Alsharm Yanbu Reef Drift Dive

The Alsharm reef drift dive is an advanced Red Sea dive off the coast near Yanbu in Saudi Arabia's Al Madinah province. Local PADI-listed dive centres, including OPAL Diving Club, Blue Diver Center and Scuba Diver, run dives in the area, and the reef descends to about 12 m according to DivePlannerPro. A drift dive lets divers travel with the current rather than swim against it, covering more reef with less effort, but it demands good buoyancy control and awareness of the group. A dive typically lasts about 45 to 60 minutes underwater (an estimate). Advanced certification is expected, along with a recognised logbook, and divers should be comfortable with current, ascents and surface signalling. The activity is rated hard because of the skill involved rather than the depth; minimum age and medical requirements are set by the dive centre. A surface marker buoy and a dive computer are standard kit for drift dives, while a reef hook is not required. The centre normally supplies tanks and weights, with rental gear subject to availability, so confirm what is included. Operator reputation rests on PADI affiliation, and visitors should check the guide's current credentials. Safety depends on the pre-dive briefing covering entry, current direction, group spacing, the planned exit and the surface pick-up by the support boat. Specific evacuation plans, including recompression chamber access, are not published and should be discussed with the centre before diving. Water is warm year-round, and the best season is October to May, when surface and air conditions are more comfortable. Strong wind, choppy surface conditions or unusually strong current may lead the centre to change or cancel the dive. Divers should avoid touching coral and keep close to the guide throughout.