Diagonal Butterflyfish
General species description, not specific to this destination
A marine species with typical characteristics for its taxonomic group. Found in various marine habitats.
Saudi Arabia
Diving in Farasan Banks (Red Sea)
7 sites87 species22–33 °C10–40 m vis
Photo: NEOM / Unsplash
The Farasan Banks are the last frontier of Red Sea diving — 350 miles of untouched reef stretching along Saudi Arabia's remote southern coast. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve boasts 30% live coral cover, 79 hard coral species, and pelagic encounters rarely matched anywhere else: scalloped hammerhead schools of 80+, whale shark nurseries (100+ juveniles seasonally), oceanic whitetips, dugongs, and mantas. With typically just 1–3 liveaboard vessels operating in the entire area, most sites see fewer divers in a year than Egypt's busiest reefs see in a morning. The cost is remoteness — no hyperbaric chamber within 5 hours, expedition-style diving, and a season that demands planning. For experienced divers seeking what the Red Sea looked like 40 years ago, there is nowhere else like it.
Farasan Banks has the highest live coral cover (~30%) of any surveyed area in the Saudi Red Sea.The archipelago hosts 79 hard coral species and 230+ fish species — including some found nowhere else in the Red Sea.More than 100 juvenile whale sharks aggregate at Shib Habil reef every spring — one of the only confirmed nursery habitats in the Indian Ocean basin.The Farasan Islands are ancient coral platforms uplifted during Pleistocene sea-level changes, not volcanic peaks like most Red Sea islands.Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (designated 2021) and an IUCN Green List site, encompassing 5,408 km² of protected area.Scalloped hammerhead sharks form schools of 20–80+ individuals at sites like Dohra and Sha'ab Ammar during the winter months.The Farasan Islands were historically a pearl fishing center — the pearl merchants' 19th-century estates still stand on the main island.There is no hyperbaric chamber anywhere in the Farasan Banks or Jazan region — the nearest is in Jeddah, 5–8 hours away.
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Conditions
22–33 °C
10–40 m
15–50 m
Moderate
November to May (peak: December–March for whale sharks and best visibility)
| Month | Summary |
|---|---|
| Jan | Peak winter diving with cool 25°C water and excellent 30m visibility. Hammerhead schools at their most reliable and whale sharks begin arriving at Shib Habil. |
| Feb | The visibility sweet spot at 32m with cool upwelling clearing the water. Both hammerheads and whale sharks overlap, making February arguably the best month of the year. |
| Mar | Water warming to 26°C with whale shark numbers peaking at Shib Habil. Visibility pulls back slightly to 27m but the marine life spectacle more than compensates. |
| Apr | Comfortable 27°C water and the tail end of whale shark season. Mantas become more frequent and hammerheads still patrol the southern atolls. |
| May | Final month of the peak season with 28°C water and 20m visibility. Pelagics begin to thin out but the reefs remain vibrant and liveaboard availability improves. |
| Jun | Summer arrives — water hits 30°C and visibility drops to 15m as plankton blooms increase. Most liveaboards suspend operations. Not recommended for diving. |
| Jul | Peak summer heat — water 31°C, air 42°C+, visibility at its annual minimum of 12m. Jellyfish present. The Banks are effectively closed for diving. |
| Aug | Conditions identical to July — extreme heat, poor visibility, and no diving operations. The Red Sea takes its summer rest. |
| Sep | The long summer continues with 30°C water and 12m visibility. By late September the first liveaboards begin repositioning for the October season opening. |
| Oct | Season reopens! Water cooling to 29°C with visibility improving to 22m. Mantas return in numbers and the first hammerhead sightings of the season begin. |
| Nov | Excellent transitional month — water 28°C, visibility rising to 25m. Hammerhead schools building, mantas active, and still very few boats in the water. |
| Dec | Peak conditions return — water 26°C, visibility 30m. Whale sharks arrive and hammerhead schools reach full strength. The holiday season brings slightly more traffic but still nowhere near Egyptian Red Sea levels. |
Dive Sites (7)
Abu Galawa Soraya
5–25m · Beginner
Coral garden · Snorkeling · Turtles
Coral Maze
8–25m · Beginner
Macro life · Nudibranchs
Coral passages
Qumais Islands
15–40m · Advanced
Remote islands · Pristine reefs · Extended expedition
Ras Qummah
5–20m · Beginner
Training site · Shallow reef
Protected bay
The Blue Hole (Farasan)
3–40m · Advanced
Blue hole · Deep sinkhole · Pelagic encounters
The Caves of Farasan
10–35m · Advanced
Cavern dive · Light beams · Resident sharks
The Drop-off
10–50m · Advanced
Vertical wall · Deep drop · Pelagic sharks
Regional species catalogue (87)
Species recorded in this destination's wider regional catalogue. A species being listed here does not mean it is seen at this destination — check the note on each card.
