Dive Destinations

Farasan Islands

Coordinates: 16:42:42N 42:13:15E

A group of 84 islands in the Red Sea Lying 40 k Off the southern coast Of saudi Arabia, The Farasan Islands Reserve is espescially rich in seabird Life.

The uninhabitated islands serve as breeding sites for large numbers of birds and the adjacent marine feeding grounds attract varities such as Osprey, Sooty Falcon, Pink-Backed Pelican, Red-Billed Tropik Bird, White-Eyed Gull, Saunders Little Tern, Crab Plover, Flamingos and others.

The reserve also protects the farasan Islands Gazelle, Within what may possibly be the largest population of gazelles left in saudi Arabia. The waters surrounding the islands are equally important for marine life including dugongs, sea turtles and numerous Manta Rays.

Farasan Banks

The 'Bank' is an extensive shoal of coral reefs that runs about 320 miles from west of the coastal town of Al Lith down to Kamaran Island. It is a shallow area where extensive reefs have created beautiful coral gardens. Cousteau, in his book The Living Sea, describes this area as one of the most interesting coral ecosystems in the world. It is isolated, surrounded by sea and desert and relatively unaffected by tourists, fishing or pollution. Below are some of the Islands from the Banks. All drawings by Alex from Dream Divers.

Malathu Island. (19 50.5457'N 39 56.1495' E). Click on image to see larger map.

Canyon Reef. (19 53.3690 N - 39 57.5443 E

Dohra Island

Marmar Island. (19 50.5457 N 39 56.1495 E)

Danak Island. (19 31.5148' N 40 01.9068'

Long Reef. (19 46.4968 N 39 53.6257 E)