Colorful Life

Over 118 genera and 161 species of fish and 130 types of hard and soft corals have been noted in Aqaba waters.  Numerous mollusks, echinoderms, algae, amphipods, and fish are endemic to the Gulf of Aqaba. 

While the shallow reef structures provide habitats for a multitude of reef fish and benthic organisms, the sea-grass beds ranging in depth between 0.5m to 40m provide habitats to a variety of fish, urchins, and invertebrates.

The masked butterfly fish, goby fish, parrot fish, lion fish, pipe fish, fan worm, giant clam, sea urchin, picasso tiger fish, fusilier, napoleon wrasse, sea cucumber, sea horse, and eels are just a small sample of the brilliant fauna of Aqaba. 

The frogfish are often brightly colored: white, yellow, red, green, or black or spotted in several colors in order to blend in with their coral surroundings. frogfish are camouflage masters, and only keen and attentive divers can spot them.

Garden eels live in colonies in the sandy bottoms of the sea. The garden eels rise from their holes in the sand and make question mark shapes in what appears to be a group dancing routine, in which the eels bend and sway to the movement of the underwater currents that carry the planktons they feed on.  

The coral reefs dominate the 7km long coastline of the Aqaba Marine Park, where more than 127 species of hard corals were recognized. But it is still a challenge for underwater scientists to keep track of the hard and soft corals variety of shapes and colors in Aqaba. Coral reefs provide shelter and aliment to numerous underwater creatures such as the Christmas Tree Worm.

The clown fish lives in harmony with sea lilies and windflowers, which provide the Clown fish with shelter while in return, the fish, provide it with aliment. The clown fish lays thousands of eggs near sea lilies, which protect them until they hatch.

The sea cucumber looks like a worm, and has a soft and flexible, but sticky body. The sea cucumber crawls along by contracting its muscles and with some aid from its sensors, which are also used to collect food.

If you dive at night time, you might get a chance to observe the  soft corals feeding on microscopic planktons.

If you are in Aqaba in June or July then you might encounter the whale shark. Whale sharks are  celebrities and have a group of fans who follow their migration route, which passes through the Gulf of Aqaba. Despite its massive size, the whale shark does not pose any danger to humans, they are actually docile fish and sometimes allow swimmers to hitch a ride.

Other large pelagic fish can be seen occasionally at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba including: Barracuda and Jacks. But if you are really lucky, you will spot a Dolphin. Know your fish through a specialist course. Check the diving centers for more details. Link to Diving Centers.