The thermal power plant in southern Aqaba runs cooling water through the lagoon and back to sea — and the dive site directly adjacent has built up a soft-coral cover that's denser than anywhere else along the Jordan-side reef. The wall drops vertically from 5 m to 50+ m, with the recreational profile working at 18–30 m. Advanced certification is recommended; the depth profile is unforgiving and the visibility is sometimes reduced near the outflow channel. But the soft-coral kaleidoscope is the closest thing in Jordan to the legendary Egyptian Red Sea sites — and it's a 5-minute boat ride from the dive shop.
1Why dive Power Station
Most Aqaba dive sites are reef-wall or wreck. Power Station combines a sheer reef wall with warm-water outflow from the adjacent thermal plant, and the warm-water-fed corals have grown thicker than the natural-flow sections. The site is genuinely worth the depth profile if you have the certification.
2Dive plan
- Boat entry. 5–10 minute RIB from the South Beach.
- Descent. Down the wall to 25–30 m.
- Run the wall north. 100–150 m at 25 m depth. The thickest soft-coral cover is in this stretch.
- Ascent. Climb the wall to 12–15 m for the back-leg, then safety stop on the mooring line.
- Bottom time. 25–30 minutes at depth depending on consumption.
3What you will see
- Soft corals. Dendronephthya cluster colonies — pink, red, white. Vivid when the current opens them.
- Sea fans. Large sea fans on the upper wall.
- Lionfish. Resident on the wall ledges.
- Glassfish schools. Sometimes filling small swim-throughs in the wall.
- Pelagics (rare). Eagle ray; whale shark in May–June.
For solo travellers
Most dive shops run Power Station as a 2-tank-day combination with the shallower Japanese Garden site for nitrogen offgassing.
For couples
If only one of you is Advanced, the Open Water partner can dive Japanese Garden's shallow profile on the same boat.
For families with kids
Power Station's depth (25–30 m) is too deep for Junior Open Water (max 18 m). Stick with Japanese Garden for kids.
For adventure travellers
Combine with Cedar Pride wreck for an advanced day: Power Station as the deep dive, Cedar Pride as the wreck dive, Japanese Garden as the shallow third.
Accessibility notes
Boat-only entry. HSA-trained dive shops can adapt boat entry — call ahead.
4Practical tips
- Certification. Advanced Open Water minimum.
- Gas. Air or Nitrox 32% recommended.
- Best season. Year-round; visibility best in summer (May–October).
- Hyperbaric chamber. Princess Haya Aqaba (15 min by car).
- Combine with. Cedar Pride + Japanese Garden for a 2- or 3-tank day.
References
Verified by locals: TBD — this article will be reviewed by a PADI Aqaba dive instructor before final publication. Drafted from reader-diver experience and Aqaba dive community guides.
Comments (0)