The Tank | Aqaba

Information

Landmark: The Tank
City: Aqaba
Country: Jordan
Continent: Asia

The Tank, Aqaba, Jordan, Asia

The Tank is an underwater archaeological and ecological site featuring a submerged M42 Duster anti-aircraft vehicle. It is located in the shallow waters of the Aqaba-marine-park_aqaba" class="underline">Aqaba Marine Park, specifically positioned as an artificial reef within the Seven Sisters coral complex.

Visual Characteristics

The site consists of a 22-ton tracked vehicle made of steel, now heavily colonized by fire corals, sponges, and soft corals. It rests level on a sandy seabed at a depth of 6 to 7 meters. The dual 40mm Bofors guns are tilted upward, providing a distinct silhouette against the white sand and surrounding coral pinnacles. The vehicle is mostly intact, though the interior is filled with sediment and small marine life.

Location & Access Logistics

The site is located approximately 12km south of the Aqaba city center, off the South Beach Highway. It is a shore-accessible site, situated roughly 30 meters from the coastline. Divers and snorkelers enter the water through a marked corridor in the reef flat directly in front of the Aqaba Marine Park parking area. Public transport via local minibuses to South Beach serves this location.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The M42 Duster was scuttled on September 1, 1999, by the Jordanian Royal Ecological Diving Society under the patronage of King Abdullah II. The original purpose was to create a new habitat for marine life and to provide a shallow-water attraction for novice divers and snorkelers. It is ecologically integrated into the fringing reef system of the northern Red Sea.

Key Highlights & Activities

The primary activity is snorkeling, as the shallow depth makes the entire vehicle visible from the surface. Scuba divers utilize the site as a safety stop or a training ground for underwater photography. The site is frequented by schools of damselfish, lionfish, and the occasional frogfish. The surrounding Seven Sisters pinnacles offer additional exploration within a 20-meter radius.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Public restrooms and freshwater rinse showers are available at the Aqaba Marine Park facilities across the road. The beach area features shaded stone pergolas for public use. 5G cellular signal is strong. Equipment rental and professional dive guides are available at the various dive centers in the South Beach tourist village, located 1km to the south.

Best Time to Visit

Optimal viewing occurs between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM when the sun is directly overhead, minimizing shadows in the shallow water. The best months for water clarity are March through May and September through November. The site is best visited at high tide to ensure easy transit over the shallow reef flat during entry and exit.

Facts & Legends

While often called "The Tank," the vehicle is technically an anti-aircraft gun carriage, not a battle tank. A local point of interest is the "Tank's Guard," a large moray eel that frequently inhabits the cavity beneath the vehicle's tracks. It remains the most photographed shallow-water underwater object in Jordan due to its accessibility to non-divers.