BHAITA (POSSIBLY) - Fujairah

The BHAITA, as we’ve come to know it, sits in a modest 15 metres, making it one of Fujairah’s more accessible wreck dives. This isn’t some pristine, intact vessel; she's a proper scrap heap, twisted and broken from her capsizing and subsequent abandonment while under tow. The story alone gives it character. We love poking around the mangled bow, which points north, where a lot of the structural integrity has given way to the sea. What we really enjoy here is the way the wreck has become a home. Schools of fusiliers often swirl around the midsection, so thick they almost block out the light, and we’ve found barracuda often hang out, motionless, in the shadows of the larger plates. Keep an eye out for resident moray eels peeking from the nooks. It's an easy dive, often with gentle currents, making it perfect for newer wreck divers to get a feel for penetration (shallow, open sections only, of course) or for photographers who want to spend time composing shots without fighting the elements. We’d suggest going in the morning before the boat traffic picks up.

Location
Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
25.296110, 55.204445
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
15m

Wreck History - BHAITA (POSSIBLY)

Year Sunk
1978
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
storm

Resting in the shallow, warm waters off Fujairah, the true identity of this wreck remains a mystery, though it is believed to be the Bhaita. The vessel was a converted Landing Craft Tank (LCT), a utilitarian remnant of a bygone military era, repurposed for civilian life as a bulk carrier. In February 1978, while en route from Ras Al Khaimah to Das Island, it was caught in severe weather within the Zakum oilfield. The storm proved too much for the vessel, and it capsized. A salvage attempt began, with the vessel being towed towards Dubai while still upside down, but it ultimately sank before reaching its destination. Today, at a comfortable depth of 15 meters, the wreck offers an accessible and intriguing dive. Its relatively shallow depth allows for long bottom times and excellent light penetration, making it a superb site for photographers and divers of all levels to explore the skeletal remains and the abundant marine life that now calls it home.

Marine Protected Area: محمية جبل على الطبيعية

Nearby Dive Sites in Fujairah

Nearest Dive Centres to BHAITA (POSSIBLY)

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