From Jeddah: Boat Trip and Diving for Certified Divers

Red Sea color starts below the surface. This five-and-a-half-hour trip from Jeddah takes certified scuba guests by boat to coral reefs, wrecks, or islands for two guided underwater sessions. I like the small group of up to 10 people and the chance to visit sites such as Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, and Crazy 8. The main catch is important: you need logged scuba activity within the previous six months, or you may be limited to snorkeling.

I also like that tanks, weight belts, snacks, and soft drinks are included, which keeps the basic package simple. The strongest reports describe punctual staff, well-kept rental equipment, and a calm, professional trip with only a few scuba guests on board. Still, organization has not always been consistent, so I would confirm equipment, meeting time, and your recent-log requirement before setting out.

Key points to know before booking

• Two boat-based scuba sessions: You spend about an hour on each underwater session, with a break between them.
• Named Red Sea sites: The route may include Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, Crazy 8, other wrecks, or coral islands.
• Recent experience is required: If you have not logged a scuba session in the last six months, you will snorkel instead.
• Basic items are included: Tanks, weight belts, snacks, and soft drinks come with the $93 price.
• Most personal equipment costs extra: BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, and fins may cost about 145 SAR to rent.
• Bring identification: Keep your passport, visa, or other ID with you during the boat ride.

Setting out from Al-Haddad Scuba in Jeddah

The day begins at Al-Haddad Scuba, the base for the operator, Haddad Scuba. The total outing lasts 330 minutes, or five hours and 30 minutes, although the published timetable adds up to slightly more time when each transfer and stop is counted. Treat that duration as a useful guide rather than a stopwatch promise.

The group limit is 10 people. That is a good size for a boat trip because it gives the crew a better chance to keep track of everyone and avoids the crowded feel of a large excursion. The boat may carry both scuba guests and snorkelers, so the group can include people following different schedules in the water.

One practical point matters at the start. Bring your passport, visa, or another accepted form of identification. A guest specifically found this useful advice after being reminded to carry ID during the boat ride. It is the kind of small preparation that prevents a bad start.

The language options are Arabic, English, Italian, and Russian. That gives you a fair chance of communicating clearly with the crew, but I would still make your recent scuba history and equipment needs clear before departure.

The one-hour ride out to the Red Sea sites

From Al-Haddad Scuba, you transfer to the yacht for roughly one hour. The ride is not just dead time. It gives the crew a chance to organize tanks and weights, while you settle into the day and watch the coast recede.

Your exact destination is not fixed. The boat can head toward a reef, a wreck, a coral island, or another selected site. Possible locations include Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, and Crazy 8. Because the route can change, you should not book this expecting one guaranteed wreck or one particular reef.

That flexibility can work in your favor. Conditions, group ability, and the day’s plan may determine the best site. It also means the experience is less like visiting a fixed attraction and more like joining a working local boat trip, where the crew chooses from several underwater areas.

The longer ride is one tradeoff. You spend about two hours in total on the yacht, including the return, compared with about two hours in the water. If you want nonstop underwater time, this may feel transfer-heavy. If you enjoy the boat ride and the open-water setting, the travel time is part of the outing.

First underwater session at MWGM+G3 Jeddah

The first scuba session lasts about one hour. The destination is given as MWGM+G3 Jeddah, a map reference rather than a descriptive site name, so you should ask the crew which reef, wreck, or island you are visiting that day.

The underwater appeal is the Red Sea itself. The strongest account describes intact coral, plenty of fish, and an environment that felt rewarding for serious scuba fans. That is encouraging, especially for people who want more than a quick coastal swim.

An expert guide leads the underwater work. In the best-case version of this trip, that means you can focus on the reef and marine life rather than managing the site alone. The guide’s role is also important for keeping the group together and helping with local conditions.

You need to be realistic about the certification rule. This is not presented as a refresher course for inactive scuba guests. If you have not logged a session during the six months before the activity, the operator says you will not be allowed to scuba on the boat trip and will snorkel instead.

That rule is easy to miss and can change the entire value of your booking. A person who last used scuba equipment a year ago may arrive expecting two boat sessions and instead receive a snorkeling experience. If your recent log is borderline, contact the operator before paying.

The break, breakfast, and boat routine

After the first underwater session, you get about one hour of break time. This is useful for resting, changing tanks, talking with the crew, and letting your body recover before the second session.

A 15-minute breakfast stop is also listed. The included food details are limited, so you should not expect a full meal. Snacks and soft drinks are included, but food is listed separately as not included. Pack anything more substantial you need for the morning, and remember that a change of clothes and towels are also your responsibility.

The provision of drinks matters more than it may sound. Time on a boat in the sun can make you thirsty, and having soft drinks and snacks available is a welcome convenience. One account from a Ramadan trip specifically noted that drinks and snacks were still provided, though you should not treat that as a promise of a large breakfast.

The break is also where the mixed group becomes noticeable. Snorkelers and scuba guests may have different needs, and the boat itinerary has to accommodate both. That does not make the trip unsuitable, but it can mean some waiting around between activities.

The second one-hour session

The second scuba session follows the break and lasts about an hour. This is a good length for a guided boat outing because it gives you enough time to explore without turning the day into an exhausting marathon.

