The Underwater Military Museum is one of the most unusual dives on the planet and a true Aqaba original. Opened in 2019 by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and the Royal Jordanian Navy, it gathers more than nineteen decommissioned military vehicles arranged on the seabed in a realistic battle formation.
The story of Underwater Military Museum
The museum was created both to honour the Jordanian Armed Forces and to grow a new artificial reef that draws divers away from fragile natural coral. Tanks, armoured personnel carriers, an anti-aircraft gun, a field ambulance, a troop carrier, a crane and a combat helicopter were cleaned of pollutants and lowered with great care so that each vehicle sits upright, as if frozen mid-advance across the sand.
Marine life & what you'll see
Although the steel is still young, marine life is already moving in. Fine layers of coral and algae are taking hold, schools of fish shelter in turret openings and under chassis, and lionfish and scorpionfish have claimed shaded corners. Over the coming years the vehicles will slowly disappear beneath living reef — making this a site that genuinely changes every season.
Diving Underwater Military Museum
The exhibits rest on a sandy bottom between roughly 15 and 28 metres. Because of that depth and the open layout, the museum is best enjoyed with an Advanced Open Water certification and good buoyancy, and it is reached by a short boat ride. Clear water and the surreal subject make it a paradise for photographers and videographers.
Highlights
- 19+ military vehicles in battle formation on the seabed
- Tanks, troop carriers, an ambulance, a crane and a helicopter
- A young artificial reef that visibly evolves each year
- Best for Advanced divers and underwater photographers
Diving conditions & best time
Aqaba offers some of the calmest, most accessible diving in the Red Sea, and Underwater Military Museum is no exception. Water temperatures stay comfortable year-round, from about 21°C in winter to 27°C in summer, and visibility commonly runs 15–40 metres. Underwater Military Museum is a boat dive, so it can be enjoyed across most of the year; the calm gulf rarely sees big swell, and we dive it in small guided groups with all equipment available.
Who can dive Underwater Military Museum?
Because of its depth, Underwater Military Museum is best for Advanced Open Water divers with good buoyancy. If you are working towards that, our instructors can take you through the Advanced course first.
Diving Underwater Military Museum with Aqaba Dive Academy
When you dive Underwater Military Museum with Aqaba Dive Academy you join a small, guided group led by PADI- and CMAS-certified instructors who know the site intimately. All scuba equipment can be included, and we can combine Underwater Military Museum with other nearby Aqaba dive sites on the same trip. New to diving, or ready to go deeper? Ask us about the right course — from beginner Open Water to Advanced and beyond.
Plan your trip to Aqaba
Underwater Military Museum lies just minutes from Aqaba's South Beach, on Jordan's Red Sea coast. Aqaba has its own international airport (King Hussein International) and is an easy drive from Amman, Petra and Wadi Rum, so a dive here fits neatly into a wider Jordan itinerary. Diving runs year-round — bring sun protection, your certification card and logbook, and we will take care of the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Underwater Military Museum reaches 15–28 m, and is always dived within the limits of your certification with a guide.
Because of its depth, Underwater Military Museum is best for Advanced Open Water divers with good buoyancy. If you are working towards that, our instructors can take you through the Advanced course first.
Underwater Military Museum is accessed boat with Aqaba Dive Academy.
Divers should hold a suitable certification before diving Underwater Military Museum; contact us to assess your level.
Highlights include: 19+ military vehicles in battle formation on the seabed; Tanks, troop carriers, an ambulance, a crane and a helicopter; A young artificial reef that visibly evolves each year.
Diving in Aqaba is possible year-round thanks to its mild climate and relatively warm water; Underwater Military Museum is comfortable in every season, and our team is happy to arrange the best time for your visit.
You can book online through our booking page or contact Aqaba Dive Academy directly; we will match the dive to your certification and arrange equipment and guiding.
