ALIA 1 (FORWARD SECTION) - Fujairah
The Alia 1, or at least its forward section, sits upright at 30 metres, a proper old barge that feels much older than it is. We love how the hull is starting to collapse in places, creating these shadowy alcoves where snapper often hang out. Dropping down, you hit the bow first, then glide along the deck, where the anchor chain still sits coiled. It's a proper swim-through in parts if you’re comfortable, pushing through gaps in the mangled metal, but always check your buoyancy first. What makes this wreck special for us is the way the resident batfish school around the mast, a shimmering wall of silver that parts as you approach. Look closer, and you’ll spot nudibranchs on the encrusting corals, little bursts of colour on the rusted steel. The current here can pick up, so we always suggest diving this one on a slack tide if you want to explore the hold without battling the flow. It's a fantastic dive for those who enjoy a bit of history mixed with a healthy dose of marine life, offering a good 45-minute bottom time on a single tank.
- Location
- Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 26.056000, 56.065666
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 30m
Wreck History - ALIA 1 (FORWARD SECTION)
- Vessel Type
- barge
- Cause
- unknown
The forward section of the ALIA 1 barge sits shallower than its stern, resting at 30 meters. This makes it an excellent advanced recreational or entry-level technical dive. Like its other half, the history of this wreck is a complete mystery. What colossal force tore this barge in two is left to the imagination. Divers can explore the bow and forward structure, contrasting its state with the deeper aft section located nearby. The site's 'Dangerous Wreck' classification suggests that the structure may be unstable, demanding careful buoyancy and awareness from all who visit this enigmatic wreck.
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 - 49m (wreck)
- AJMAN GLORY - 28m (wreck)
- Al Batinah - 22m
- Al Batnah - 10m (wreck)
- ALIA 1 (AFTER SECTION) - 38m (wreck)
- Alimdat - 31m (wreck)
- AL KHALEEL - 47m (wreck)
- Al Maqta - 20m
- AL MEERA - 5m (wreck)
- Aquarium - 16m
Nearest Dive Centres to ALIA 1 (FORWARD SECTION)
- 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