![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z4HPACLV7VEC5JOKANIXLOWSA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf35cfbd1eecb166ca4c72bc3ba872e0d115f28811ba73fc370442f2f812246b&width=400&height=225)
An octopus installation at Dibba Artificial Reef. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
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A leopard shark at Dibba Rock in Fujairah, one of Freestyle Divers founder Darryl Owen's favourite places to take the plunge in the UAE. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
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A turtle swimming at Dibba Rock. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
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Mushroom-shaped coral at Dibba Rock. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
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About 15 kilometres up the coast from Dibba Rock lies Al Aqah and the jumping off point for Gunther’s Wreck, a rusting Nazi submarine that was sunk by a British light bomber during the Second World War. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
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A frog fish at Gunther's Wreck. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DGZ3JNEI5BDDXKZ6FZJX3KBNMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b8bab20fe012727ff7e3975925f9add0e58fc95a74e4763b8efd7f4a1a82e27&width=400&height=225)
About 70 kilometres from Dubai lies Moon Island. Kelly Timmins, director of conservation, education and CSR at Atlantis, The Palm, has spotted some Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins here. Photo: Kelly Timmins
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Shark Island is located off the Khor Fakkan coast of Sharjah and is a must-visit for divers, says Kelly Timmins. Photo: worldwithmaria.com
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Khor Fakkan is the resting site of shipwreck Inchcape 2, where this turtle lives. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
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A lionfish at Inchcape 2. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
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Less than five minutes away from Dibba Rock lies Dibba Artificial Reef, one of Padi divemaster Jean-Michel Moriniere's favourite spots. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
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Jean-Michel Moriniere swims with a turtle at Dibba Artificial Reef. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
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A stingray at Dibba Artificial Reef. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z4HPACLV7VEC5JOKANIXLOWSA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf35cfbd1eecb166ca4c72bc3ba872e0d115f28811ba73fc370442f2f812246b&width=400&height=225)
An octopus installation at Dibba Artificial Reef. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PMQFWHRP7VCL3OEGTFPTXQYIKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=efa383d6ffa1804325fa4b4e38990ef4477e4749987d1b4728187b055723ce59&width=400&height=225)
A leopard shark at Dibba Rock in Fujairah, one of Freestyle Divers founder Darryl Owen's favourite places to take the plunge in the UAE. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LYPNYQN2YNFCZMBV46HK2T5PNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7a0a34b23e641b29903be7a804e83db4e1270311a9c0acce0e84c4e6610109cd&width=400&height=225)
A turtle swimming at Dibba Rock. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z747WQJOMZCERLF2AFZYELPCPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b923855a213e266406f332aa6b5f85f854c19c66eb95f3cbc7f56428422718e5&width=400&height=225)
Mushroom-shaped coral at Dibba Rock. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DEVLSWQMZZAJLGXAUMYV3HLRAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=857a79872f817d8f27f30fe82f5ead50b420a448dd49782b191598b187c52526&width=400&height=225)
About 15 kilometres up the coast from Dibba Rock lies Al Aqah and the jumping off point for Gunther’s Wreck, a rusting Nazi submarine that was sunk by a British light bomber during the Second World War. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GKPMVHTJ6BGEFOZ73HBSHSKDCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d235c86a59a05ecb5361a9d5d0a1e3886beef249e203078239571876f20e828&width=400&height=225)
A frog fish at Gunther's Wreck. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DGZ3JNEI5BDDXKZ6FZJX3KBNMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b8bab20fe012727ff7e3975925f9add0e58fc95a74e4763b8efd7f4a1a82e27&width=400&height=225)
About 70 kilometres from Dubai lies Moon Island. Kelly Timmins, director of conservation, education and CSR at Atlantis, The Palm, has spotted some Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins here. Photo: Kelly Timmins
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SQGYLPRP55GMJIYVJOGFQCFTMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c4c55a84a4172cb8e8464ed4195e615ee049f1e79201203e61d3d3ffae70c1f8&width=400&height=225)
Shark Island is located off the Khor Fakkan coast of Sharjah and is a must-visit for divers, says Kelly Timmins. Photo: worldwithmaria.com
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5CAOSDSCAZFMJGPGBPWTV5TFF4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae8c11773f4fd22fe3bd6a9468d56623dea39fafe630147a677fe8e3a689367f&width=400&height=225)
Khor Fakkan is the resting site of shipwreck Inchcape 2, where this turtle lives. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZVLS3FURP5CHPLWGLMGJB7CJP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=42a38f051518ce2e8276f47f0e86dcfd1bdbb801d1b01e123ff989b8ba190cd1&width=400&height=225)
A lionfish at Inchcape 2. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/THEFWWKH4BEHXH6LGHQ2OQTQPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=53f17038c0e9f447ce68545f7ca84ea698f072520b68330f05b98b62edf614d7&width=400&height=225)
Less than five minutes away from Dibba Rock lies Dibba Artificial Reef, one of Padi divemaster Jean-Michel Moriniere's favourite spots. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XIMN3TZ7N5AYTEJMB77J2HSE5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b7a8f0d9ca3019e1bece9b42ed6cf6a837e056d5696a264b13f4f24fbedad9f&width=400&height=225)
Jean-Michel Moriniere swims with a turtle at Dibba Artificial Reef. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A6PLU4VT3JEETBTFN2WWJDBSB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=8962c029a513c346cafd11d512985f2dfb93081ea9151cc8786a29c100ac4662&width=400&height=225)
A stingray at Dibba Artificial Reef. Photo: Jean-Michel Moriniere
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An octopus installation at Dibba Artificial Reef. Photo: Darryl Owen / Freestyle Divers
Seven UAE diving spots that scuba experts love to explore
From investigating old Nazi submarines to swimming with sharks, we take a deep dive with the UAE’s underwater gurus
Emma Pearson
20 February, 2022
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