In Style

North of Jeddah, past Obhur Creek, the sea is hidden from view by high walls that reveal nothing of what they enclose, other than the tops of palm trees that wave lazily in the breeze above the screening parapet.  Although many of these are private estates, the plethora of beach clubs ensure that one of Jeddah's greatest assets can be shared and enjoyed.  The waters of the Red Sea are warm all year round, although once you become acclimatised you may find the sea cool from December to March for swimming.   

There are numerous beach clubs - some are private in that they require an annual membership fee to be paid although guests can be taken in, often free of charge.  Others have a daily entrance fee - some of the smaller beaches can get quite full so entry can be restricted to avoid overcrowding.  Some are very simple affairs with sun shades and beds, toilets and an open-air snack bar.  The most luxurious have swimming pools, indoor restaurants, supermarkets and comfortable cabins.  

Activities on the beach can vary depending which beach club you are at but snorkelling can be done from almost every one of them.  Sometimes considered the poor relation, even divers will tell you that snorkelling in the Red Sea can be as rewarding, such is the beauty of the reef and quantity and variety of sealife.  Children can snorkel as soon as they can swim - all it takes is to build up the confidence that they can breathe through the snorkel without getting lungfuls of water.  (Some of the more expensive snorkels have non-return valves to prevent water being inhaled.)  Practice in a swimming pool first, if you have access, by floating face down, without moving to begin with.  To transfer to the open water, choose a day with very little surf, wear a T-shirt to avoid sunburn, jelly shoes or plimsolls for the walk out to the reef and perhaps a pair of gloves.  Fins are not really necessary and can get in the way. 

You can get some fun pictures from using an underwater camera but interesting fish and coral only come out well if taken at a very close range so be careful if in doubt about whether the fish or coral is hazardous.  The dive shops sell good underwater cameras from about SR600 but the much cheaper disposable ones can produce some good shots as well.

All of the following beach clubs are north of Jeddah - follow the Makkah-Madinah Expressway and turn off at Obhur. 

Al Bilad Beach

Refreshingly simple sandy beach with ample but not excessive numbers of barasti sun shades and loungers.  The beach bar offers snacks and soft drinks and there is a volleyball net for the energetic.  Excavation across the width of the beach provides an area for deep water swimming 30m long, it then becomes shallow again until the reef.  Access to the reef for divers and snorkellers is a gentle walk along the pier - a canopy at the end provides shelter while suiting up.  Desert Divers have a branch, providing all necessary equipment for sale or rental - which can be ferried to the end of the pier by quad-bike. 

Discounted rates for Arabian Homes residents

Blue Beach (Members Only) 02 670 0000

A well-maintained and highly equipped private beach with cabins for members and their guests.  Each cabin is unfurnished with two main rooms, kitchen and shower room and external shower, air conditioning and ceiling fan.  The rooms are situated around an open but covered terrace with an additional uncovered deck for barbecuing etc.  The beach is sandy and has permanent sunshades, a large play area with equipment for children as well as a tennis court set back from the beach.  A deep pool area has been dug out of the sea for swmiming. 

Intercontinental Beach

This resort has a sandy beach with plentiful sunshades and loungers.  There is a large swimming pool with slide and a children's pool.  The area around the pool has been thoughtfully astro-turfed.  The snack bar and restaurant offer a snack menu and barbecue on the weekends.  There is a long esplanade ending in an extraordinary two level???.    The lower level is only a few inches higher than the sea, allowing waves to wash across, scattering the crabs that live around the edge.

Lotus IV Beach

Affiliated to the Lotus Compounds - residents get preferential rates.

Al Nakheel Beach 02 656 1176

A popular beach, particularly with divers, this is a well-equipped resort with cabins (some on land, some on the pier!), a large swimming pool and children's pool, shade, sun longers, restaurant and sheesha hire!  The water is shallow as far as the reef, but a deep water section has been excavated for swimming.  The dive shop offers all necessary equipment for sale and rental and free trolleys to transport the equipment to the end of the long pier.

Sheraton    

There are three Sheraton beaches, two for Saudi use and one for expatriates.  The one for expatriates has diving facilities, restaurant and a swimming pool set some way back from the shore.  There is no beach and it is not really suitable for small children due to quite high drops near the sea.

Silver Sands (Members Only)  02 656 2632

A 'rustic' collection of one and two-room cabins with covered terraces set in a horseshoe shape, situated on a large curved sandy bay.  Each cabin is unfurnished, has a kitchenette, shower room, external shower, hot and cold running water and electricity.   This is also the home of Jeddah Sailing Club.  Diving is good here, but it is a 20-minute walk to the reef through shallow water.  Beach sports such as vollevball and boules are popular.  The cabins are usually shared to defray the annual rental of around SR44,000 per cabin.

Dive Village    02 656 1980 

Durrat Al Arus    02 618 0000

Huda Beach Resort    02 656 2334

Pearl Village    02 682 2414

Red Sea Marina 02 656 2632 

 

Au Naturel

The South Corniche is not the South of France it has to be said but for sheer getting away from it all value it can't be beaten!  Favoured by windsurfers, kitesurfers and divers ready for a more adventurous dive than from a beach club head south.  It is best to find someone you can tag along with the first time you go as it can be tricky finding one's way through the port area.  There are also specific spots along the South Corniche that tend to be favoured - Kilo 70 and 90 in particular.  See '...just your time' for more info.