View Full Version : Diving in Dubai - Any recommendations?
Hi
I might travel to Dubai for work and will have some time for diving (a day). Can anyone recommend a dive centre within reasonable distance from the airport? I'll probably stay in that area and can travel a bit but not more than 20 miles or so. Any good dive centre as part of a hotel in the area would be good too.
Any do and don't bother as for dive sites?
Thanks
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Alan Taylor
13-05-2003, 17:53
Hi
I might travel to Dubai for work and will have some time for diving (a day). Can anyone recommend a dive centre within reasonable distance from the airport? I'll probably stay in that area and can travel a bit but not more than 20 miles or so. Any good dive centre as part of a hotel in the area would be good too.
Any do and don't bother as for dive sites?
Thanks
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Hello Ads
Did Dubai last year after the dubai world cup gulf side shallow and murky ocean side better.
Try SCUBA DUBAI next door to Emirates Tower Hotel
E-mail <a href="mailto:info@scubadubai.com">info@scubadubai.com</a>
Very helpful withtransport etc.Used to be a BSAC school see ad in DIVER for more details its at the back in the Dive Directory
Alan
Thanks Alan.
Does this means that I'd be better off staying in Sharjah which seems to be closer to the ocean side? It's difficult to get an idea of the distances.
I'll email the dive centre in any case.
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Did Dubai last year after the dubai world cup gulf side shallow and murky ocean side better.
:
Alan Taylor
13-05-2003, 20:50
Thanks Alan.
Does this means that I'd be better off staying in Sharjah which seems to be closer to the ocean side? It's difficult to get an idea of the distances.
I'll email the dive centre in any case.
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Ocean side is about 4hr drive from Dubai so you are up sparrow f..., will see usual red sea life good chance of shark,gulf side 20min to marina then boat trip usually on fairly shallow wreaks and some man made reefs on mud dumped cars etc.
But being BSAC member try this to the local club you never know.
<a href="http://www.sharjahwanderers.com/dive_club.htm" > <a href="http://www.sharjahwanderers.com/dive_club.htm" >http://www.sharjahwanderers.com/dive_club.htm</a></a>
Second thoughts why not try the branch list under member services after all we are the BIGGEST diving club in the world eh?
Alan
:=
:=Did Dubai last year after the dubai world cup gulf side shallow and murky ocean side better.
:
John Bantin
14-05-2003, 09:52
Look in DIVER Mag June issue (out soon) at the Whats Bubbling pages.
Bren Tierney
15-05-2003, 23:10
Hey Ads,
Nice part of the world to both reside and take a dive. That said, I've not dived Dubai myself, but we dived Oman a coupla years back with a few guys: one who has dived Dubai a few times and lives in Oman; and one guy who lives, works and dives in Dubai for a living.
The latter is called:
Paul Algate,
Director of Operations,
SCUBA International Dive Operations,
PO Box 30591
Dubai,
Unites Arab Emirates.
TEL: +971 4 3937557
FAX: +971 4 3937883
Email: <a href="mailto:<a href="mailto:scubaint@emirates.net.ae">scubaint@emirates.net.ae</a>"><a href="mailto:scubaint@emirates.net.ae">scubaint@emirates.net.ae</a></a>
Paul's a former Royal Navy diver and caters for the large Ex-pat community out there. He's a great bloke with a wicked sense of humour and a very safe record of taking divers out in the region. He's been out there for years and I have dived with him about 10 dives whilst in Oman and can vouch for him as a buddy to trust.
If you do get the chance whislt out that neck of the woods, try and get over to Oman - the best kept diving secret I've experienced since my first trips to some of the more remote sites off South Africa.
Hope this helps, dive safe and have fun.
Cheers,
Bren.
Many thanks to all for your helpful replies.
Oman has been on my list of 'must do' for a while now but as it is a short work trip with only a day aside for diving, Dubai will do.
Cheers
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Alison Boler
06-06-2003, 07:21
Bren,
An interesting aside on diving Dubai: Saw an article in the press last week about the amazing Palm Islands being built in Dubai at the moment. The first is at the Jumerirah Beach resort and will extend 10 miles out to sea at completion in 2005 have various hotels and villas etc on it, all i the shape of a palm tree. Its already visible from space as they build up the foundations.
The second one is being built at Jebel Ali and is even bigger - complete in 2007. This one will incorporate a "divers world" with a whole city beneath the sea to be explored including a Boing 707 (not sure, it might have been a 777) which has already been sunk to form one of the artificial reefs, and loads more, they are spending BILLIONS. Anyway, the interesting little twist is that every day for ??? the first year anyway, a member of the ruling Royal family(or representative of) is going to drop a 1kg gold brick into the water - finders keepers!!
I've added a link to the website about the first island which is already well on the way. You can see the satellite pix.
So, what was the viz like in Dubai???? Not sure what it will be like after all this construction...
