Dibba Rock in Fujairah

More about Dibba Rock

With its colorful corals, a high population of green turtles, clownfish, and even black-tipped reef sharks, Dibba Rock has something for every diver. This small rocky island has long sloping sides that are covered by a reef formed by a variety of soft and boulder corals. The side nearest the shore is only 3-4m deep, so diving is advisable during high tide. The seaward side has a long sloping rocky reef with many green and purple whip corals that make it a very attractive dive site.

If you’re in a hurry, it’s possible to complete a circuit of the island in one dive, but only at high tide. If you’re planning several dives in the area, it’s a good idea to explore the wall that runs parallel to the island. The area is prone to both thermoclines and strong currents. At low tide it is recommended to keep to the north (sea facing) side of the island as the south, shore side is only really suitable for snorkeling. At high tide, it’s suggested to explore this side of the island as there is a good chance you will see some turtles there.

Dibba Rock makes a lovely and easy night dive as it’s simple to navigate. There are lots of beautiful, swaying corals that will have their polyps out to feed at night and you’ll find sleeping fish that have lodged themselves between the rocks. You may also come across sleeping turtles – do not touch or disturb them as they’re easily alarmed. They could actually swallow too much water in fright and drown.

Snorkeling in Dibba Rock

This is one of the best snorkeling sites around, especially for turtle sightings. The turtles are most prolific on the sea facing side of the island where there are lots of coral reefs. It seems that snorkelers often see turtles, even when divers don’t.

Aside from turtles, there are many species of fish to see here too. Look out for the unusual jawfish, noticeable for their rather ugly features of huge heads and large eyes. They build drainpipe homes and line the walls with pretty shells to prevent them from collapsing. The drainpipe goes down quite a long way and once the jawfish disappears into it, it takes times to reappear. When it’s mating season (usually June to August) they pop out of their holes, exposing their colorful, patterned bodies. There are also some resident clownfish. Though they can be a bit aggressive, bashing your mask or giving your fingers a small nip.