MARJAN (PROBABLY) - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

The Marjan is one of those wrecks that really gets its hooks into you, precisely because it’s a bit of a mystery. She went down back in '83, vanishing on a run from Bahrain to India, and while we know where she ended up – about 28 metres down off Das Island – the why is still debated. We’ve heard everything from a rogue storm to dodgy cargo, and that lingering question just adds to her appeal. Dropping down onto her, the first thing you notice is the sheer scale of the thing. She’s nearly 100 metres long, largely intact, and lying on her starboard side, which makes for some dramatic swim-throughs if you're comfortable with overhead environments. The engine room is our favourite part; it’s dark, silty, and feels like stepping back in time. Light shafts filter through the deck plating, illuminating schools of snapper that dart between the machinery, and we've often spotted big groupers lurking in the shadows. Visibility can be a bit variable here, so we always try to hit it on a calm day with an early start to beat any potential chop. The external structures are now completely encrusted with soft corals, a vibrant counterpoint to the rust, and you'll find plenty of moray eels peering out from every crevice. This site is definitely one for experienced wreck divers who appreciate a bit of history and a genuinely atmospheric dive.

Location: Dubai & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 25.690140, 52.669304
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 28m

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 MARJAN (PROBABLY)

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 MARJAN (PROBABLY)

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