Fujairah’s remarkable diving sites

Fujairah, an emirate on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, used to be a traditional fishing village that flourished into a modern and industrious city.  Tourists looking for a more laid-back atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of Dubai can escape to Fujairah for some dose of rest and relaxation.

It is favored by locals and tourists for its white sandy beaches with majestic mountains as a backdrop, clear turquoise waters, and beautiful coastline ideal for scuba diving.  Fujairah is a great destination for underwater enthusiasts longing for a fun and memorable adventure.

Favorite diving locations in Fujairah

Here are some of the top diving spots where you can enjoy diving in Fujairah.

Dibba Rock

Dibba Rock is known for its coral reef gardens with varying depths from four to 15 meters. The waters are shallower on the west side of the rock which makes it ideal for open water diving. During low tide, you can actually walk through the island.

After the devastating effects of the red tide on Dibba Rock in 2008, it was declared a marine protected area to give the ecosystem a chance to recover. Artificial reefs were placed to provide sanctuaries to numerous marine creatures.  Although fishing and shell collecting are prohibited in this site, visitors can dive and explore its rich marine flora and fauna which are steadily flourishing with the help of conservation efforts. Dibba Rock is a favorite playground for marine creatures like tropical fish, moray eels, barracuda, turtles, leopard shark, blacktip shark, guitar shark, and others.

Snoopy Island

This small island located about 150-200 meters out to the sea is inspired by the famous Peanuts beagle character sleeping on top of his dog house. Snoopy Island is ideal for snorkelers and new divers looking for a fun and safe place to explore.  Underwater explorers have the chance to encounter blacktip reef sharks, turtles, and stingrays.

Martini Rock

Martini Rock is a large pinnacle covered in corals with a depth of 22 meters and rises to 3 meters below the surface; resembling a martini glass on its side.  Divers can go around the rock starting from the shallow part to the deep side and around again.

Divers who frequent Martini Rock compare it to an aquarium filled with fish of different shapes and sizes and other interesting marine creatures like the snapper, triggerfish, lionfish, scorpionfish, fusilier, large-mouth mackerel, broomtail wrasse, anthias, pufferfish, burrfish, moray eel, parrot fish, cuttlefish, sea urchins, nudibranchs, large starfish, and many more. Underwater photographers will certainly have a field day capturing the colorful setting created by the orange soft coral complemented by deep purple and bright yellow soft coral.

Shark Island

Shark Island, also called Khorfakan has a depth of around 17 meters with marine life similar to that of Martini Island due to their close proximity. Snorkelers looking for shallower waters can swim at the west side of the island.  As the name implies, Shark Island is a refuge for sharks, particularly black-tip reef sharks which are often seen in shallow waters during cooler months. It is also home to anemones, clownfish, turtles, cow-tail rays, and different species of fish.

Sharm Rock

This diving site is also called ‘The Three Sisters’ or ‘Three Pinnacles’ because of its three small outcrops. Its shallow western side with a depth of 3-5 meters is often visited by black-tip reef sharks and bowmouth guitarfish. Other common marine sightings in Sharm Rock are moray eels, boxfish, porcupine fish, cuttlefish, turtles, and various tropical reef species.

The natural coral reefs and man-made reefs support Fujairah’s flourishing marine life which attracts divers from different parts of the globe.  The local community welcomes the influx of visitors but promotes responsible development to protect their rich marine resources. The community shares a common goal of caring for the environment not just to sustain tourism but to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy nature’s wonderful gifts.

Come and visit Fujairah to experience a wealth of exciting diving adventures.  What are you waiting for? Don’t miss out on the fun!