Saudi Arabia’s Diving Sector Anchors Blue Economy Ambitions in Maritime Legacy

RIYADH: Spanning thousands of kilometers along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia’s coastlines are propelling a rapidly expanding diving and marine tourism sector.

Rooted in centuries-old pearl-diving traditions centered on the Farasan Islands and historic Gulf ports, the activity has matured into a structured, high-value investment pillar aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s burgeoning blue economy.

Saudi waters hold a distinct competitive edge through rich marine biodiversity. Studies by the National Center for Wildlife have documented more than 1,200 fish species and over 300 coral species, while the center has also compiled the world’s largest Red Sea biodiversity database, encompassing more than 12.8 billion genetic sequences.

The Red Sea’s dramatic coral walls, pristine islands, and deep drop-offs at sites including Yanbu, Umluj, Bayadah, and the Farasan Islands draw advanced divers and underwater photographers. In the Arabian Gulf, calmer waters and historic shipwrecks near Jubail and Jana Island provide prime grounds for wreck exploration, night diving, and novice training.

Generational heritage remains central to the sector’s human narrative.

At 89, Ali represents a veteran of 60 years at sea. His maritime legacy continues through his four sons, who inherited the family vessels and now serve as dive instructors and marine guides for scientific expeditions, while Ali himself still sells fresh catches from his stall.

Similarly, 68-year-old Abdullah Hussein recalls four decades defined by the rigors of pearl diving in pursuit of rare gems. That legacy is now being presented to modern audiences through cultural showcases.

Modern enthusiasts reflect the sport’s professional evolution. Engineer Abdullah Al-Dosari began diving in 2017 and advanced through rigorous Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certification to earn an Advanced Open Water Diver license.

His training covered essential safety protocols, decompression calculations, and buoyancy control, equipping him to protect coral ecosystems while exploring sites from Half Moon Beach and Jeddah to Jana Island off Jubail, where he encounters turtles during daytime dives and investigates underwater sites after dark.

Building a Regulated Diving Industry

A sophisticated regulatory and operational framework has been crucial to the sector’s growth.

The Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation (SWSDF), established in 2018, has standardized professional licensing, surveyed more than 1,000 dive sites across 400 open-water destinations, and accredited 68 shore-diving locations.

Through “Zawil,” an electronic portal for issuing diving permits developed by SWSDF, the General Directorate of Border Guard, and Elm Company, the Kingdom regulates 93 accredited diving centers and supports more than 50,000 licensed divers.

Certified professionals oversee diving activities under strict safety and marine conservation standards.

Industry professionals emphasize that these standards are essential to sustaining commercial growth. Diving instructor Ahmed Ali noted that round-the-clock centers across coastal regions provide access to premier destinations such as Jazan, Al-Lith, and Bayadah.

International certifications from organizations including PADI, Scuba Schools International (SSI), and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), alongside national accreditation from SWSDF, remain central to maintaining safety, protecting marine habitats, and building tourist confidence.

The regulatory framework has also enabled practitioners such as licensed instructor Abdulaziz Al-Wabil to convert recreational diving into a viable enterprise.

Al-Wabil trains youths from age 10 and leads week-long liveaboard “safari” trips, guiding visitors on wreck-diving and marine-exploration excursions that transform deep-sea adventures into a sustainable tourism product.

From Recreation to Science and Investment

Beyond leisure, diving has emerged as a platform for scientific discovery and high-value economic activity.

Divers participate in coral cultivation programs, ecological surveys, and environmental monitoring alongside academic institutions. Their contributions are expanding understanding of the Kingdom’s marine ecosystems while bolstering conservation efforts.

The sector is also benefiting from major tourism developments, including The Red Sea and NEOM, as well as the expansion of cruise tourism.

Collectively, these developments are creating specialized opportunities in marine guiding, technical diving, and underwater photography.

As Saudi Arabia leverages its maritime heritage and invests in marine conservation and tourism infrastructure, its diving sector is solidifying its role as an increasingly vital component of the Kingdom’s blue economy and its ambition to establish itself as a global hub for sustainable marine tourism.

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