Zainab Wreck - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

The Zainab Wreck is a proper workhorse of a dive, and one we always enjoy for its sheer scale and the life it now holds. Dropped to prevent an ecological disaster, this cargo ship sits upright between 15 and 28 metres, making it accessible for intermediate divers keen on a good wreck rummage. You can spend a whole dive just picking through the superstructure, ducking into the cargo holds, or peering into the bridge – the penetration here is a real highlight, offering plenty of interesting nooks. We’ve found inversed fiddler crabs scuttling across the decks and, on a lucky day, a green turtle cruising past. Our favourite part is definitely exploring the deeper sections, where the light fades and you feel the weight of the wreck pressing in. Expect good visibility most of the year, but we’d suggest timing your dive for slack tide to make the most of the penetration without fighting a current.

Location: Dubai & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 25.120000, 55.140000
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 15-28m
Difficulty: Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: محمية جبل على الطبيعية

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 Zainab Wreck

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 Zainab Wreck

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