Dive Site: Mubarak Reef

About Mubarak Reef

Mubarak Reef is a significant dive site within the expansive Farasan Banks in Saudi Arabia, a region acclaimed for its unspoiled reefs and rich biodiversity. Located in the Red Sea off the coast of Jizan Province, this remote area has seen minimal human impact, offering divers a unique glimpse into healthy underwater ecosystems. Jacques Cousteau famously described the Farasan Banks as one of the planet's most fascinating areas, highlighting its pristine state. Diving at Mubarak Reef involves exploring vibrant coral gardens and extensive reef systems that descend to depths of around 40 meters, with the wider Farasan Banks offering potential depths up to 500 meters. The area's topography includes impressive rock formations and plateaus, attracting both resident reef fish and larger pelagic species. Visibility here is consistently excellent, often exceeding 30 meters, providing superb conditions for appreciating the underwater landscape. While the Farasan Banks host a variety of marine life year-round, specific seasonal peaks bring encounters with pelagics like hammerhead, silky, and tiger sharks, especially from winter to spring. Green turtles are common throughout the year, and manta rays can be seen occasionally during specific months. Dolphin sightings are also possible across several seasons, adding to the allure of these waters. Access to Mubarak Reef is exclusively via liveaboard, typically as part of a 10-night itinerary originating from Al-Lith port. Dives are usually conducted from tender boats, with specific profiles varying but often involving initial descents to target depths for pelagic encounters. The conditions, which can range from mild to substantial currents, are best suited for experienced divers comfortable with deeper explorations and potential drift dives, ensuring a rewarding and crowd-free diving adventure.

Dive site facts: Mubarak Reef

Depth

5–40 m (reported max 500 m for Farasan Banks)

Typical dive

15–40 m, 50–60 min

Current

Mild to strong

Visibility

30–60 m

Water temperature

20–32°C

Entry

Liveaboard / tender

Level

Advanced (minimum 50 logged dives)

Dive type

Wall, drift, pelagic, coral garden, pinnacles

Night dive

Possible at selected sites

Region / port

Jizan Province / Al-Lith port

Coordinates

22.3524° N, 38.6209° E

Conditions & Currents

Currents at Mubarak Reef, consistent with the Farasan Banks, can vary significantly from gentle to substantial. Stronger currents are typically found along the deep outer reef walls, playing a crucial role in attracting the rich pelagic life for which the area is known. Divers should be prepared for varying conditions, as currents can dictate the possibility of drift dives and directly influence marine life encounters. Entry to the water is almost always via tender boat, and divers must be proficient in managing their buoyancy and performing safety stops, potentially in open water after a drift. Visibility is generally excellent, often exceeding 30 meters, though occasional plankton blooms might reduce it slightly during warmer months. These conditions mean that dives at Mubarak Reef are best suited for experienced divers who are comfortable with currents and deeper profiles, often requ

Marine life & sighting chances

Grey reef shark

Year-round · common

Green turtle

Year-round · common

Moray eel

Year-round · common

Clownfish

Year-round · common

Tuna

Year-round · common

Barracuda

Year-round · common

Whale shark

February–May · common

Scalloped hammerhead shark

January–April, November · common

Tiger shark

January–April · occasional

Silky shark

January–May, November · occasional

Manta ray

February–April, December · occasional

Dolphin

January–May, November, December · occasional

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Diving at Mubarak Reef commences via tender boat from a liveaboard, typically as part of a multi-day itinerary. The dive often begins with a descent to deeper sections, targeting 25-40 meters, especially when seeking encounters with pelagic species along plateau edges or deep outer walls. Divers then explore the vibrant coral formations, reef walls, and pinnacles, maintaining impeccable buoyancy to avoid any contact with the untouched corals. The route may follow the reef's contour or be a drift dive, depending on the prevailing currents. As the dive progresses, shallower parts of the reef are explored, allowing for extended bottom time and observation of macro life. Safety stops are performed either in the shallower reef sections or in open water, with the liveaboard crew tracking divers downcurrent for pick-up.

Underwater photography

Mubarak Reef, like other sites in the Farasan Banks, offers outstanding photographic opportunities for both wide-angle and macro subjects due to exceptional visibility and diverse marine life. For capturing the expansive coral gardens, dramatic walls, and large pelagic encounters, a wide-angle lens is highly recommended. When shooting schooling fish or hammerheads, particularly at plateau edges, ensure your strobes are positioned to minimize backscatter, especially during plankton blooms in warmer months. Macro photographers will find ample subjects among the corals, though wide-angle remains the star here. Practicing excellent buoyancy control is essential to protect the pristine corals and secure stable shots.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Long Reef

  Often combined with Mubarak Reef in liveaboard itineraries

• Shib Habil Reef

  Another pristine reef in the Farasan Banks area

• Mar Mar Island

  Dive site visited early in Farasan Banks itineraries

• Dohra Nord

  Known for pelagic encounters in the Farasan Banks

• Canyon Reef

  Check dive site and final dive site in Farasan Banks itineraries

Getting there & logistics

Access to Mubarak Reef is exclusively via liveaboard, departing from Al-Lith port in Saudi Arabia. Typical itineraries for the Farasan Banks, which include Mubarak Reef, are often 10 nights onboard plus a final night in a hotel, usually in Jeddah. Divers typically fly into Jeddah (JED) or Al-Lith, with transfers then arranged to the liveaboard. Given the remote and protected nature of the Farasan Banks, no specific permits are mentioned beyond standard liveaboard booking requirements. These trips are designed for serious divers seeking pristine, uncrowded sites and are generally part of an expedition-style itinerary that explores various reefs, atolls, and pinnacles within the vast Farasan Banks region.

Safety & environment

Diving at Mubarak Reef in the Farasan Banks necessitates comprehensive dive insurance, including coverage for emergency medical evacuation, given its remote location. The nearest recompression chamber is likely in Jeddah, requiring significant travel time in the event of a dive emergency. Divers must be self-sufficient and comfortable with potentially strong currents and deeper dive profiles, often required for pelagic encounters. A minimum of 50 logged dives is recommended for this region. Due to liveaboard operations, strict adherence to the dive guide's briefing and safety protocols is paramount, especially regarding surface interval procedures and dive computer use. Proper hydration and sun protection are also critical in the warm Red Sea climate.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Mubarak Reef FAQ