Jackfish Alley
Position : 27° 46.000' / 34° 15.400' E
Access : 70 min.
Short Briefing :
  • Difficulty : 2
  • Current : 1 to 2
  • An extraordinary marine landscape.
  • Caves with spectacular light effects.
  • Quite varied reef fauna.
  • The possibility to see pelagic predators.
  • In the first part do not descend more than 5-6 meters or you will miss the entrance to the first cave.
  • Only small groups of expert divers are allowed to explore the caves.
  • Carry a torch with you.
  • Do not explore the caves for too long a time.
Map :
( Zoom )
 
Description : The name of this site derives from the white sandy road between the coral ledge bordering the coast and a parallel satellite reef that is often frequented by Jackfish and other predators. Jackfish Alley, which was originally known as Fisherman's Bank, is south of Ras Za'atar. You will have to make a drift dive; the place where you will start it (A) is easy to spot owing to the white mark on the cliff. After descending for 5 meters you will immediately see the large entrance to the first cave, which penetrates the reef for about 40 meters and from which you exit, keeping to your left at a depth of 9 meters. Proceeding to the southwest, with the reef on your right, you will come to a large coral outcrop beyond which, at 14 meters' depth, there is another cave that runs upwards and has a wide exit hole at 6 meters. This is the home of a myriad of Glassfish. A little further south there is a sandy bay that must be crossed in a southwest direction in order to see, at 11 meters' depth, another coral outcrop swarming with life and populated by another colony of Glassfish. From here, continue to proceed southwest and, once past a zone rich in madrepores, at 18-20 meters depth you will be at the sandy alley this site is named after. White-tip reef sharks and Manta rays, as well as Jackfish, Triggerfish and Blue spotted stingrays, have often been spotted in this area.