Allie
Alan Taylor
07-06-2003, 11:38
Bren,
An interesting aside on diving Dubai: Saw an article in the press last week about the amazing Palm Islands being built in Dubai at the moment. The first is at the Jumerirah Beach resort and will extend 10 miles out to sea at completion in 2005 have various hotels and villas etc on it, all i the shape of a palm tree. Its already visible from space as they build up the foundations.
The second one is being built at Jebel Ali and is even bigger - complete in 2007. This one will incorporate a "divers world" with a whole city beneath the sea to be explored including a Boing 707 (not sure, it might have been a 777) which has already been sunk to form one of the artificial reefs, and loads more, they are spending BILLIONS. Anyway, the interesting little twist is that every day for ??? the first year anyway, a member of the ruling Royal family(or representative of) is going to drop a 1kg gold brick into the water - finders keepers!!
I've added a link to the website about the first island which is already well on the way. You can see the satellite pix.
So, what was the viz like in Dubai???? Not sure what it will be like after all this construction...
Allie
Hello All
As i said before did Dubai after the world cup when the construction was in full swing vis was like Capernwray on a Sunday afternoon but three times the temp on the cement barge and car wreaks what all this work will do to the eccollogy of the Gulf God knows. All the best diving is now on the ocean side of UAE.
Keep on Divin'
Alan
:=So, what was the viz like in Dubai???? Not sure what it will be like after all this construction...
:=
Hi!
Travel plans were delayed but I have booked with Scuba Dubai (tx Alan)to dive Ocean side in Fujeirah. They have been very helpful and I'll post when I return on viz etc...
Thanks again for info and recommendations.
Peter MacIVer
28-06-2003, 12:53
Ads,
Came in late on this one, so I hope you get it before leaving.
Sharjah Emirate is one of the 'Dry' Emirates, so if you fancy a pint, keep to Dubai for hotels with Pubs and mini-bars.
Abu Dhabi is 'wet' as well.
HTH's
Peter
Travel plans were delayed but I have booked with Scuba Dubai (tx Alan)to dive Ocean side in Fujeirah. They have been very helpful and I'll post when I return on viz etc...
Thanks again for info and recommendations.
Hi All.
Back in the UK after two dives out of Fujairah with Scuba International.
Water was incredibly warm at 32/3C for the first 5-ish meters then a nasty thermocline. Some people on the boat were in Ts only and got very cold. It does make the end part of the dives at shallow depth very enjoyable though.
Fish live was abundant if not too diverse: lost of big porcupine fish, arabian or spotted box fish, stripy yellow & silver fish, black fish (can you tell I'm not that good with fish names) lots and lots and lots or morays and a few turtles.
Nice soft purple or orange corals, yellow small sea fans, sponges of all colours. lots of urchins and a fews purple and bright blue crown of thorns.
Viz was a bit of a disappointment, lots of floating particules & plancton and a max of 15mts, with as low as 8mts in rare spots. The dive guide swore to me that it was up to 25 mts 2 days before so I might have been unlucky.
Scuba International has a nice boat and provide water and basic lunch. All the staff was nice and helpful. However, on what should have been the third dive of the day on a great reef, we were not warned about a ripping current, the anchor line was a bit too far from the dive site and the guide never found the reef. To their credit they did not charge us for the dive but when you have only one day to dive in the region, that's a small consolation.
So in conclusion, Fujairah was good but not exceptional diving in lovely warm water within easy reach from Dubai by car (do stop & buy mangoes when you see the stalls, they are yummy). A very good way to spend a spare day indeed.
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dave covey
31-07-2003, 10:26
I might travel to Dubai for work and will have some time for diving (a day). Can anyone recommend a dive centre within reasonable distance from the airport?
Contact Abu Dhabi s-ac via HQ.
Peter MacIver
01-08-2003, 10:55
I might travel to Dubai for work and will have some time for diving (a day). Can anyone recommend a dive centre within reasonable distance from the airport?
Contact Abu Dhabi s-ac via HQ.
Dave,
Don't think so. Distance/Time involved from airport side of Creek is not conducive to arriving in a state for day dives.
Scuba Dubai is a better bet.
Contact <a href="mailto:info@scubadubai.com">info@scubadubai.com</a> for details.
Safe Bubblin',
Peter
Peter, ScubaDubai is a dive shop, not a dive center and I suspect they are fed up with emails going to them re dive trip.
Go to <a href="http://www.jumeirahinternational.com/diving/" >http://www.jumeirahinternational.com/diving/</a> for diving Gulf-side (warning: sand & mediocre viz likely) or <a href="http://www.scubainternational.net" >http://www.scubainternational.net</a> for Ocean-side diving out of Fujeirah (approx 2 hours drive from Dubai)
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Contact <a href="mailto:<a href="mailto:info@scubadubai.com">info@scubadubai.com</a>"><a href="mailto:info@scubadubai.com">info@scubadubai.com</a></a> for details.
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