Are you travelling to Dubai and want to enjoy a unique underwater experience? Check out this handy list of top scuba diving destinations in the city and book yours today with Trip Finder. Adventurers and those looking for variety on their travels will find Dubai to be the perfect destination, thanks to its abundance of recreational opportunities and water sports. Dubai offers a variety of attractions to draw visitors from around the world. Scuba diving can be enjoyed in Dubai, a stunning location that combines both natural and artificial beauty. In Dubai, there is a tonne of incredible locations for scuba diving, so you can experience the rush of swimming with sharks, rays, and other sea life up close. For more information about Scuba diving in Dubai, listen to Trip Finder.
For scuba divers, Dubai offers an incredible range of dive sites to explore. From colourful coral reefs and wrecks teeming with marine life, to drift dives and night dives, there are many exciting opportunities for adventure in the depths of the Arabian Gulf.
The tranquil waters surrounding Dubai’s Offshore Islands are home to a variety of marine life, and provide an excellent opportunity for experienced divers. There are five main islands to explore, including the scenic Al Aqah Island and Jebel Ali, which offer plenty of opportunities for photography and exploration. Depths range from 18–40 metres, perfect for all levels of scuba diver.
The Arabian Gulf dive sites are perfect for beginner and intermediate divers. There are several dive centres that offer boat trips into the gulf, with highlights including Turtle Beach and the dive site known as the ‘Shipyard’. Here you can explore wreckage from a 1989 shipwreck, along with an abundance of coral fish. Visibility varies depending on wind and waves, but generally is good enough for divers to spot friendly sea turtles.
Located 30 kilometres off the coast of Dubai, Al Jazirah Al Hamra MPPA is a fantastic diving spot. With up to 50-metres visibility, this stunning area of the Arabian Gulf is made up of fascinating coral formations, canyons and diverse marine life. The abundance of fish and other wildlife make this an ideal spot for all levels of scuba divers. As it’s quite far out, you will need to organise diving trips with a local tour company in order to reach this dive site.
Fujairah Island is part of the group of islands located off the coast of Dubai. As part of the United Arab Emirates, this area is a treasure trove for scuba divers. The sandy and coral reefs boast an incredible range of tropical fish and marine life. This makes it the perfect spot to explore with your snorkel or your diving gear. Make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen though – there’s nothing worst than getting burnt while exploring the deep blue depths!
This intermediate and advanced dive site, located near Fujairah City, offers a thrilling adventure of exploration. After penetrating into the depths, you will discover a trolly wreck called Himalaya Wreck lying at the edge of one of the reefs. The mix of sand and rock offer stunning views at any depth with plenty to explore. From moray eels to sea horses, this dive site has something for everyone. Make sure you bring along an experienced guide who can lead you safely through the area.
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The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, located in the Dubai Mall close to the Burj Khalifa, is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in Dubai. Both certified and non-certified divers have the unique opportunity to go scuba diving at the aquarium. Discover what it’s like to go diving in the aquarium at the Dubai Mall by reading on!
Location: The Dubai Mall, Financial Centre Road, Dubai.
Scuba Diving Service: Al Boom Diving Centre.
Timing: 10:00 am – 08:00 pm daily.
Contact: +971-4-342-2993.
Scuba diving in open waters is much more daring, and it is possible to do so at Jumeirah Beach in the Arabian Gulf’s turquoise waters. Explore the depths of the ocean to interact with marine life there.
Location: 2 Al Nessnass St., near Jumeirah Beach, Dubai.
Scuba Diving Service: Bermuda Diving Centre.
Timing: 08:00 a.m.–10:30 p.m. daily.
Contact: +971-50-187-8755.
Let’s learn more about Jumeirah’s scuba diving characteristics:
Atlantis Adventurers of all ages can enjoy some aquatic fun at The Palm. If visitors want to engage with marine life, they have a variety of options. This is one of the best options for Scuba diving Dubai.
Location: Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.
Scuba Diving Service: Dive Atlantis Centre.
Timing: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. daily.
Contact: +971-4-426-3000.
Residents of Dubai Marina can also go scuba diving at Marina Beach, which is regarded as one of the best dive sites in Dubai. Scuba Shade is a facility that provides different scuba diving deals in Dubai for beginners all the way up to professionals.
