Exploring the Emirates’ marine life is a pleasurable activity with the ocean temperature at around 37 degrees C, it’s like diving into a blissfully warm tub!

                     

What You’ll See

Off the West Coast (Dubai and Abu Dhabi), the seabed is mostly made up of sand, so the focus of diving in this area is on wreck diving. The wrecks are excellent sites to spot marine life like large barracudas, rays, dolphins, turtles, sea snakes, batfish and the Arabian angelfish. Unfortunately, with all the construction and dredging in the area, visibility is not that great. But, we’ve heard that there are all sorts of vessels being sunk to form artificial reefs and this will make the coast a fabulous dive site, thriving with all kinds of marine life in the coming years.

Over at the East Coast (Fujairah/ Khor Fakkan/Dibba) is where you’ll find all the colourful coral and reefs that are teeming with all sorts of marine life. You’re likely to come across black tips, moray eels, turtles, lionfish, rays, and cuttlefish. The diving in this area is suitable for all levels of divers, and you’ll also find fantastic spots for snorkelling.

Learn To Dive

If you’re ready to explore the underwater world of the Emirates and don’t possess a diver’s certificate, that shouldn’t be a problem. There are plenty of dive centres to choose from in Dubai and Fujairah to get your certificate. The most popular ones in Dubai are Al Boom Diving (04 342 2993), Scuba Dubai (04 3414940) and The Pavilion Dive Centre (04 406 8827). If you’re set to do your dive course in Fujairah, then get in touch with 7 Seas Divers (09 238 7400) and Divers Down (09 237 0299).

However, there’s no need to rush into a full-blown course. If you want to try it out and see how you take to diving, take the discover scuba course (in the range of AED 300 – 600). Or if you’re brave enough, take the Open Water Course (anywhere between AED 1750 – 2500) if you’re inclined to keep on diving.

For certified divers, just present your diver’s certification card and avail of diving facilities in the UAE. You can also rent equipment and hire a boat from the dive centres (most hotels have one), so what are you waiting for? There’s a whole new world to discover.

Popular Dive Sites

Ras Dibba or Dibba Island/Rock - A small island off the shore of Fujairah with plenty of phenomenal coral.

Snoopy Island - South of Dibba is a small island shaped like Snoopy, the cartoon character. It’s surrounded by a coral reef with a gorgeous variety of fish and aquatic creatures.

Car Cemetery - An interesting dive site made up of over 200 cars spread out in a circle the size of a football field) north of Khorfakkan - great for night diving when coral polyps and all sorts of sea critters come out.

Shark Island - Spend the night on this island just off Khor Fakkan and enjoy the dive sites nearby; Shark Drift, Coral Garden and Anemone Garden.

Martini Rock - South of Khor Fakkan, is an underwater rock formation whose top reaches the water surface. This spot is known for the many green sea turtles swimming around the rock and nibbling on its coral, as well as all kinds of fish from the Indian Ocean.

Cement Barge – A very popular wreck dive site, this barge is a couple of miles off Dubai’s coast and packed with marine life. Unfortunately, good

visibility is a uncertain due to the construction and dredging going on in the area.

Dara – Off the coast of Ajman, MV Dara is one of the most historic wreck dive sites in the UAE. Dara was a cruise liner, which went down after a bomb exploded. Many stories surround Dara, including that of human remains still being found in it. Creepy.

By Ayesha Taha

August-September 2009