Almonda Itinerary

Five Corals and Seven Sisters (Yanbu - JED)

Board the vessel in time for check-in, orientation, and cabin assignment. 

Starting from the port of Yanbu, sailing for 18 miles to the west, you reach the Seven Sisters area, where dives such as Marker 32, Marker 34, Abu Galawa, Marker 39, and others will offer the opportunity to dive along the plateaus that stretch out towards the blue, from which it will be possible to spot shoals of large pelagics. Hammerhead sharks, silvertip, and silky sharks are the masters of these waters, but the real surprise will be the richness of the walls, where multitudes of hard corals mix with forests of gorgonians. With the grazing light of sunrise and sunset, you will admire the incredible life that surrounds these reefs, where every coral is still intact. 

Sailing 8 miles further south is the isolated Mansi reef or Marker 42, a large madreporic column that rises from the depths with walls covered with gorgonians. From the blue, with a little luck, a school of hammerhead sharks may appear, stationed along the southern slope. 

Continuing further south for 16 miles, we will come across the atoll of Sha’ab Suflani, or Marker 44, with the walls falling vertically to over 300 meters deep. From Sha'ab Suflani we will sail south for about 75 miles until we reach the area called Five Corals, 5 coral atolls facing the town of Rabigh. It will be these magnificent reefs located a short distance from each other that will welcome us into this still completely virgin area. The Maria Reef site is by far one of the most fascinating dives that will leave those who dive for the first time in its depths speechless. From the first meters of depth you will notice the impressive presence of passing fish: from tuna to schools of trevally and barracudas that swim undisturbed along the entire plateau surrounded by clouds of fusiliers. A real aquarium where soft corals almost completely cover the madreporic surface. 

Joey Reef, Noura, Mary Ann, and Mary Jane are the other 4 "sisters" who differ from the first as they have totally different morphological characteristics. Huge madreporic columns with walls covered with gorgonians that fall vertically in depth while schools of hammerhead sharks and manta rays will appear frequently from the blue. It will be the latter that will offer us the opportunity, with a little luck, to meet them even at night along the southern plateau of Joey Reef.

Disembark the vessel after breakfast. 

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.