From Jeddah: Boat Trip and Diving for Certified Divers

The Red Sea rewards those who look below the surface. From Al-Haddad Scuba in Jeddah, this half-day boat outing takes certified divers to two underwater sites among reefs, wrecks, and coral islands. I like the small group of up to 10 people and the chance to reach sites such as Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, and Crazy 8. I also like that tanks, weight belts, snacks, and soft drinks are included.

The main catch is important: you need logged scuba activity within the past six months to take part in the boat sessions. If you have been out of the water longer, you may be limited to snorkeling instead. Equipment rental can also add about 145 SAR, and the food arrangement is modest, so bring something to eat.

This is a good match for a certified diver who wants a straightforward Red Sea outing rather than a long luxury cruise. The trip lasts 330 minutes, guides speak Arabic, English, Italian, or Russian, and the best reports praise punctual staff, friendly service, tidy equipment, and uncrowded sites. Still, one serious complaint involved missing equipment and weak organization, so confirm your gear and recent experience before paying.

Key points to know before you book

• Two boat-based underwater sessions: You spend about an hour at each site, with a break between them.
• Several possible locations: The boat may head toward Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, Crazy 8, a wreck site, or a coral island.
• Recent activity is required: No logged scuba sessions within six months means snorkeling instead of the planned underwater sessions.
• Basic items are included: Tanks and weight belts come with the price, while much of the personal kit costs extra.
• Small group setting: The maximum group size is 10, though the boat can include both scuba participants and snorkelers.
• Bring identification: Keep your ID, passport, or visa with you during the boat ride.

Leaving Al-Haddad Scuba for the Red Sea

Your day begins at Al-Haddad Scuba in Jeddah. The advertised price is $93 per person, and the total outing lasts five and a half hours. That includes the journey to the site, two underwater sessions, time to rest, and the ride back.

The first boat leg is listed at about one hour. This is not a quick marina transfer, so plan on spending a fair amount of the day on the water. The longer ride gives you time to settle in, organize your kit, and enjoy the view, but anyone prone to seasickness should prepare accordingly.

The trip uses a yacht or larger boat rather than taking you directly from shore to a nearby reef. That matters because the boat can reach different underwater areas, including reefs, wrecks, and coral islands. The exact destination is not fixed, which is normal for a sea outing where conditions and site choice can affect the plan.

You should arrive ready for a practical boat day. Food, a change of clothes, and towels are not included. Snacks and soft drinks are supplied, but a 15-minute breakfast stop in the schedule should not be confused with a full meal. I would bring your own substantial food, especially if you know you get hungry after a morning underwater.

One especially useful tip comes from a previous trip: carry your ID, passport, or visa on the boat. That is a small detail, but an easy one to miss when you are focused on equipment.

What the $93 price really covers

At $93, the trip offers reasonable value if you already own most of your kit. Tanks and weight belts are included, along with snacks and drinks. The two guided boat sessions are the main reason to choose this trip over a shore-based option.

The cost becomes less attractive if you need a complete equipment package. BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, and fins are not included, with rental listed at approximately 145 SAR. Nitrox tanks also cost extra. Before booking, ask Al-Haddad Scuba to confirm which items are available and exactly what the rental charge covers.

That question matters because personal fit and equipment condition affect both comfort and safety. One highly positive account said a fully rented set was in excellent condition. Another account described arriving without a regulator, wetsuit, or other needed kit. Those reports conflict sharply, so I would not leave the equipment check until the morning of departure.

The price works best for certified divers who already have their own mask, fins, exposure suit, BCD, and regulator, or who receive clear confirmation that rental gear is reserved. If you must rent everything, compare the final total with other Jeddah operators before deciding.

The first hour on the water

After leaving the marina, the boat spends roughly 60 minutes reaching the first area. The exact site may be Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, Crazy 8, another reef, a wreck, or a coral island.

