The UAE is a beautiful and unique destination worth visiting and revisiting. For first-timers, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of exploring the charming places in the UAE.
The stunning architecture, historical sights, desert safaris, traditional souks, high-end malls, beautiful beaches, and unspoiled scuba diving sites are just some of the amazing things to see. For those who have been to the UAE before, revisiting this country is an opportunity to enjoy familiar places, relive happy moments, and try something new.
Scuba diving is one of the top activities that make the UAE a must-visit destination. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced scuba diver, there are many dive sites in the country that cater to different levels of diving.
Unspoiled scuba dive sites
The UAE’s calm, warm, and clear waters make it a great diving location. With visibility of up to 30 meters in some dive sites, scuba divers can navigate better and appreciate the beauty of the underwater world.
Dubai
Dubai has a number of dive sites that are home to beautiful corals and a diverse array of wildlife. Dubai is perfect for both beginners and experienced scuba divers because of its wide range of dive sites including reefs, caves, and wrecks. It’s also a good place to begin your dive journey by enrolling in a scuba diving course and earning your certification.
Building your knowledge and skills will prepare you for your underwater exploration. Some of the noteworthy sites for scuba diving activities in Dubai are The Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach, Cement Barge, Zainab, Mariam Express, and Sheikh Mohamad’s Barge. Some fish species that you might come across are angelfish, triggerfish, pufferfish, parrot fish, batfish, lionfish, and more. You may also encounter Green Turtles cruising along the waters. There’s also a chance to spot Hawksbill turtles since they visit the UAE to lay their eggs.
Fujairah
Fujairah is noted for its untouched shorelines and reefs, clear waters, and abundant marine life. Some of the best dive sites in the area include Martini Rock, Dibba Rock, Sharm Rock, Hole in the Wall, Coral Gardens, and Shark Island. Fujairah is also home to bucket-worthy wrecks such as Car Cemetery, Inchcape 1, and Inchcape 2.
Night diving Fujairah is a unique experience because you can witness marine animals retire to their sleeping chambers while the nocturnal marine creatures come out of their hiding places to hunt. One of the interesting things about fish is that they need their beauty sleep too. However, fish don’t close their eyes like most animals do.
They just enter into a resting state with their eyes open. Some fish habits are quite strange, such as some species of parrotfish and wrasse that sleep in cocoons made out of their own mucus. As for marine creatures that are active at night, you may come across moray eels that love to hunt in the cover of darkness, and other creatures like lobsters, shrimps, squid, cuttlefish, and octopus. Manta rays are also seen gliding at night.
Musandam
Musandam Peninsula is a beautiful and remote area of the UAE that can be explored by boat. Scuba divers love visiting Musandam because of its clear waters, stunning fjords, and diverse marine life. The nutrient-rich waters attract small and large marine creatures. Pelagics such as marlin, yellowfin tuna, big trevally, kingfish, and sailfish can be spotted in the area. It is also a favorite playground of honeycomb rays and eagle rays. Turtles and moray eels may also be spotted in Musandam. If you love macro photography, you can take photos of nudibranchs that come in vibrant colors and unique forms.
Scuba diving in the UAE
If you are planning a scuba diving trip, the UAE is a great choice. With its clear waters, rich marine life, and unspoiled scuba dive sites in Dubai, Fujairah, and Musandam, it’s a great scuba diving destination worthy of your dive logbook pages.
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