DONG AH NO. 309 - Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Dong Ah No. 309, a barge that grounded and then sank in 1987, sits at a shallow eight metres. It’s an easy dive, perfect for a relaxed afternoon. The wreck itself isn't massive, but the way it settled, listing to one side, creates some interesting nooks. We love watching the damselfish dart in and out of the rusted beams. What makes this site stand out for us is the atmosphere; it's a quiet, reflective spot. You can spend a good chunk of time just finning around the superstructure, observing the small schools of baitfish that shimmer above the deck plates. Keep an eye out for blennies popping their heads out of crevices. It's not a dive for big pelagics, but for a gentle exploration of how marine life reclaims human structures, it’s our favourite in the area. Best dived on a calm day when visibility extends a bit further.
- Location
- Dubai & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 24.966667, 54.850000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 8m
Marine Protected Area: محمية جبل على الطبيعية
Best Time to Dive in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The warmest water temperatures in Dubai & Abu Dhabi occur in January, averaging 23.3°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 23.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 23.3°C (air: 19.5°C)
- February: 23.3°C (air: 20.6°C)
- March: 23.3°C (air: 23.4°C)
- April: 23.3°C (air: 26.5°C)
- May: 23.3°C (air: 30.3°C)
- June: 23.3°C (air: 33.5°C)
- July: 23.3°C (air: 35.4°C)
- August: 23.3°C (air: 35.1°C)
- September: 23.3°C (air: 32.9°C)
- October: 23.3°C (air: 29.8°C)
- November: 23.3°C (air: 26.2°C)
- December: 23.3°C (air: 22.1°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
- A4-SI - 20m (wreck)
- A6.BBJ - 10m (wreck)
- ABDUL RAZAK - 25m (wreck)
- Abu dhabi Breakwater - 5-20m (reef)
- ALAMINA - 7m (wreck)
- ALEXION HOPE - 17m (wreck)
- AL JAZYA 1 - 8m (wreck)
- ANNA XYLA - 25m (wreck)
- ARIADNE - 17m (wreck)
- BARGE 201 - 43m (wreck)
- Beech Bank (reef)
- BH-19 - 21m (wreck)
- CHERRY DUKE (STERN PART) - 20m (wreck)
- CITY OF GRAZ - 25m (wreck)
- CLAUDINE - 38m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to DONG AH NO. 309
- Al Boom Diving
- Al Mahara Diving Center - ["PADI"]
- Bermuda Diving - PADI
- Deep Dive Dubai - ["PADI"]
- DiveCampus Diving Club - ["PADI"]
- Divers Down Dubai - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Home to 25 recorded species including 7 reef fish, 5 hard corals, 4 other, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 crabs & lobsters, 2 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Shore crab (Metopograpsus messor) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Brain coral (Platygyra daedalea) - Hard Corals
- Pacific blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Stony coral (Porites solida) - Hard Corals
- Lesser star coral (Cyphastrea microphthalma) - Hard Corals
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Man-of-war Fish (Nomeus gronovii) - Reef Fish
- Silver Bream (Rhabdosargus sarba) - Reef Fish
- Lesser valley coral (Platygyra lamellina) - Hard Corals
- Crescent Grunter (Terapon jarbua) - Reef Fish
- Star Blaasop (Arothron stellatus) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Feathered Cone (Conus pennaceus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Recommended Packing List for DONG AH NO. 309
Based on average water temperature of 23.3°C.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 23°C water
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories