Cyclone "Gonu"Earlier this month, the East Coast was severely hit by Cyclone "Gonu". Dive Centres, beaches, harbours and moorings were totally destroyed and some of the Coral Reefs have also suffered substantial damage.There are confliction stories regarding the extend of the damage and different opinions on how longs the reefs will take to regenerate. Wehave received some info from divers who have visited the east coast - read more here. |
We have been told that a couple of whale sharks were spotted at Lima Rock this weekend just gone (On Friday 13th !! Goes to show that that date does not have to be bad luck). 
More resorts open in Fujeirah
Another couple of resorts have opened up on the East Coast and are now ready for business.
Firstly, there is the Fujeirah Rotana Resort, right next door to Le Meridien Al Aqah.
On top of that, the 5 * JAL Resort near Dibba has also opened its doors this month.
Ad this to Golden Tulip Dibba, Le Meridien Al Aqah, Royal Beach Hotel, Sandy Beach and Holiday Beach Motel and there are plenty of options for divers to spend a few days on the East Coast and in Musandam.
Ladies Only !!
Dubai Ladies Club and PADI Instructor Lorie Humpage from Al Boom Diving have joined forces to offer strictly ladies only dive courses to the ladies in Dubai. The courses takes place in the Ladies Club, which is on Beach Road, next to Jumeirah Beach Club and the public beach park.
The courses are available for both club members AND non members. Snorkeling and kids courses also available. For more info you can contact lorie on 0503794983 or the Fitness Center at the club on 043499922.
Musandam liveaboard trip
We had a briliant trip last weekend onboard Al Marsa's Brown Dhow, diving and cruising the Musandam. Apart from having a nice time, the trip was also to do some reseach for an article in the upcoming issue of Travel Trendz, being availaible across the UAE early March. Excellent trip..the dive on Octopus Rock was probably one of the best dives in Musandam ever. Read the article and see a few photos here.
Golden Tulip in Dibba now Open
The latest addition to the chain of Golden Tulip hotels, Golden Tulip Dibba, is now open for business. The hotel opened its doors last weekend, so divers spending a few days in Musandam or on the East Coast now have one more option for accommodation. The hotel also has a dive centre in the resort, where you can book day trips diving the Musandam.
More information can be found on www.goldentulipdibba.com
Want to join a Dive Club while in Dubai ?
A lot of newcomers often ask if there is a "real" dive club in Dubai. The answer is yes! If you are a keen diver and wish to dive a lot and dont mind helping out with boat handling and practical things around the club, then joining the Dubai Desert Sports Diving Club might be the answer.
Apart from weekly diving trips, they have club nights, BBQ's, BSAC courses, boat handling courses etc. The club house is based in Al Quoz - more information can be obtained by emailing Jim on jimdar1339@gmail.com or calling him on 050 621 4709.
Dive and stay packages in Musandam
Wanna dive the Musandam but dont want to get up at the crack of dawn to make it ? Chris at Discover Nomad is offering Dive'n Stay packages in their guesthouse in Dibba on weekends and very reasonable rates.
To find out more, log on to www.discovernomad.com or check out the flyer here.
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Whale Shark at Dibba Rock!
Divers visiting Dibba Rock last weekend got themselves a bit of a surprise when the site was visited by a 10 m long Whaleshark.
Apparently, the whaleshark stayed around for a while, giving the lucky diver the chance to get some good photos and even a 15 minute video of the amazing creature. More photos can be found here.
Travel reports & articles
Where is this photo from ?
Check out our new blog featuring dive travel reports and articles from Mexico, Thailand & Oman.
If you are interested in posting info and photos on a dive trip you have been on, please email kent@dubaidivers.com and you will be given access to the blog.
The blog can be found on blog.dubaidivers.com
For more newsstories and information, click here.
UAE Diving Info
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The Scuba Divers maps of the UAE & Musandam
Musandam boats depart from Dibba and Khasab, and there are dive centers in Al Aqah (near Dibba), Khor Fakkan and Fujeirah offering local diving on the UAE East Coast.
For directions on how to drive from Dubai to Dibba, please clickhere
West Coast dive trips (in the Arabian Gulf) run from Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Ras al Khaimah.
Map courtesy of Google Earth
The Straits of Hormuz
..diving the two gulfs
The body of water West (left) of the strait is the Arabian Gulf and the ocean to the East (right) is the Gulf of Oman, which is part of the Indian Ocean.
Dive operators
There are a number of diving operators in the UAE to choose from. You can go diving with any EDA (Emirates Diving Association) approved dive center, but we generally recommend the following dive centres:
Al Boom Diving - Dubai, Al Aqah & Dibba
Courses and daily dive trips on the East Coast (Al Aqah) and in the Musandam (from Dibba). Also runs a shuttle bus from Dubai to the East Coast & Dibba for Musandam trips if you dont have your own car.
Email: alboom@dubaidivers.com
www.alboomdiving.com
Al Marsa - Dibba
Liveaboard and daytrips by luxury dhow in the Musandam. Departing from Dibba.
Email: almarsa@dubaidivers.com
www.musandamdiving.com
Divers Down - Khorfakkan
Daily dive trips around Khor Fakkan on the East Coast.
