BARCELONA (AFTER PART)

Best months: Nov–Jan

Why dive here

BARCELONA (AFTER PART) is a wreck dive where divers can encounter blacktip reef sharks, sea turtles and whale sharks. Water ranges 23-34°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeNov–Jan

WetsuitA 3mm full wetsuit

Marine lifeBlacktip Reef Sharks, Sea Turtles and Whale Sharks

Water23-34°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 10m

The Barcelona (After Part) offers a proper taste of history, not just another wreck. We’re talking about the stern section of a colossal tanker, attacked by Iraqi aircraft in ‘88. You can feel that drama down here. It sits upright, mostly intact, with huge propeller blades still clinging to the shaft, an incredible sight to circle. We love drifting through the giant engine room, which is surprisingly open and swim-through friendly, light piercing in from various angles. Look out for schools of snapper hanging in the shadows, and we’ve often spotted eagle rays cruising overhead, silhouetted against the surface. It’s an ideal dive for anyone who enjoys wreck penetration that isn’t too demanding, with depths never exceeding 10 metres. This means plenty of bottom time to really explore the structure and appreciate the scale of it all. Visibility can be a bit hit or miss, so we’d suggest aiming for a calm morning; that’s when the light plays best through the decaying metalwork.

Typical BARCELONA (AFTER PART) Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Today06:1217:5211h 39m daylightGolden hour 17:21

BARCELONA (AFTER PART) Wreck History

Year Sunk

1988

Vessel Type

tanker

Cause

fire

Tonnage

272,300 DWT

The Barcelona was a Spanish-flagged supertanker that met a dramatic end during the final stages of the Iran-Iraq War. On May 15, 1988, while in the Strait of Hormuz, she was struck by an Iraqi Exocet missile. The impact ignited a massive fire that raged for days, turning the colossal vessel into a blazing inferno. The attack was part of the conflict's 'Tanker War,' where both sides targeted oil shipping to cripple the other's economy.

To prevent the 334-meter tanker from sinking and blocking the vital shipping lanes, the crew managed to run her aground on the coast of Fujairah. The intense heat from the fire eventually caused the ship's structure to fail, and the stern section broke away and sank. The forward part of the vessel was later salvaged, leaving the 'after part' behind as a permanent monument to the conflict.

Today, the wreck of the Barcelona's stern lies in just 10 meters of water, making it a highly accessible dive site for all levels of divers. The sheer scale of the wreckage is impressive, with twisted metal and huge sections of the hull providing a complex habitat for marine life. Divers can explore the recognizable stern structures, now encrusted with coral and home to schools of snapper, bream, and the occasional turtle or ray seeking shelter.