YANKEE GAL - Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Yankee Gal isn't about deep exploration; it’s a shallow, accessible wreck with a story. Sunk in 1976 during heavy weather, this tug vessel lies on its side, making for an interesting profile against the sandy seabed. We love how the hull has become a canvas for soft corals and anemones, which are surprisingly colourful given the generally muted tones of the Gulf. You'll spot schools of juvenile snapper flitting in and out of the exposed superstructure. Look closely, and you might find a moray eel peering out from beneath a collapsed section, or a stingray gliding over the sand nearby. The 10-meter depth means long bottom times, perfect for photographers or anyone keen to really soak in the details. We'd suggest going in the morning before any wind picks up, ensuring the best visibility for really appreciating the wreck's character. It’s an ideal site for less experienced divers or those looking for a relaxed dive with a bit of history thrown in.
- Location
- Dubai & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 25.401833, 52.364334
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 10m
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 YANKEE GAL
- 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 YANKEE GAL
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