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Dubai, UAE

Scuba Diving in Dubai: Wrecks, Warm Water and Year-Round Diving

Dubai gives you two very different options: sandy-bottom wrecks on the Gulf side twenty minutes from the marina, and genuine coral reefs on the Fujairah coast ninety minutes east.

Find divers in DubaiCertification guides

Quick facts

Season
Year round; best October–May
Water temperature
22°C winter, 33°C summer
Visibility
5–15 m Dubai side, 8–20 m Fujairah

Dive sites in and around Dubai

  • Zainab wreck

    30 m oil tanker, the best-known Dubai wreck, advanced divers.

  • Mariam Express

    28 m cargo wreck with penetration for trained divers.

  • Martini Rock, Fujairah

    5–19 m pinnacle covered in soft coral; excellent for all levels.

  • Dibba Rock

    3–16 m reef with turtles and reef sharks, ideal after certification.

Gulf side or east coast?

The Gulf side is wreck diving with variable visibility and warm, sometimes very warm, water. Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman has clearer water, coral and much better marine life — most experienced Dubai divers make the drive.

In peak summer the Gulf can exceed 33°C at depth, which is uncomfortable in a wetsuit and hard on marine life; October to May is the sensible season.

  • Two-dive trips typically 350–600 AED including gear
  • 3 mm shorty is enough most of the year
  • Weekend Fujairah trips are the standard club format

Diving is a buddy sport — find yours in Dubai

SportConnect is free. Add scuba diving as your sport, list your certification level and Dubai as your city, and you can browse and message local divers, clubs and dive centres planning trips.

Create your free diver profile

Frequently asked questions

Is diving in Dubai good?

Wreck diving on the Gulf side is good; for reefs and clear water, most divers head to Fujairah on the east coast.

When is the best time to dive in Dubai?

October to May, when water temperature and visibility are both comfortable.

Can beginners dive there?

Yes — Dibba Rock and Martini Rock on the east coast are shallow and calm.

More diving guides

PADI Open Water DiverPADI Advanced Open Water DiverPADI Rescue DiverPADI DivemasterPADI Enriched Air (Nitrox)PADI Dry Suit DiverSSI Open Water DiverBSAC Ocean DiverDiving in MiamiDiving in New York CityDiving in LondonDiving in BarcelonaDiving in SydneyDiving in TorontoDiving in BerlinDiving in Los AngelesDiving in TokyoDiving in ChicagoDiving in Singapore

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