AJMAN GLORY - Fujairah
The Ajman Glory, previously the Lady Maya and a few others before that, is a deep, honest-to-goodness wreck dive off Fujairah. Sunk back in 1989, she sits upright at 49 metres, a proper steel skeleton for those comfortable with the depth and the technical considerations that come with it. We love the way the light filters down, creating an eerie, almost cathedral-like feel as you approach her deck. This isn’t a colourful reef dive, it’s a dive into history. Her 52-metre hull is well-colonised with whip corals and the occasional soft coral swaying in the slight current. You’ll often find schools of snapper hovering around the superstructure, and we’ve spotted moray eels peeking from dark crevices. Our favourite part is exploring the bridge area, though careful buoyancy is key here, as silt can easily be disturbed. It’s a dive for advanced wreck enthusiasts looking for a quiet, contemplative experience rather than a bustling reef.
- Location
- Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 25.966667, 55.633335
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 49m
Wreck History - AJMAN GLORY
- Year Sunk
- 1989
- Vessel Type
- cargo ship
- Cause
- unknown
The Ajman Glory began its life in 1957, built at a Dutch shipyard under the name 'Dollard'. Over a career spanning more than three decades, the motor vessel sailed under several flags and names, including 'Pariaman', 'Maria Fortune', and 'Lady Maya'. This long service history as a workhorse of the seas adds a layer of character to its final resting place off the coast of the UAE.
On August 28, 1989, the ship, then known as the Ajman Glory, sank in the Gulf of Oman near Fujairah. The exact circumstances of its sinking are not widely documented, but it has since become one of the region's most popular artificial reefs. It now sits upright on a sandy seabed, perfectly positioned for exploration by certified divers.
For divers, the Ajman Glory is a fantastic wreck that is easily navigable. The top of the wheelhouse is at a moderate depth, with the rest of the ship descending deeper. The cargo holds are open and safe for penetration, offering a glimpse into its past life. The wreck is a magnet for marine life, often shrouded in schools of snapper and fusiliers, while moray eels, lionfish, and nudibranchs can be found hiding in its nooks and crannies.
Marine Protected Area: محمية خور المزاحمي
Nearby Dive Sites in Fujairah
- A 40-AD - 10m (wreck)
- Abu Rashid Drift - 21m (drift)
- Abu Rashid Wall - 28m (wall)
- ADEL-104 - 25m (wreck)
- Aftab Park - پارک آفتاب - 9m
- AJMAN GLORY - 28m (wreck)
- Al Batinah - 22m
- Al Batnah - 10m (wreck)
- ALIA 1 (AFTER SECTION) - 38m (wreck)
- ALIA 1 (FORWARD SECTION) - 30m (wreck)
- Alimdat - 31m (wreck)
- AL KHALEEL - 47m (wreck)
- Al Maqta - 20m
- AL MEERA - 5m (wreck)
- Aquarium - 16m
Nearest Dive Centres to AJMAN GLORY
- ABKAVAN QESHM
- Al Boom Diving - ["PADI"]
- Al Boom Diving - Le Meridien Al Aqah - ["PADI"]
- Al Jazeera Diving & Swimming Centre - ["PADI"]
- Apnea Zone - ["PADI"]
- Barracuda Diving Center - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Fujairah
Home to 14 recorded species including 4 other, 3 hard corals, 2 sharks & rays, 2 crabs & lobsters, 1 starfish, 1 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Brain coral (Platygyra daedalea) - Hard Corals
- Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) - Starfish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Shore crab (Metopograpsus messor) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) - Sharks & Rays
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Pagoda coral (Turbinaria mesenterina) - Hard Corals
- Stony coral (Porites solida) - Hard Corals
- Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Humpback Turretfish (Tetrosomus gibbosus) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Banded Cleaner Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) - Crabs & Lobsters