Scuba Diving in Dubai

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Tags : Diving & Snorkelling

Time Required : 2 - 3 hours

Entry Fee : Starting at AED 500

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Scuba Diving, Dubai Overview

Dubai lets you dive in its beautiful lagoons and explore the underwater world as scuba diving is the best means to discover and gain information about the marine life in the Emirate. You can find more than sixty-five thousand varieties of aquatic life including fishes, reef sharks, dolphins and corals. Dives at the Dubai Atlantis Palm, The Jumeirah and The Hilton Beach Resort will fill you with the thrill of underwater exploration!

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Places for Scuba Diving in Dubai

Several diving spots can be found in Dubai with the most prominent ones being the gulf, east coast and on the borders of Oman.

The Arabian Gulf is one of the more boring dive wrecks as there are almost negligible corals. Situated near the shipwrecks and construction sites, these waters are continuously put through dredging projects which nullifies the coral and marine life.

The Eastern Coast is full of pristine reefs and small wrecks. It has a beautiful and an explorable marine life. The coast is famous for its Martini Rock and Inchcape.

Musandam, situated on the territories away from Oman, in the best in town. Away from the glitz and glamour of the city life, this unpopulated sight is full of gorgeous reefs, species and whale sharks.

The Lost Chambers Aquarium in the Atlantis let you take a plunge and scuba dive in the majesty waters. You can go on an aqua-theatre show or go snorkelling and even better dive in the chambers or enrol yourself for an aquarium yoga class for just AED 125!

Best Diving Schools & Operators in Dubai

No worries if you don't know how to swim or if you are a novice at diving, the trainers and staff here in Dubai are well equipped, highly professional and very friendly. 1 to 2 sessions of briefings are provided before the dive to make you explore and enjoy better. All the divers or adventurers after their diving trip are given a certificate and can avail paid photographs or/and CDs of them enjoying the underwaters.

1. Pavilion Dive Centre- Located at the Jumeirah beach hotel, it is one of the finest, well-equipped and the safest diving centre in Dubai. It is on the higher range as compared to other centres, but the quality of training and diving equipment is worth every penny spent.

Price: AED 180 per person
Booking: Contact [email protected]

2. Al Boom Diving- Located at several places, this diving school offers a variety of open water and reef dives. It has its base in a variety of locations including Al Wasi Road, Jejeb Ali, Fujairah, Musandam.

Price: AED 300 to AED 600 and details can be found on
Bookings and more info: http://www.alboomdiving.com

3. Divers Down- Located in Dubai and in Fujairah in UAE, it is a 5-star instructor and divers development centre. It is a family-friendly diving centre.

Price: AED 400
Bookings and more info: http://www.diversdown-uae.com

4. Dubai Aquarium- Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo are one of the largest suspended aquariums in the world located on the ground floor of Dubai Mall. It is a home to more than 140 species and 300 sharks. The 51-metre-long aquarium is perfect for a snorkelling experience and even for a shark dive! A trial in pool is mandatory for the beginners.

Price: AED 875 for first-timers and AED 675 for PDAI-certified divers.

5. Desert Sports Diving Club- DSDC is a diving club for those who love to scuba dive and is a non-profit organisation. It is not a holiday or a commercial company but is open to all and meet and socialise with fellow divers. There are plenty of opportunities for diving and can be accessed in Dubai, Fujairah and Musandam.

Club memberships: AED 200
More info: http://www.desertsportsdivingclub.net

Other Must-Do Activities in Dubai

1. Dubai's Atlantis Palm is home to the Aquaventure which is full of slides, water games and swimming pools to give you a relief from the scorching heat.

2. You can also visit the Sunset Beach and engage in fun standing paddle-boating which lets you explore the waters and burn calories as well!

3. Flyboarding, also known as water-jet packing is perfect for all the thrill-seekers who aren't afraid of heights and crash-landing in the waters! 

4. You can also go on a private yacht ride on the seaside of Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa and The Marina.

5. Jet-skiing and parasailing are the evergreen water activities that are loved by all. flying in the air and taking occasional dips while you parasail relaxes and cools you down. Driving a bike on water is equally fun and full of thrill. You can also hire a trainer if you are new to the activity.

Tips For Going Scuba Diving

1. Restrain yourself from carrying or wearing heavy jewellery, expensive watches, hats or caps, sunglasses and hair accessories as they are prohibited in the water.
2. No electrical appliances such as mobiles or cameras are allowed.
3. You can't use your own devices to click pictures, but professional photographers are available in underwaters.
4. You are not allowed to wear your own swim gears as proper diving costumes are provided.
5. It is advised to not go or travel in heights for at least a day post diving.

Best Time To Visit Scuba Diving in Dubai

Though open throughout the day from morning till the sun sets, it is suggested to go diving in the winter months. Dubai being a desert city is very hot in summers, especially from June to August. The temperature goes up and even water gets warm, failing to provide any relief. Winters are very pleasing and November to March are the best seasons in Dubai. Water can be chilly but since the water temperature goes low, you can be lucky to spot sailfishes, sea cows, turtles and sea snakes. You can also enjoy seeing the sandy pearl beds.

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