This location may seem off the beaten track but the islands and reefs here are considered to be some of Saudi Arabia’s best diving locations – and for good reason. The mesmerising underwater coral gardens at Sha’ab Ammar are testament to this.

The dive begins at the reef’s be-jewelled coral wall and moves south–west over a stretch of sand that takes you to an exquisite coral garden which sits 25m beneath the water. There are plenty of rocky crevices and chasms to explore but be careful not to disturb the resident moray eels who like to hide in dark corners.

Further west, you’ll reach a sandy plateau which descends gently downwards to 32m. The sugary white sand is interspersed with spindly strands of red whip coral, also known as Juncella rubra.

The underwater landscape is also punctuated by enormous coral pinnacles and diving here almost becomes a form of subsurface island hopping, where divers are enticed to move from one treasure trove of marine life to the next.

Besides the fire coral, orange sponges and crimson red Acropora, divers can expect to see shoals of tuna, orange anthias and Red Sea bannerfish circling the platforms.

Giant humphead wrasse, in stunning shades of blue and green, also frequent the reef. The wrasse are some of the largest reef fish in the world and can live to be 30 years old.