Most of the tourists of the Emirates are strongly associated with tall skyscrapers , huge expensive shopping centers, sandy beaches and oriental hospitality. Everything attracts, glitters and costs a lot. But rest in the UAE is also an excellent diving! And if in a snowy winter you suddenly wanted heat and underwater adventures, then certainly you should plunge into the gentle waters off the coast of the Emirates.
Diving season in the UAE
The coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs is the water area where you can dive in the borders of the UAE.
Particularly unfavorable and even dangerous months for diving are:
- end of June and until August inclusive. At this time in the Emirates the real heat reigns: the air warms up to + 45 ... + 50 ° С in the shade. In the sea comes a huge amount of plankton, because of which the water is greatly cloudy and sharply reduced visibility. In addition, natural food attracts fish and predators;
- the time of the "brown (red) tides". This is the period from mid-October to early December. Algae and corals are actively multiplying in the surf zone, which causes water to cloud and color, and the content of hydrogen sulphide and ammonia in it increases many times. in large numbers, fish and shellfish die.
Ideal time for diving in the UAE is the calendar winter (January and February) - this is the most popular season . The temperature of both water and air warms up to + 25 ... + 30 ° C, very comfortable. The water is as transparent as possible: visibility is 20-25 m. The underwater world blooms, and when you dive you can meet octopuses, whale sharks, barracudas, sea horses, parrotfishes and lion fish, sea turtles.
General information about diving in the UAE
Each coastal hotel has its own diving school, where you can take good equipment for hire, as well as receive training and receive an Open Water certificate. Dives are carried out both from shore and from water transport (boat, boat). Professional instructors and dive masters will necessarily require a personal dive book, as well as an international PADI certificate.
In comparison with neighboring Egypt, we can say that the quality of schools and the corresponding service is at a good level. But many schools are only English-speaking. And most of them do not spend the dive every Friday morning. It is worth noting that some institutions are not the best diving vessels, and experienced divers recommend that clarify this point before signing the contract.
Each amateur underwater world should remember that in the UAE it is legally forbidden to raise living corals from the bottom to the surface, and also to collect and export sea trophies with them.
Main diving areas
Experienced divers identify three main areas for diving in the water area of the UAE:
- Dubai . This is the western coast of the Emirates with a huge number of man-made objects on the coast. The bottom is sandy, the underwater world is lean, the water is unclear. Simultaneous construction of high-rise buildings and structures led to the death of most coastal corals. Representatives of three international clubs for divers work in Dubai: AL Boom Diving, 7 Seas Divers and Scuba Arabia. They have excellent quality equipment stores and reliable rental outlets. It is here that most newcomers are trained, and all divers are upgrading their skills. Professionals are advised to dive from the shore: in the 60s numerous pontoons, barges and drilling platforms for creating an artificial reef were forcibly flooded in the coastal zone. According to the idea, the submarine flora and fauna should begin to grow and develop on it. At a depth of about 30 m there are 15 vessels, only experienced divers go down to it. The road takes about 7-10 minutes by boat. The most popular objects: dry cargo ship "Yasim" with cars in the holds, broken into three parts, the barge "Neptune", overgrown with corals, the ship "Ludwig", which is inhabited by a whole flock of skate-tailings,
- Paradise of divers - Fujairah ( Dibba , Korfakkan ). This is the eastern coast of the Emirates, almost not developed in a technical sense. There are no undercurrents, but many shallows. The inhabitants of the local coral reef are very active and practically unfamiliar with humans. It is easy to find skates, morays, lobsters, sea horses, sharks and turtles. Two clubs are professionally working at Fujairah: Divers Down and Al Boom Diving. In Dibba recently opened the first in the Emirates Russian-speaking center for diving Ocen Divers. Only Russian-speaking instructors work in it. All dives beginners and professionals make along local rocks or on the coastal islands. Notice the coral Shark Island, the islands of Spoopy and Dibba, the Sharm rocks, the Martini tortoise rock, the stone "Anemone Gardens", and the Inchcape River, where many boats sank and there is an underwater car cemetery. Fujairah is very famous for its diverse underwater paintings and plots. Under the water there are caves and numerous tunnels. The richest fauna is represented by moray eels, rays, corals, tuna, barracuda, sea horses, cuttlefish, leopard and reef sharks.
- Northern Oman. Peninsula of Musandam. It is a rocky coastline of the most northern region of the Emirates. There are many islands here, the water is very clean and transparent. Experienced divers note depths of up to 80 m, and coral landscapes are simply breathtaking. In these parts is almost untouched nature. Diving, you can meet whale sharks, giant turtles and rays, whose length reaches 2 m. Musumdam also has a Russian center for diving Nomad Ocean Adventures, which makes the most comfortable holiday for tourists from the countries of the former USSR. All dives need to be done on a coral reef located in the middle of a beautiful bay. The most popular underwater objects are: The Cave Cave, 15-17-meter high mountain wall Ras Hamra, coral reef Octopus Rock, dolphin islands Ras Marovi and rocky islands Lima Rock. They come here by sea from Dibba.
Diving in the UAE - tips for beginners
Recommendations of experienced divers:
- Those who have never plunged, it is recommended to take courses diver. During the training, dives are carried out in the morning from 9 to 12 hours, in groups of no more than 15 people, accompanied by experienced instructors.
- In the UAE, you must try a night diving: there are a lot of marine inhabitants who just sleep during the day. To do this, you need a team of at least 3 people with experience diving. However, night diving is not possible in every club.
- Equipment for hire is issued only upon presentation of a diver's certificate, and it is also necessary to sign a statement that the responsibility for diving lies entirely with you.
- Be sure to take at rental points or schools a protective wetsuit so as not to get injured about the fragments of corals, which dotted the entire bottom. Not everywhere are gloves, compasses and helmets - it's better to bring it with you or buy on the spot.
- Each boat has high-quality equipment and is equipped with rescue equipment. Diving is offered only in bays, which were previously examined and measured. Before diving, instructors always conduct instruction, and the groups of divers do not exceed 4 people.
- One dive with equipment leased costs about $ 50, the services of a professional instructor will cost an average of $ 35. Rent an extra mask, fins and tubes will cost you $ 10-15. Be sure to check your equipment before every dive!
- Instructors of diving in the UAE are always attentive and polite.
- Your last dive should be at least 48 hours before the flight, so as not to risk your health and life.