Free tourist visa in Aqaba
by TheWanderingCamel
The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA for short) has introduced a special Economic Zone visa for Jordan, to be known as an "ASEZ visa".
Anybody arriving in Aqaba, whether at the port, at the airport or at the Arava crossing from Israel can get a free visa for Jordan. There is no obligation associated with this visa, providing they leave the country within 15 days and do not need to register their visa for "renewal". Their passports are not subject to any special checks when they leave the Economic Zone.
Anybody arriving in Aqaba can if they wish, ask for a normal visa (usual price=10JD) instead of the free ASEZ visa. In this case if they want to stay longer than 15 days they can register at their local police station as per current practice.
Anybody holding an ASEZ visa, and wishing to stay longer than 15 days must extend it at the ASEZA office in Aqaba and not with their local police station as holders of a normal visa can do, so remember this and be careful about claiming the ASEZ visa if you will be in Jordan for longer than 15 days.
You still have to pay the exit tax when you leave Jordan (5JD)
Posted by Lulu
Diving : the Power Station Reef
by TheWanderingCamel
Located 5 Kms south of Aqaba town. Swim over fringing reef which drops down to 5m with sand and patch reef, from where reef slopes down to 20m and drops away to 200m! Swim down over the wall edge to depth of 30m and swim south. Pelagics are seen "in the deep blue". There are overhangs at 25m with excellent fan corals, with large Yellow Mouth Morays. Ascending to top of wall and travel back northwards at 15/18m with a nice pinnacle at 16m with lots of glass fish, Frog Fish, Scorpion Fish. Turtles and Napoleon Wrasse also frequent this area. Still ascending and working back to entry point at 10m depth look out for green-blue Devil Scorpion Fish, Frog Fish and Octopus. Safety stop at 5m with lots to see at edge of the fringing reef.
Diving : Gorgone One
by TheWanderingCamel
Named after the huge Gorgonia fan coral at 16m. After a zig zag entrance thru' fringing reef you are confronted with a huge Cabbage coral, the size of a house, there is also a resident turtle. This site is known for its 3 pinnacles teeming with life, Lion Fish, golden anthias, occasional Jacks and Cornet fish, plus a resident Arabian Angel and Yellow Mouth Moray. Good easy, shallow dive. From the first pinnacle continuing at 16m due west you arrive at a massive double Gorgonia Fan coral. Continue on to a small pinnacle with a number of Morays and hanging soft coral "gardens". Move slowly up the reef to another pinnacle at 9 metres, with an overhang full of Glass fish, Coral Grouper and Stone fish. Plus lots of cleaner shrimps providing a popular cleaning station. Swim back to the large Cabbage coral marking the entry point through the coral and the exit.
Climbing a mountain!
by TheWanderingCamel
You can get fantastic views out over the Gulf of Aqaba from the top of Jebel Baqer. You'll need a car, and preferably a 4x4 to take you up Wadi Itms towards the north and turn left at Wadi Mizfar, by some white buildings, just to the north of the truck driver stop.
There's a clear path to the saddle, but after that pick your way to the summit. It should take you about 2 hours from where you left the car.
From here the sea is "like a blue jewel" and you see the four countries spread out below you: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt.
Don't try this in the summer; the best views are after rain.
Posted by Lulu
Aqaba's public beach
by TheWanderingCamel
With its palm trees, thatched sun shelters and small drink stands the public beach at Aqaba is quite pleasant, though you would do better to visit early in the day while the sand is still clean and women, particularly, would probably feel uncomfortable swimming here. Still, it's only a short walk from the centre of town and for an early morning walk, or as a place to catch up on your reading, it does fine. The view is good, the sand is fine, the sea is blue -and you're on holiday. Aqaba has that sort of feel about it.
For less public, cleaner swimming, you can check out the hotel beaches. They charge varying amounts. You can usually hire snorkelling gear too.
leyle
Sign in with Facebook
The sunrise
Aqaba promenade
sunset at jordan
Me and Joe (get it Joe Camel)
