QARNAIN - Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Qarnain isn't your typical Gulf dive, mainly because it's barely a dive at all. This tug, lost back in '84 after running aground near Das Island, sits in just two metres of water. We're talking more like a snorkel, or maybe a very shallow crawl. You can practically stand on the deck. It’s classified as a "dangerous wreck," which mostly translates to "watch your head." What we love about Qarnain is the sheer accessibility for observing how quickly life colonises even the most mundane structure. You'll see schools of juvenile snapper flitting in and out of the wheelhouse, and plenty of damselfish defending their patches of algae on the superstructure. It's a great spot for macro photographers who want to take their time, or anyone looking for a relaxed afternoon float over a bit of local history. Just don't expect deep blue water or dramatic drop-offs; this is all about the details in the shallows.
- Location
- Dubai & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 25.151667, 52.867500
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 2m
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 QARNAIN
- 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 QARNAIN
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