Al Wajh Bank

Al Wajh Bank is a vast and remote offshore reef system in the northern Saudi Red Sea, several hours by boat from any port and seldom visited by recreational divers. The isolation has preserved something remarkable: coral cover of extraordinary density, largely untouched by the anchor damage and diver pressure that affect more accessible sites. The outer walls drop in vertical sweeps of coral into deep water where pelagic sharks patrol almost constantly, and grey reef sharks aggregate in the channels between the reef sections in numbers that are startling to witness. Hammerhead sharks are reliably sighted at depth during the cooler months, and the sheer scale of the reef structure makes every dive feel like an exploration rather than a repeat experience.