Best Scuba Diving in Israel

Updated April 27, 2022

This is the one hundred and seventy-forth in a series of reviews of the best diving destinations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Israel. In addition to this series on diving destinations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving in Israel before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Scuba Diving in Israel

Most of the time when people think of diving in Israel, they contemplate the Red Sea and access it through Eilat.  This review looks at Israel’s diving in the Mediterranean Sea.

For my review of diving from Eilat, please check this out:

• Best Red Sea Diving Eilat

Background

Located on a relatively small parcel of land on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel has a population of 9 million over half of which live in the cities along the coast.  With few natural resources and a desert climate, Israel is well-known as the most advanced country in Southwest Asia and the Middle East in economic and industrial development.

In spite of the attacks by neighbors on civilian targets, tourism has been increasing with over 3.6 million visitors in 2017.  A lot of it is related to religious, biblical, archaeological, and historical motivations but a sizable number of visitors come to take advantage of the climate, beaches, and lifestyle along the coastline.

Undersea World

Most divers who come to Israel head down to Eilat for the rich biodiverse reefs and marine life there.  Admittedly the area off the Mediterranean coastline does not have the same reputation.  However, there are several interesting wrecks, grottoes, canyons, and reefs to explore with 284 species of fish including stingrays, torpedo, and eagle rays, groupers, bream, gray triggerfish, soldierfish, cuttlefish, octopus, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, and turtles along with sponges, corals, and plants.

Seasons and Conditions

Diving is possible all year in Israel.

• Air temperature daily average highs in Tel Aviv reach 31°C (88°F) in July and August and fall to 17°C (63°F) in January.
• Water temperature hits lows in winter of 17°C (63°F) and highs in summer of 29°C (84°F).  A 7mm wetsuit or a drysuit with a hood and gloves may be needed when the water is at its coolest.
• The dry season is from April through October.
• Currents vary site to site and usually range from mild to medium.
• Visibility runs at 5-40 meters (16-130 feet) with the worst in the summer months.

There are sites suitable for all levels of diver.  20 or more dive shops, some associated with hotels, offer a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding, and boat cruises.

Liveaboard Diving

There is no liveaboard yacht directly cruising Israel.  However, there are many doing dive safaris in the Red Sea and a few in the Mediterranean.  Here is my review of Red Sea liveaboards and some links to vessels:

• Best Red Sea Liveaboards – Reviewed and Compared

MY Excellence, Red Sea Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price

MS Royal Evolution, Red Sea Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price

MY Emperor Elite, Red Sea Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price

Norseman, Tuscan Archipelago Scuba Diving Liveaboard – Check the Price

For my reviews of other Mediterranean and Adriatic diving, please check out these posts:

• Costa Brava Scuba Diving
• Scuba Diving Menorca Spain
• Scuba Diving Mallorca Spain
• Scuba Diving Ibiza Spain
• Best Scuba Diving Portugal
• Best Scuba Diving Sicily
• Scuba Diving Sardinia
• Best Scuba Diving Greece
• Best Scuba Diving Holidays Cyprus
• Montenegro Scuba Diving
• Scuba Diving Croatia
• Best Scuba Diving Malta
• Best Scuba Diving on Crete
• Best Mediterranean Vacations Tuscan Archipelago Liveaboard

Selected Israeli Dive Sites

Achziv Canyon: 10-24 meters (33-80 feet), near the northern border in Achziv National Park, usually accessed by boat, walls, and canyon encrusted with soft corals, sponges, and plants, marine life highlights include squid, rays, turtles, and large fish passing by, moderate current is possible, suitable for all levels

Caesarea Underwater Archaeological Park: 10 meters (33 feet), near the port city of Caesarea, shore access, underwater tour of history with a 2000-year-old breakwater, entrance guard towers, Herod’s sunken harbor, anchors, and caverns, marked with guide signs, mild current at most, encrusting corals, sponges, plants, and other marine life, suitable for all levels

Rosh Hanikra Caverns:  6 meters (20 feet), near the northern border with Lebanon, shore access, caverns and grottoes carved by currents and waves from chalk cliffs and rocks in the Rosh Hanikra reserve, maze of pathways and underwater caverns, a guide is needed and permission from the Israeli Navy, moderate current is possible, most suitable for experienced divers in spite of the shallow depth

Scirè Wreck: 33 meters (108 feet), near Haifa, boat access, 60-meter (197-foot) Adua class Italian submarine sunk by depth charges from a British naval trawler in 1942 just outside Haifa harbor, marine life of invertebrates and fish, currents are usually mild, suitable for experienced levels

Sea Wolf Wreck: 32 meters (105 feet), near Haifa, 40-meter (130-foot) ship scuttled by the Israeli Diving Federation in the early 90s for navy training purposes, completely intact, lying parallel to the slope, marine life includes groupers, bream, stingrays, and gray triggerfish, suitable for experienced levels

Gordon Caves: 6-12 meters (20-40 feet), off Gordon Beach in central Tel Aviv), shore access, a reef with canyons, tunnels, passageways, and caves, marine life includes lobsters, crabs, octopus, and a variety of fish, mild current possible, suitable for all levels

Jaffa Peanut Wreck: 9 meters (30 feet), west of Jaffa, shore access, 90-meter (295-foot) Egyptian steamer launched in 1934, date of the sinking not clear, carrying a load of peanuts when it sank, rich marine life, suitable for all levels

The Pipe: 15 meters (50 feet), outside Tel Aviv port, boat access, old oil pipeline and channel now out of use, interesting marine life, suitable for all levels

Herzliya Canyon: 30 meters (100 feet), 15-20 minute boat ride from Herzliya, rock formation with canyons, passageways, and caves, rich marine life, suitable for experienced levels

Bird Head Canyon: 9-12 meters (30-40 feet), near Mezizim Beach, named for the Bird statue onshore, boat access, a canyon with marine life including cuttlefish, octopus, lobsters, parrotfish, bream, and stingrays, suitable for all levels

Electric Fish Wreck: 48 meters (160 feet), 8 kilometers (5 miles) off Tel Aviv, well preserved, suitable for technical levels

The Two Tug Boat Wrecks: 18 meters (60 feet), near Tel Aviv Marina, boat access, rich marine life, suitable for all levels