Okaz/Saudi Gazette

YANBU – A competition among 50 divers has kicked off in Yanbu beach on Saturday in search for a Greek ship that sank 30 years ago after it hit coral reefs.

This competition is part of the events and activities of the Tourism Diving Festival being organized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH).

Other agencies taking part in organizing the festival include the Border Guard Command, Royal Commission in Yanbu, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and the diving centers in the governorate.

Speaking on the festival, Governor of Yanbu and Chairman of Yanbu Tourism Development Committee Saad Al-Suhaimi said that by organizing the festival the committee aims to shed light on the distinctive diving sites and enjoyable shopping in the governorate. The committee is targeting holiday-makers from the entire Arabian Gulf region.

The festival’s events begin daily at 5 p.m. and continue until 12 midnight. There are several events on the Open Sea Theater, most outstanding of which are artistic evenings, specialist exhibitions on diving, virtual diving technology, ‘Discover the Depths’ program, the Glass Submarine, paintings depicting scenes from the sea depths, and a workshop on deep sea photography.

It is noteworthy that the Greek goods ship sank over 30 years ago near the shores of Yanbu city in western Saudi Arabia. Some 60 percent of the ship is still submerged along with all its machinery and crew’s belongings.

It is said that after unloading its consignment of loose cement in Yanbu Port, the ship tilted toward to one side on the navigation route causing it to enter an area known for its abundant coral reefs. The ship struck the coral reefs and is grounded in the area until today. Subsequently, the area became known as the “Al-Bakhira (ship)” coral reefs zone.