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Vance's guide to
UAE and Oman Dive Sites
2000-2001

for Vance Stevens, PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor #64181


UAE: Abu Dhabi to Ghantoot | Dubai to RAK | Dibba to Khor Fakkan
Oman: Musandam | Damaniyites | Fahal Island | Bandar Khayran to Quriyat

For other descriptions of UAE dive sites: Carole Harris and Tony Schroder (c.2002) UAE Underwater Explorer, Explorer Publishing, ISBN 9768182-17-2

Diving around Abu Dhabi: In general, water temperatures range from 18 in coldest winter to over 30 in summer. Climate is mild allowing diving year-round (and hey, in the summer, how else you gonna cool off?). Sea conditions can be a problem during shamal season, but much of our diving is done in calm seas. There are some shallow reefs near Abu Dhabi but the best dives near here are the wrecks which are one to two hours away by boat. Visibility around Abu Dhabi is poor to mediocre with occasional lucid days and there can be a bit of current on the wrecks. The best diving in the UAE is off the east coast, where coral and fish life are more varied and vis slightly better. The best diving in the region is Oman, either north along the Musandam coast or just north of Muscat around the Damaniyite Islands, or around Fahal Island right off the Muscat Hyatt and Intercon Hotels. These latter areas generally require advanced diver certification, and in Musandam if you're not careful or well-led you can get into currents that are up and down as well as swiftly horizontal (the Damaniyite operators now take open water divers and put in at calm places where depth can vary, and shallow diving is usually the best there). At the far extreme, there is a supertanker in 87 meters of water off Ras Al Khaimah which we dive on air to about 50 meters, though you can go to the sand on mixed gases. Further afield, you can easily reach the Red Sea, the Maldives, and all of Southeast Asia from Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

I've sorted the dives around Abu Dhabi by Dates Visited so that you can see at a glance when it's been possible to get out to the far wrecks and when we've been constrained to diving inside the Breakwater for protection from rough seas. Dives elsewhere, where conditions are generally more forgiving year round, I've sorted the dives on Site Name.

UAE

Abu Dhabi to Ghantoot

I've sorted the dives around Abu Dhabi by Dates Visited so that you can see at a glance when it's been possible to get out to the far wrecks and when we've been constrained to diving inside the Breakwater for protection from rough seas. For example, you can see that diving in January was constrained to sheltered locations in 2000 and 2001, and in 2002 there were no BSAC dives at all on account of rough conditions.

Dives elsewhere, where conditions are generally more forgiving year round, I've sorted the dives on Site Name.

Site name Type of dive and depth GPS Coordinates Dates visited Dives Logged
Bateen Breakwater (outside) seawall, 7m   January 12, 2001 377
Ras Ghurab, inside channel coral reef, 4-8m   January 20, 2000 327 to 328
Delta Buoy coral reef, 9-16m 40 R 0221236
UTM 2726600
February 1, 2001 378-379
reef 16   40 R 0211816
UTM 2744347
   