That variety gives the trip some appeal. You are not being sold one fixed underwater view. A reef can offer coral and fish, while a wreck provides structure and a different kind of exploration. A coral island may bring a broader setting, with open water around the site. The information provided does not guarantee a particular location, so book this for the Red Sea setting and two guided sessions, not for one named wreck alone.

The experience can include scuba participants and snorkelers on the same boat. That is useful if friends or family have different levels of experience, but it also explains why the schedule and site choices may not match everyone’s plans perfectly. One account praised a boat carrying only four scuba participants and six snorkelers, calling it a particularly small group. A small group usually means less waiting while people enter the water and more room for the guide to keep track of everyone.

The trip is presented as suitable for seasoned snorkelers and first-time snorkelers. The scuba portion, however, is for certified divers, and recent logged activity is a firm condition. Do not assume a certification card alone will override the six-month rule.

The first underwater session

The first scuba session is scheduled for about one hour at the selected Jeddah site. A guide leads the group, and tanks and weight belts are provided. The description promises access to coral reefs, wreck sites, and coral islands, but it does not state the maximum depth, water temperature, visibility, or exact route.

That lack of fixed detail is worth noting. Experienced divers may appreciate the flexible site choice, while anyone seeking a particular depth or wreck should ask before booking. Conditions can also influence the final location, though no formal weather policy is provided here.

A strong account praised the guide for being attentive and professional, with the boat reaching sites where no other boat was present. That is one of the best reasons to consider this trip. Less congestion can make entry, movement around the site, and time underwater feel calmer.

The same account described coral and fish in good condition. I would treat that as an encouraging sign rather than a promise of a specific marine encounter. The Red Sea is the attraction, but nature decides what appears on the day.

The safety picture needs a balanced reading. Several accounts describe professional and helpful staff, while one serious complaint reported poor organization and no instructor present. Because this is a scuba activity, you should ask who will guide the group, how the recent-activity rule will be checked, and whether your reserved equipment will be ready before departure.

The one-hour break and short breakfast stop

After the first session, the schedule allows about one hour of break time. This is a useful pause for drinking, resting, checking equipment, and preparing for the second session.

Do not expect a long restaurant-style meal. The itinerary lists breakfast for 15 minutes, while the inclusions list only snacks and drinks and specifically excludes food. Bring your own food if breakfast is important to you. During Ramadan, one previous group still received drinks and snacks, but I would regard the supplied refreshments as light onboard provisions rather than a meal service.

The break also helps separate the two underwater sessions. Two sessions in one day require more than simply climbing back aboard and jumping in again. You need time to dry off, review your kit, and listen to any guidance for the next site.

If you are joining as a snorkeler, this hour may feel more relaxed. If you are a scuba participant, it is the moment to deal with any equipment issue before the second session. That is another reason to inspect your kit early rather than waiting until the boat is offshore.

The second underwater session

The second session lasts about one hour and takes place at the same general Jeddah area or another selected location, depending on the day’s plan. The description says the boat can visit one area with several named sites, so you should not assume the two sessions always take place at widely separated points.

A second session is valuable because it gives you another chance to see the Red Sea if the first site is not your favorite. It also makes the $93 fare more convincing than a short single-session trip. You get a proper half-day on the water, not just a quick outing.

The guide-led format should suit certified divers who want local direction rather than complete independence. You can ask in advance about the expected pace and site difficulty. The published details do not provide a formal minimum certification level beyond being a certified diver, nor do they state a specific depth range.

If your recent scuba experience is more than six months old, this second session will not solve the problem. The stated rule applies to the activity date, and the alternative is snorkeling. One unhappy account involved a participant who had not been underwater for about a year and was instead offered a short shore-based refresher and two shore sessions for an additional 155 SAR. That outcome was clearly not the booked boat experience, so confirm your eligibility in writing if your logbook is not current.

The ride back and group atmosphere

After the second session, the return boat journey is listed at about 80 minutes. That is longer than the outbound trip, so the ride home is part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

You can use this time to relax, have the remaining snacks and drinks, and enjoy the sea from the boat. You should also plan for wet clothing, since towels and a change of clothes are not included. At the end of the return ride, you arrive back at Al-Haddad Scuba.

