LUEN WAH 12 - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

The Luen Wah 12 isn't one of those wrecks that requires serious advanced certs. It's a tugboat, sitting upright at a comfortable 18 metres, which means you get a good, long bottom time. We love that it's completely intact, offering a real sense of its former life. You can fin right into the engine room, peering into the control panels, and imagine the crew at work. Our favourite part? The wheelhouse. Light streams through the broken windows, illuminating schools of snapper that swirl around the helm. Outside, batfish often cruise past, and we've spotted a few grumpy stonefish tucked into crevices along the hull. It’s perfect for newer wreck divers or photographers keen on capturing a complete structure without battling currents. The visibility here can be hit or miss, so we’d suggest aiming for slack tide if you want the best conditions.

Location: Dubai & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 24.786667, 52.886665
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 18m

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to LUEN WAH 12

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 LUEN WAH 12

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