Ras Ghurab coral reef 40 R 0248247
UTM 2727326
February 17, 2000 330-331
Old Cement Barge wreck, 11m 40 R 0228997
UTM 2717563
February 22, 2001 380
Ludwig & Lion City wrecks, both almost 30m Lion City:
40 R 0250272
UTM 2767395
March 2, 2001 381-382
Bateen Breakwater (inside) seawall   March 22, 2001 383
Jasim wreck, 26m 40 R 0246930
UTM 2764700
March 31, 2000 335-336
Bateen Breakwater (outside) seawall   April 5, 2001 384
Ludwig wreck 40 R 0254729
UTM 2779579
April 7?14, 2000 337-338
Old Cement Barge wreck 40 R 0228957
UTM 271758
April 12, 2001 385
Lion City and Jasim wreck   April 26, 2002 427-428
Delta Buoy coral reef   April 27, 2000 339-340
Ludwig wreck   May 5, 2000 341-342
Sir Abu Nu'air coral gardens   May 6, 2002 429-430
Ras Ghurab coral reef 40 R 0248270
UTM 272733
May 25, 2000 345-346
Ludwig & Jasim wreck   May 25, 2001 392-393
Ludwig & Jasim nitrox   June 2, 2000 347-349
Abu Dhabi: Inside the breakwater boulders on seawall   June 7, 2002 438-439
Ras Ghurab coral reef 40 R 024820
UTM 2727246
June 8, 2000 350-351
Ruwais, Cherry Duke wreck   June 14, 2002 440-441
Abu Dhabi: Old Cement Barge and Bateen Box wreck / boulders   June 28, 2002 442-443
Ludwig wreck   July 6, 2001 399-400
Abu Dhabi: Sir Bu Nair Island offshore island / reefs   July 19, 2002 451-452
Ras Ghurab coral reef 40 R 024850
UTM 2729077
Aug 10, 2001 401
Ras Ghurab coral reef 40 R 0248957
UTM 2727842
Sept 20, 2001 410-411
Ludwig wreck   September 28, 2000 360
Old Cement Barge wreck 40 R 0229020
UTM 2717598
September 28, 2001 412
Delta Buoy coral reef   October 25, 2001 415-416
Ras Ghurab coral reef   November 2, 2000 362-363
Bateen Breakwater (outside) seawall / boulders   November 9, 2000 364
Bateen Breakwater (inside) seawall / boulders   November 22, 2001 417
Bateen Breakwater (inside) seawall / boulders   November 23, 2000 364
Ras Gurab shallow corals   December 6, 2001 420
Old Cement Barge     December 22, 2000 374
Hannan wreck 39R0792051
UTM 2749751
Recent visits:
March 19, 2004
April 16, 2004
May 1, 2004
June 25, 2004
August 20, 2004
October 28, 2004
Bookmarks in 2004 logs:
hannan040319
hannan040416
hannan040501
hannan04025
hannan040820
hannan041128
Mutareez wreck 11-12 meters N24 39 10
E54 00 00
I've never been here Coordinates from Kathleen's wall chart
Sadiyat Island near shore 6-9 meters N24 30 802
E54 24 210
I've never been here Coordinates from Kathleen's wall chart
Small Dhow wreck 11 meters N25 54 025
E54 40 025
I've never been here Coordinates from Kathleen's wall chart
Sun Divers   40 R 0282801
UTM 2753997
   
Sun Wreck 1   40 R 0274655
UTM 2775168
   
Sun Wreck 2   40 R 0282749
UTM 2763435
   

Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah

Site name Type of dive GPS Coordinates Dates visited Dives Logged
Jumeirah Artificial Reef artificial reef      
Sheikh Mhmd's Barge wreck   June 8, 2001 394-395
Dara wreck 40 R 0345590
UTM 2829152
Sept 14, 2001 408-409
Energy Determination wreck 40 R 0356452
UTM 2883854
January 27, 2000 329
Energy Determination wreck   Sept 14, 2001 408-409

M.V. Dara mostly traveled between the Arabian Gulf and the Indian continent, carrying expatriate passengers who had employment in the Gulf States. She had accommodation for 20 1st Class, 54 2nd Class and 1377 deck passengers. She was heading from Oman when a bomb exploded on board, while off the coast of Dubai, on the 8th April 1961 which caused the vessel to eventually sink. It was never clearly established who planted the bomb, or why, but there was a high loss of life attributed to the incident, despite the fact that no one was on board when it sank. At the time, it was the worst peace time disasters on the high seas, second to the Titanic.There was a total of 819 on board, including 19 officers and 113 crew; and 238 died from burns or drowning. The M.V. Dara wreck lies in approximately 17 m of water and is in a 093°/273° direction with her bows pointing East. It lies on its starboard side, Which makes it ideal for Open Water Divers, Advance & Above.

Dibba to Khor Fakkan

Site name Type of dive GPS Coordinates Dates visited Dives Logged
Martini Rock coral reefs   May 31, 2002 437
Martini Rock soft corals   March 3, 2000 333-334
Martini Rock soft corals   April 26-27, 2001 389-391
Martini Rock soft corals   August 16, 2000 356-357
Martini Rock soft corals   August 23, 2001 403-405
Shark Island night   March 2, 2000 332
Shark Island rocks and corals   August 16, 2000 356-357
Shark Island rocks and corals   Aug 23-24, 2001 403-405
Hole in the Wall rocks and corals      
Car Cemetary sand and debris   June 24-25, 2001 396-398
The Pinnacles rocks and corals   March 3, 2000 333-334
The Pinnacles rocks and corals   April 26-27, 2001 389-391
The Pinnacles rocks and corals   June 24-25, 2001 396-398
The Pinnacles rocks and corals   Aug 23-24, 2001 403-405
The Pinnacles rocks and corals   September 21, 2000 358-359
Shark Island, Dibba Rock, Pinnacles coral reefs   July 4-5, 2002 444-446
Dibba Rock, Pinnacles, coral reefs   May 30-31, 2002 435-436
Hidden Cove rocks and corals      
Dibba Rock coral reef   April 19-20, 2001 386-388
Dibba Rock coral reef   June 24-25, 2001 396-398
Dibba Rock coral reef   September 21, 2000 358-359

OMAN

Musandam

The map is from Al Marsa's informative web site and can be found in its original location by clicking here.