Email: diversdown@dubaidivers.com
www.diversdown.ae
Freestyle Divers - Dibba
Daily dive trips around Dibba on the East Coast.
Email: freestyle@eim.ae
www.freestyledivers.com
Pavillion Dive Center - Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai
Courses and daily dive trips on the West Coast departing from Dubai.
Email: pavillion@dubaidivers.com
website here
Technical Diving International Center (TDIC) - Dubai
Dive trips on the West Coast departing from Dubai.
Email: tdi@dubaidivers.com
www.tdicenter.com
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Various Topside pictures from Musandam & East Coast
Musandam
Musandam
Musandam
Dive boat, Musandam
The Indian Ocean, Al Aqah, UAE East Coast
Hajar Mountains, Leema, Musandam
Dolphins following the boat, Musandam
Dolphin Show (photo by Ziad Al Sharabi - nice one!!)
New Website is live !!
www.divingindubai.com
Dive news from EDA
EDA have launched a "Dive News" section on their website. Check it out by clicking here.
The Alvin Appeal
The organizers behind the Alvin Appeal were happy to be able to hand over Dhs 47700 to Alvin's family, enabling them to bring Alvin back home to the Phillippines with them.
Alvin's family is very grateful to everyone who helped out, donated or volunteered time or resources to help Alvin. As a final note on this appeal, below, please find messages of thanks from members of Alvin's family:
"I want to thank you all for your help. it means so much to me having my dad back in cebu. although i haven't seen him yet since his accident, my mind is at peace knowing he's now at home surrounded by family. thank you very much for bringing my dad home."
Kemi Vestil, Alvins Daughter.
"Alvin is now back in the Philippines. Thanks to all your unselfish act, he is now back home with his wife Cathy and little Martina. It will be a long road to recovery, but with his family, brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces and all of you, he will manage it.
To all of you, the Vestil Family would like to extend our gratitude for all the support that you extended to bring him home.
I really hope that one day, I could personally thank you and do what we love most, dive together!"
Jonathan Vestil, brother and PADI Course Director.
Divers left stranded
7Days carried a story on June 24 about a group of divers who had been left by their boat, while doing a 30m dive on Inchcape 1. The boat simply went back to Dibba and only returned approx. an hour later.
Needless to say that this is extremely dangerous and unprofessional conduct by the dive operator and we urge all divers to ensure that all safety standards are met when choosing a dive centre.
Read the full story here.
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EDA have launched a "Dive News" section on their website. Check it out by clicking here.
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The organizers behind the Alvin Appeal were happy to be able to hand over Dhs 47700 to Alvin's family, enabling them to bring Alvin back home to the Phillippines with them.
Alvin's family is very grateful to everyone who helped out, donated or volunteered time or resources to help Alvin. As a final note on this appeal, below, please find messages of thanks from members of Alvin's family:
"I want to thank you all for your help. it means so much to me having my dad back in cebu. although i haven't seen him yet since his accident, my mind is at peace knowing he's now at home surrounded by family. thank you very much for bringing my dad home."
Kemi Vestil, Alvins Daughter.
"Alvin is now back in the Philippines. Thanks to all your unselfish act, he is now back home with his wife Cathy and little Martina. It will be a long road to recovery, but with his family, brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces and all of you, he will manage it.
To all of you, the Vestil Family would like to extend our gratitude for all the support that you extended to bring him home.
I really hope that one day, I could personally thank you and do what we love most, dive together!"
Jonathan Vestil, brother and PADI Course Director.
"Alvin is now back in the Philippines. Thanks to all your unselfish act, he is now back home with his wife Cathy and little Martina. It will be a long road to recovery, but with his family, brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces and all of you, he will manage it.
To all of you, the Vestil Family would like to extend our gratitude for all the support that you extended to bring him home.
I really hope that one day, I could personally thank you and do what we love most, dive together!"
Jonathan Vestil, brother and PADI Course Director.
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With discussion forum, postings, calender, travel reports and more.
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Readers diving pictures
Francis & Co at Al Boom have sent the following pic taken at Martini Rock.. great viz that day..
And a photo of a dive boat cruising past Le Meridien Al Aqah..nice..
Ricus van Zyl sent us these three photos, all taken on the East Coast.
Thanks Ricus. Wow!! Some dives....
Local diving pics
Dolphin spotting, Musandam
Turtle, Sharm Rocks
Seahorse, Martini Rock (or was it
Shark Island ? One of those sites)
Leopard Shark, Musandam
Eagle Ray, Dibba Rock
Blacktip Reefshark, Snoopy Island
Cuttlefish, Sharm Rocks
Stingray, Dibba Rock
Giant Barracuda, Dibba Rock
More topside pix from Musandam
Diving on the edge of
the world
View from Leema
campsite, Musandam
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View from boat,
Musandam
A few pics from last years Thailand trip:
The gang...
Penny and Birgitte (the photo in
Emirates Today that made them
world famous !!)
Murad the Moscovit - he tells us
that he dont dive in Moscow though..
we wonder why ?
Val looking smart - too bad with
the octo being used instead of
your primary reg, Val...
Val, Addie, Murad, Birgitte
Visit our very own blog blog.dubaidivers.com |