Half Moon Bay sits on the Arabian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, south of Al-Khobar, and offers shallow shore diving across three sites: natural and artificial reef structures, a cluster of Gulf War wrecks, and a mixed reef and block formation. Depths across the sites stay very shallow, and the area is firmly oriented toward beginners and training dives. Visibility is limited, typically between three and ten metres depending on conditions. The wrecks rest roughly four hundred metres from shore in seven to ten metres of water, while the shallowest reef sections begin at barely a metre. Marine life recorded here includes green sea turtles, torpedo rays, scorpionfish, spotfin lionfish, yellowtail clownfish, and nudibranch species.
Monthly water temperature across Half Moon Bay's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature swings considerably across the year, from cool in the winter months to very warm through summer, so wetsuit choice depends strongly on when you visit. The cooler period from late autumn through early spring brings more comfortable conditions for extended dives and is generally considered the better time to be in the water. Summer temperatures peak at their highest and, combined with limited visibility, make the winter-to-spring window the preferred season for most divers.
9 operators
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Al Awjam, Saudi Arabia
Al Awjam, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Water temperature around Half Moon Bay ranges from about 19°C in January to 34°C in August, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 34°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Half Moon Bay; in the coldest months (about 19°C) step up to a 5mm suit.
Fin maps 3 sites in Half Moon Bay (3 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
2 more sites to explore
