mar Island and the broader Farasan Banks is exclusively via liveaboard, typically departing from Al Lith port in Saudi Arabia. Trips are generally expedition-style, with itineraries ranging from 7 to 10 nights. Divers usually fly into Jeddah International Airport (JED), followed by a transfer to Al Lith. Due to the remote nature of the region, itineraries are permit-controlled and can be subject to change based on permissions and weather conditions. There are currently very few liveaboard operators in the area, offering a truly uncrowded diving experience. Park fees are usually included in the liveaboard package, but divers should confirm this. Liveaboard journeys to the Farasan Banks are designed to explore a vast area, combining Mar Mar Island with other pristine reefs, pinnacles, and walls deep in the southern Red Sea.

Safety & environment

Diving at Mar Mar Island, given its remote frontier location in Saudi Arabia, necessitates a high degree of self-sufficiency and preparedness. There are no readily available dive centers or recompression chambers a short boat ride away; the nearest significant medical facilities and recompression chambers would likely be in Jeddah, requiring a potentially lengthy evacuation. Divers must carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and a reliable dive computer, and strictly adhere to depth and gas discipline. Comprehensive dive insurance covering emergency medical treatment and evacuation is mandatory for all divers. Site-specific hazards include potential strong and variable currents on the exposed wall, requiring excellent buoyancy control and comfort in moving water. Divers should always follow their guide's briefing, respect marine life, and avoid contact with the pristine corals.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Mar Mar Island FAQ