The group limit of 10 keeps the outing relatively small. The boat may combine scuba participants and snorkelers, so the exact ratio changes from one departure to another. A small group can be a real advantage when you want the guide to notice your needs, but it does not guarantee that every person receives identical attention.

The language choice is useful for international visitors. Guides are listed as speaking Arabic, English, Italian, and Russian. That does not guarantee that every departure has a guide fluent in all four languages, so state your preferred language when booking.

Equipment, safety, and the six-month rule

The six-month requirement is the most important practical condition. You need logged dives within the previous six months of the activity date to use the scuba portion. If not, the operator can place you in the snorkeling group instead.

This rule may feel strict if you hold a valid certification, but it is designed to separate current divers from people who may need a refresher. The trouble comes when the rule is discovered only after you arrive. Confirm it before setting out, especially if your logbook has a long gap.

Tanks and weight belts are included. BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, masks, and fins are not. Nitrox is also excluded. If you rent equipment, confirm the approximate 145 SAR price and make sure the full set you need is reserved.

I would also ask about the guide’s role, the equipment inspection, and the plan if a requested site is unavailable. The positive accounts describe a punctual, friendly, and professional operation. The negative account raises serious concerns about missing gear and a lack of instruction. The difference may reflect a bad day, a communication failure, or changing arrangements, but it is enough to justify a quick confirmation call.

Who will enjoy this Red Sea outing

I would recommend this trip to:

• Certified divers with logged activity in the last six months.
• People who want two boat-based sessions in one half-day.
• Small groups who prefer a limited departure rather than a large boat crowd.
• Friends or families where some people scuba and others snorkel.
• Divers who already own most of their equipment or have confirmed rentals.

I would be more cautious if you have not been underwater recently, need a refresher, or expect a full meal and complete gear package. It is also not ideal if you need a guaranteed named wreck or a fixed depth profile, since the final site is flexible.

The trip has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms reduce some booking risk, but they do not replace the need to confirm recent logged activity and equipment.

Should you book the Al-Haddad Scuba boat trip?

Book it if you want a fairly priced Red Sea boat day, two guided underwater sessions, and a small group. The strongest aspects are the site variety, the compact group size, the included tanks and weights, and the reports of friendly staff and well-kept rental equipment. One group also found the reefs and fish in excellent condition and had the sites almost to themselves.

Before paying, send three clear questions to Al-Haddad Scuba: Am I eligible under the six-month logged-activity rule? Is my full rental kit reserved? Who will guide the scuba group? Take your ID, bring food, pack dry clothes and a towel, and budget for the 145 SAR rental cost if needed.

With those details confirmed, this can be a rewarding and practical way to see the Red Sea from Jeddah. Without that confirmation, the conflicting equipment and organization reports make it a gamble that certified divers should not need to take.

FAQ

How long does the boat trip last?

The full activity lasts 330 minutes, or five and a half hours. The schedule includes the boat rides, two one-hour scuba sessions, a one-hour break, and a 15-minute breakfast period.

How many scuba sessions are included?

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

Which underwater sites might the boat visit?

Possible areas include Anas Reef, Duqais, Chicken Wreck, and Crazy 8. The boat may also visit other reefs, wreck sites, or coral islands, and the exact location is not guaranteed.

Do I need recent scuba experience?

Yes. You need logged dives within the six months before the activity date to take part in the scuba sessions. If you do not meet that condition, you will snorkel instead.

What scuba equipment is included?

Tanks and weight belts are included. BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, masks, and fins are not included and may be rented for approximately 145 SAR. Nitrox tanks are also excluded.

Are food and drinks provided?

Snacks and soft drinks are included. Food is not included, so bring your own meal or breakfast. A 15-minute breakfast period appears in the schedule.

What languages are available, and how large is the group?

Guides are listed as speaking Arabic, English, Italian, and Russian. The group is limited to 10 participants, though the boat may include both scuba participants and snorkelers.