Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates · Gulf of Oman
Abu Dhabi's sheltered Gulf waters conceal the SS Mercury wreck and a string of quiet reef structures that draw hawksbill turtles, rays, and reef sharks, making it a rewarding urban escape for divers based in the UAE capital.
What you will see
25 species across the dive sites here
House Sparrow
Seen 1 month ago
at SS Mercury Wreck
Least concern
White-Eared Bulbul
Seen 1 month ago
at SS Mercury Wreck
Least concern
Common Myna
Seen 1 month ago
at SS Mercury Wreck
Least concern
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Seen 1 month ago
at SS Mercury Wreck
Least concern
Laughing Dove
Seen 1 month ago
at SS Mercury Wreck
Least concern
Grey Francolin
Seen 4 months ago
at Mubarraz Reef
Least concern
Bar-Tailed Godwit
Seen Oct 2024
at Mubarraz Reef
Near threatened
Egyptian Goose
Seen Oct 2024
at Mubarraz Reef
Least concern
Black-Lip Pearl Shell
Seen Jan 2024
at Delma Island Reef
Arabian Guitarfish
Seen year round
at Delma Island Reef
Bluefin Trevally
Seen year round
at SS Mercury Wreck
Least concern
Broadclub Cuttlefish
Seen year round
at Zirku Island
Dugong
Seen year round
at Delma Island Reef
Vulnerable
Greasy Grouper
Seen year round
at SS Mercury Wreck
Hawksbill Turtle
Seen year round
at Delma Island Reef
Critically endangered
Painted Frogfish
Seen year round
at SS Mercury Wreck
Least concern
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Seen year round
at Mubarraz Reef
Shortfin Lionfish
Seen year round
at Mubarraz Reef
Least concern
Spangled Emperor
Seen year round
at Zirku Island
Least concern
Bumphead Parrotfish
Seasonal visitor
at Mubarraz Reef
Vulnerable
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
Seasonal visitor
at Zirku Island
Near threatened
Bartail Flathead
Rare sighting
at Mubarraz Reef
Glossy-Bellied Racer
Rare sighting
at Delma Island Reef
Least concern
Halfmoon Angelfish
Rare sighting
at Mubarraz Reef
Least concern
Osprey
Rare sighting
at Delma Island Reef
Least concern
Dive sites
SS Mercury Wreck
greasy grouper · bluefin trevally · painted frogfish · white-eared bulbul
Delma Island Reef
dugong · hawksbill turtle · arabian guitarfish · osprey
Zirku Island
indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin · broadclub cuttlefish · spangled emperor · hawksbill turtle
Mubarraz Reef
bumphead parrotfish · shortfin lionfish · peacock mantis shrimp · bar-tailed godwit