Haql Shipwreck Beach

The Georgios G, a cargo ship of Greek registry, ran onto the reef off this stretch of the Gulf of Aqaba coast in 1978 and has been there since, sitting upright a short distance offshore with its hull and superstructure rusting away and the water shallow enough that people wade out at low tide. Accounts of why it grounded differ. The wreck is now the reason people stop on this coast road, along with the setting: clear water, coral close inshore, and the mountains of Egypt and the Sinai visible across the gulf. Haql is the northernmost town on the Saudi Red Sea coast, close to the Jordanian border.

What you actually see

• The Georgios G - the rusting hull standing on the reef offshore.
• The clear water - the shallow reef between beach and wreck.
• The Sinai view - the mountains across the Gulf of Aqaba.
• The beach - the shore below the coast road.

When to go

October to April for comfortable temperatures; summer on this coast is very hot. Morning light puts the sun behind the viewer for photographs of the wreck. Low tide allows wading closer.

Honest expectations

The wreck is deteriorating and is unsafe to board or enter; sections have collapsed. There are no facilities on the beach. Sharp coral and metal debris make footwear necessary. Modest swimwear is expected.

Nearby

The Jordanian border lies north; Tabuk is inland to the southeast.