The site may be different from the first, though no fixed pairing is promised. If the crew visits a reef first, the later stop might involve a wreck or another coral area, but you should ask rather than assume. The named possibilities include Chicken Wreck and Crazy 8, yet the final route can vary.

For certified guests who are current in the water, two sessions make the $93 price easier to justify. You are not paying for a single short descent surrounded by a long transfer. You get two guided opportunities, tanks, and weight belts, plus refreshments.

The quality of the day depends heavily on preparation. One account praised professional staff and a smooth, punctual operation. Another described a serious lack of equipment and supervision, with a long delay before the activity began. These accounts point to the same practical lesson: confirm the day’s logistics before you leave for the marina.

Equipment: what is included and what may cost more

Tanks and weight belts are included for all scuba guests. That covers two of the basic items you need, but it does not mean a full kit comes with the price.

BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, and fins may need to be rented for approximately 145 SAR. Nitrox tanks are not included. If you own any of these items, bring them if practical. If you need the full rental package, add the extra cost to the advertised $93 when judging value.

One particularly positive account described rented equipment as being in top condition. That is reassuring, but it should not replace a pre-trip check. Ask which items are reserved for you, whether the rental charge covers the complete set, and what happens if a listed item is unavailable.

A report of missing wetsuits and regulators on one occasion is a major concern because scuba equipment is not a minor convenience. It is central to safety. The operator should be able to tell you clearly what will be ready at Al-Haddad Scuba and what will be waiting at the marina.

Safety, supervision, and the six-month rule

The trip is intended for certified scuba guests, not beginners taking their first underwater lesson. The recent-log rule reinforces that point. You need logged scuba activity within the last six months of the activity date to take part in the boat sessions.

If you do not meet that requirement, the stated alternative is snorkeling. That may still be enjoyable, especially if your main goal is to see Red Sea coral from the surface, but it is not an equivalent substitute for two guided scuba sessions.

The safety record presented by the available information is mixed. Several accounts describe professional, friendly, and helpful staff, including a divemaster who worked hard and handled the group well. Another account raises serious concerns about delays, missing equipment, and a lack of an instructor.

I would not ignore that conflict. Before departure, confirm who will guide the scuba group, what equipment is available, and when the boat leaves. If anything feels unclear at the meeting point, ask direct questions before boarding. A good price is never a reason to accept uncertainty about regulators, buoyancy gear, or supervision.

What the $93 price really buys you

At $93 per person, the package offers reasonable value if you are an active certified scuba user with your own equipment. You receive a boat trip, two guided underwater sessions, tanks, weights, snacks, and soft drinks. For a small group, that is a solid bundle.

The value drops if you must rent nearly every piece of personal equipment. Adding around 145 SAR for BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, and fins creates a much higher total. Nitrox costs extra as well, and food, towels, and spare clothes are not included.

The trip also makes more sense for people staying in or near Jeddah who want a full half-day on the Red Sea. If you are arranging a short stop and cannot spare the five-and-a-half-hour schedule, the boat transfers may feel like too much of the day.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity and the option to reserve now and pay later add useful flexibility. They do not solve the recent-log rule, though, so check your eligibility before committing.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this to a current, certified scuba guest who wants two guided sessions without joining a huge boat group. It is especially suited to people who enjoy reef scenery, fish, and the possibility of wreck sites more than a tightly fixed sightseeing route.

It also suits a mixed party. Snorkelers can join, while certified scuba guests use the boat for the deeper program, although the two groups may not visit the same underwater areas.

I would be more cautious if you have not used scuba equipment in the last six months, need a full equipment package, or expect a guaranteed visit to Chicken Wreck or another named site. I would also avoid assuming that the day will run perfectly without confirming the details first.

Should you book this Jeddah boat trip?

Book it if you are currently active in scuba, understand that the route can change, and confirm your equipment before departure. The small group, two one-hour sessions, Red Sea coral, and possible wreck sites make it appealing, and the best accounts describe a punctual, friendly, professional operation.

Pause before booking if your last logged session was more than six months ago. You may be restricted to snorkeling. Also pause if you depend on rented gear and cannot get clear confirmation that the complete set will be ready.

My verdict is cautiously positive. The underwater potential and group size are good, and $93 is fair for a current scuba guest with much of the gear already sorted. But this is an activity where preparation matters. Bring ID, check your logbook, price the equipment rental, and ask direct questions about supervision and gear before you board.

FAQ

How long does the Jeddah boat trip last?

The advertised duration is 330 minutes, or five hours and 30 minutes. The schedule includes boat transfers, two one-hour scuba sessions, a break, and a 15-minute breakfast stop.

How many scuba sessions are included?

Two guided boat-based scuba sessions are included. Each underwater session is scheduled for about one hour.

What happens if I have not logged a scuba session in six months?

You will not be allowed to take part in the boat scuba sessions. The stated alternative is snorkeling.

Are tanks and weight belts included?

Yes. Tanks and weight belts are included for all scuba guests.

Which equipment may require an additional rental fee?

BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, and fins may need to be rented for approximately 145 SAR. Nitrox tanks are not included.

Are snacks and drinks provided?

Yes. Snacks and soft drinks are included. Food, towels, and a change of clothes are not included, so bring anything else you need.