Site name Type of dive GPS Coordinates Dates visited Dives Logged
coves between Dibba and Fish Head Rock coves and their mouths   September 20, 2002 453-454
Fishhead Rock coral swimthoughs 40 R 0436657
UTM 2854246
December 2, 2000 372-373
Lima Rock coral / island   Sept 7, 2001 406-407
Lima Headland coral point   January 4, 2001 375-376
Lima Headland coral point   November 30, 2000 367-368
The Stack coral 40 R 0443634
UTM 2875593
January 4, 2001 375-376
The Stack coral   December 2, 2000 372-373
Stack #2   40 R 0445331
UTM 2883442
   
Ras Dilla     April 19-20, 2001 386-388
opposite Habilayn   40 R 0441361
UTM 2884707
November 30, 2000 367-368
Brenda's Nipple     December 1, 2000 369-371
Ras Sarkan     April 19-20, 2001 386-388
Ras Sarkan     Sept 7, 2001 406-407
Mother of Mouse coral / island 40 R 0453594
UTM 2893720
December 1, 2000 369-371
Mother of Mouse     October 5, 2001 413-414
Mother of Mouse and Lima Rock Musandam   May 10, 2002 431-432
Ras Dilla   40 R 0447565
UTM 2889972
   
White Rock   40 R 0449334
UTM 2901875
May 12, 2000 343-344
Tuwaqr Island     May 12, 2000 343-344
Jazira Musandam     October 5, 2001 413-414

Damaniyites

Suwadi Turning
40 Q 0573792
UTM 2623698

Site name (east to west) Type of dive GPS Coordinates Dates visited Dives Logged
Hayut Island     July 27, 2000 352-355
Garden of Eden coral gardens   July 27, 2000 352-355
Jun Island north side sloping corals   April 10, 1998 Damanyites
Oman, Damaniyite Islands: Fed and Jun Islands, Quwais and Little Jun offshore islands / reefs   July 11-12, 2002 447-448
449-450
Jun Island north side sloping corals   July 28, 2000 352-355
Big and Little Jun and Jed Islands offshore islands / reefs   Oct 3-4, 2002 455-458
Shallow south side starting in channel east end of Jun past rock east of next Island over shallow coral at sand edge   December 1, 2001 418-419
Channel between Jed and Jun wall at edge of sand   December 1, 2001 418-419
Jed Island sloping corals   July 28, 2000 352-355

Fahal Island

Site name Type of dive GPS Coordinates Dates visited Dives Logged
Oman: Fahal Island offshore island / coral   May 24, 2002 433-434
southwest corner and north side west to Bill's Bumps shallow corals   December 17, 2001 421-422

Bandar Khayran to Quriyat

Site name Type of dive GPS Coordinates Dates visited Dives Logged
Cave site and Easter Bay (turtle city) coral wall and sand, shallow corals   December 18, 2001 423-424

add these

Site name (east to west) Type of dive GPS Coordinates Dates visited Dives Logged
Abu Dhabi: Inside the breakwater     June 7, 2002 438-439
Abu Dhabi: Ruwais, Cherry Duke Wreck   39 R 0718029
UTM 2770118
June 14, 2002 440-441
Abu Dhabi: Old Cement Barge and Outside Breakwater (Bateen Box)     June 28, 2002 442-443
Khor Fakkan: Shark Island, Dibba Rock, Pinnacles     July 4-5, 2002 444-446
Oman, Damaniyite Islands: Fed and Jun Islands, Quwais and Little Jun     July 11-12, 2002 447-448
449-450
Abu Dhabi: Sir Bu Nair Island   Southwest corner
40 R 0217285
UTM 2792102
July 19, 2002 451-452

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Updated: August 24, 2011