BARGE 208 - Fujairah
Barge 208, sitting deep at 50 metres, is one of those Fujairah wrecks we keep coming back to. It’s not just a big chunk of metal; this 45-metre long vessel feels like a proper old workhorse, now very much part of the seabed. When you drop down, the sheer scale of it against the dark blue is immediately impressive. We love the way the light plays on the deck, catching the clouds of fusiliers that swirl around the structure. This isn’t a wreck for a quick poke around. It’s a decompression dive, no doubt, but the reward is worth the effort. The interior is largely open, allowing for some great swim-throughs if you're comfortable with overhead environments and your buoyancy is dialled in. We’ve found barracuda often patrolling the bow, and stingrays like to settle in the sand just off the stern. Our favourite part? The engine room. It’s well-preserved, and the way the ambient light filters in creates an almost ethereal atmosphere. Look closely at the superstructure; there are nudibranchs and flatworms clinging to the metal, tiny bursts of colour against the rust. Come with a technical mindset and a good torch, you’ll want to explore every nook.
- Location
- Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 25.768333, 54.934334
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 50m
Wreck History - BARGE 208
- Vessel Type
- barge
- Cause
- unknown
Resting on the seabed at 50 metres, Barge 208 is a challenging and rewarding technical dive off the coast of Fujairah. While the specific history of this 45-metre-long workhorse vessel is unknown, its purpose has been transformed from industrial to ecological. Today, it serves as a magnificent artificial reef in the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Oman. Dropping down the shot line, divers will see its distinct rectangular shape emerge from the depths. The wreck is often visited by large pelagic species taking refuge from the currents, and its structure provides a perfect habitat for a variety of moray eels, schooling snappers, and colourful nudibranchs. Due to its depth, this dive is reserved for experienced technical divers with the proper training and equipment for decompression dives.
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)
- ALIA 1 (FORWARD SECTION) - 30m (wreck)
- Alimdat - 31m (wreck)
- AL KHALEEL - 47m (wreck)
- Al Maqta - 20m
- AL MEERA - 5m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to BARGE 208
- 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