When you think of Yemen, those thoughts might focus on the splendor of ancient civilizations – and rightly so! But this beautiful nation is actually one that is a paradise for scuba divers; with more than two hundred islands rising from the Red Sea, it offers unspoiled beauty far away from popular destinations that can often feel a bit crowded. One Yemen’s best places to dive is the Kamaran Island Group, which is situated along the Southern Farasan Bank. This sandy bank stretches all the way from Saudi Arabia to Yemen’s northern Red Sea; with uninhabited low-lying islands rising up one after another, it is the perfect place to cast your cares aside and simply relax while spending some time enjoying encounters with the variable and abundant Red Sea marine life that thrives there.
A Liveaboard Journey You’ll Never Forget
As Yemen is still basically undeveloped in terms of scuba diving infrastructure, almost all diving in the waters surrounding it is conducted via liveaboard. The Kamaran Islands, including Tiqfash Island, Mayun Island, Uqban Island, and Kamaran Island itself, can only be explored with the help of a liveaboard. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll find endless shallow fringing reefs exploding with healthy corals in colors to delight the eyes; huge sponges and colonies of lush-looking anemones serve as habitats for tiny creatures in equally splendid hues. Many of the Kamaran Islands’ lagoons are encircled by ancient mangrove forests; within these incredible habitats, you will find an abundance of fish, invertebrates, and crustaceans.
Many of the Red Sea’s turtles return to the Kamaran Islands to nest each year, and it’s not uncommon to encounter turtles while diving. During the nesting season, you may even be fortunate enough to witness young turtles hatching and making their way into the tranquil turquoise waters – a truly unforgettable and wonderfully amazing experience.
Kamaran Island itself does have a small population of fishing families; as it perches just off the Arabian Peninsula’s continental shelf, where cool upwellings bring thousands of pelagic fish close to shore, it is easy to understand why. Watch for sharks, large manta rays that often travel in groups, and schools containing thousands of individual fish. Closer in, along Kamaran’s fringing reefs, you’ll be treated to the sight of colorful reef fish, enormous lobsters, and of course many different types of nudibranchs and other creatures that are more than happy to pose for photos.
The diverse ecosystems found throughout Yemen’s Kamaran Islands are for the most part completely pristine, and wonderfully unexplored. While the liveaboards that travel through the vicinity do have some favorite dive sites such as Merlin Shoal and Six Foot Rocks where marine life encounters occur with reliability, most of your dives will take place at “secret spots” with nicknames not published anywhere. If you’re ready for a completely different kind of liveaboard journey where you’ll be treated to all the comforts of a fine hotel plus some diving that’s truly out of this world, head for the Kamaran Islands. You’ll be awe-struck at all that awaits you there.