NO. 301 - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

NO. 301 is a proper old-school wreck dive, a barge that went down in 1972 after its tow rope snapped in heavy weather. You can almost feel the struggle it had against the sea. We love it because it’s surprisingly intact for its age and the relatively shallow depth, just 8 metres. That means long bottom times and plenty of light filtering through the water. You’ll find the 45-metre hull lying on its side, making for some interesting swim-throughs and plenty of nooks to poke around in. Our favourite part is the bow section; there’s a real sense of history there. It's a fantastic spot for macro life, too. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs tucked into the crevices and schooling yellowfin tuna often patrol the deeper parts of the wreck. Visibility can swing a bit here, so we’d suggest aiming for a calm morning. It’s perfect for newer wreck divers or those looking for a relaxed dive with a tangible piece of history.

Location: Dubai & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 24.552360, 54.326862
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 8m

Marine Protected Area: متنزه السعديات البحري الوطني

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 NO. 301

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 NO. 301

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