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin
Destination note
Common along liveaboard routes throughout the Banks; most frequently sighted during the diving season Nov-May
Green Sea Turtle
Destination note
Present year-round; nesting season peaks in summer months
Hawksbill Turtle
Destination note
Common year-round, frequently seen on reef walls and cleaning stations
Spotted Eagle Ray
Destination note
Common in small groups (2-5) on walls and sandy patches during the diving season
Arabian Angelfish
General species description, not specific to this destination
A marine species with typical characteristics for its taxonomic group. Found in various marine habitats.
Great Barracuda
Destination note
Large sedentary school at Long Reef; also common at Sha'ab Ammar and southern atolls
Kawakawa
General species description, not specific to this destination
A marine species with typical characteristics for its taxonomic group. Found in various marine habitats.
bigeye trevally
General species description, not specific to this destination
The Bigeye Trevally, Caranx sexfasciatus, is a common and impressive sight for divers across the Indo-Pacific. Instantly recognizable by its large, prominent eyes and sleek, silvery body, it often sports a yellowish tail and a distinct dark spot on its gill cover. Juveniles are typically found in large, shimmering schools near reefs or in estuaries, displaying faint vertical bands. As they mature, they become powerful, solitary predators or form smaller, coordinated hunting groups. Keep an eye out for their swift movements as they patrol reef edges or open water, always on the lookout for their next meal. Witnessing a school of Bigeyes can be a truly captivating experience.
coral grouper
General species description, not specific to this destination
The Coral Grouper, *Cephalopholis miniata*, is a dazzling sight for divers, easily identified by its vibrant reddish-orange to bright red body, often adorned with numerous small, iridescent blue spots scattered across its head, body, and fins. These robust fish are typically solitary, preferring to lurk near coral heads, rocky ledges, and reef crevices, where they patiently await unsuspecting prey. Divers will often observe them as shy, but curious, individuals peeking out from their preferred hiding spots. Their striking color makes them stand out against the reef, and their quick dashes to snatch small fish or crustaceans are a thrilling sight. Keep an eye out for their distinctive spotted pattern!
Red Sea surgeonfish
General species description, not specific to this destination
The Red Sea Surgeonfish is a truly iconic sight for divers exploring the Red Sea. Instantly recognizable by its elongated body adorned with striking horizontal blue and white/yellow stripes, often highlighted with yellow on its dorsal and anal fins. Look for its distinctive orange 'scalpel' – a sharp, retractable spine on either side of its caudal peduncle (tail base), which it uses for defense. These active fish are typically seen in pairs or large, bustling schools, constantly grazing on filamentous algae across the reef. Their vibrant coloration and dynamic presence make them a joy to observe, often darting between corals or navigating surge zones with remarkable agility.
Day Octopus
General species description, not specific to this destination
A large reef octopus active during daylight, famous for rapid, dramatic changes in color and skin texture as it hunts crabs and fish across the reef.
+75more species in the app
Dive shops
No dive shops are listed for this destination yet.
Guides
Best Farasan Banks Dive Sites: Hammerheads to Whales
From hammerhead-packed atolls to whale shark nurseries. Ranked guide to the best dive sites in Saudi Arabia's remote Farasan Banks.
Diving the Farasan Banks: Saudi Arabia's Reef Guide
42 dive sites, 79 coral species, whale sharks every spring, and almost zero crowds. Everything you need to plan a Farasan Banks scuba diving expedition.
Farasan Banks: Seasons, Water Temp, What to Expect
Visibility up to 40m, 22–33°C water, and strong currents at southern walls. Here's exactly what Farasan Banks conditions look like month by month.
Safety
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