Location: Scuba Shade, Habtoor Grand Resort, Dubai Marina, Dubai.
Scuba Diving Service: Scuba Shade.
Timing: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
Contact: +971-56-200-0426.
Sharm Rock, one of the two most magnificent natural aquariums off the coast of Dubai, is a vision of pink and purple. The variety of corals that call this place home makes the fish species fascinating to observe as well, especially for novices. For one dive, scuba diving typically costs INR 3000 per person. Don’t miss this amazing Scuba diving in Dubai.
Location: F9J8+W9 – Fujairah – United Arab Emirates
Timing: 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Martini Rock is another aquarium that exists naturally. This location is a must-visit for divers in Dubai because it is home to the region’s most vibrant aquatic flora and is also one of the most popular! So this is the place to go if you want to lose yourself in the azure waters. Scuba diving costs about INR 3200 per dive for each person.
The Dubai World Islands are a collection of man-made islands that are currently exploding with tiny colonies of marine flora and fauna. They are one of the new locations for scuba diving on the west coast. It is believed that soon it will rank among the top scuba diving locations in the United Arab Emirates because the surrounding areas have been well-maintained to support its growth. Scuba diving costs about INR 3900 per person for one dive.
Location: United Arab Emirates
Timing: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Zainab is, without a doubt, one of the most popular dive sites in Dubai. It is well-known for having experienced one of the largest oil spills in this area, which was accompanied by choppy waves that the ship was unable to handle. It first encountered the bed in 2001, and over time it has developed into a comfortable home for a variety of marine species, including yellowtail barracuda. People frequently make multiple dives to explore the site due to its size fully. It is suggested that you use professional assistance to navigate this website.
Mariam Express, a ferry that once ran between the UAE and Iraq and back, was engulfed by the raging waters in 2006. The ferry was overloaded in addition to the strong currents, which were the main causes of this incident. In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, its cargoes are now a breathtaking scuba wreckage site. It is located at a depth of 18 to 25 metres, and you can see a variety of flatworms and nudibranchs here, as well as spotted eagles, torpedo rays, and yellowtail barracudas. This is a great location to enjoy the best scuba diving in Dubai.
The MV Ludwig is one of the wrecks off the coast of Dubai that is in the best condition. This nearly perfect ship, which is now lying on her portside, capsized while being practised. Today, it provides a haven for a variety of fish species, including damselfish, sea squirts, and pennant fish.
Location: Ajman, Sharjah , Dubai, Bur Dubai, Ras Al-Khaimah, Diba Al Fujairah, and the United Arab Emirates
The passenger ship MV Dara went down to the ocean floor in 1961 and is now submerged 5 to 17 metres beneath the surface. Then, 238 lives were lost. It not only stands as a memorial to this incident, but it is also one of the very few ships to have experienced terrible peacetime mishaps. It is frequently compared to the Titanic as a result. Without mentioning this, the list of dive sites in Dubai would be lacking.
The MV Victoria Star is frequently referred to as the best diving spot in Dubai and is also one of the best diving locations in the UAE. It is one of the more recent wrecks on this side of the coast because it sank in 2013. It is advised that tourists, especially beginners, visit this site with a knowledgeable guide because the currents are average there. Advanced divers can explore the entire wreck by diving twice to its depth of 14 to 23 metres.
In Dubai, the Cement Barge is one of the most well-known diving locations. It is the ideal place for beginners to try scuba diving because the depth ranges from 5 to 20 metres. Additionally, snorkelling and night diving are available here as additional options! Don’t miss out on this website if you enjoy going on scuba diving in Dubai vacations.
Location: Sharjah , Ajman, Bur Dubai, Fujairah, Al Fujayrah & Khor Fakkan United Arab Emirate
Timing: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
In order to promote the development of corals and other marine life off the coast of Dubai, numerous sites were created by deliberately sinking ships and barges. One of them is DB1/Sheikh Mohammad’s Barge. It is between 18 and 23 metres deep, and at least two dives are necessary to explore it fully. You can enjoy the best scuba diving in Dubai at this site, which has become particularly beautiful due to coral growth.
Suggestions for Scuba Diving in Dubai
Here are a few helpful pointers that you can keep in mind as you make travel arrangements for your exciting trip to Dubai and Bali: