Dibba Luxury Hotels That Are Great For Diving and Snorkeling Holidays In The UAE
There is a relatively new breed of tourists that is heading to UAE not for duty free shopping, but for another kind of exhilaration – exploring shipwrecks and seeking the elusive whale shark, underwater. Come summer, the beaches near hotels in Dibba, are patterned with beach towels and water-sport enthusiasts from all over the world as well as inland UAE. Dibba is, after all, cooler than the rest of the country in the summer, which is why the locals often say: “we will go to Dibba, we will see what the summer feels like”.
Dibba has always been an important harbor in the maritime history of UAE, and plenty of unfortunate ships have sunk in its waters. These sunken vessels have grown a thriving ecosystems around them, to be discovered by divers today.
Dibba Rock (or Dibba Island as it is also called) is a coral island that is a haunt for turtles, sharks, rays and trevally. The dive site around the coral island is about 6 to 12 meters deep, making it a fantastic site for beginners and snorkelers.
The big, gentle whale shark which the locals call the al djer also mysteriously appears around the waters of Dibba from time to time.
Staying and Diving At Dibba
If you are a diving enthusiast and are heading to this part of the Middle East, you'll find several luxury hotels and resorts located within a close distance of the dive sites.
The Royal Beach Hotel in Dibba is less than a kilometer from Dibba Rock, and is home to a group called Freestyle Divers who can help you with diving courses. You can combine your diving holiday with some camping in the tiny Bedouin villages nestled among the dramatic fjords, and have this group arrange it for you.
The Radisson Blu Resort in Fujairah located between the Hajjar Mountains and the Gulf in Dibba, is another exceptional diving base.
The Golden Tulip Resort another hotel that comes highly recommended. It's nestled on a sandy beach at the foot of the Hajjar Mountains that slopes down towards the Gulf. Like many hotels on the beaches of Dibba, these luxury hotels offer panoramic views and even arrange for diving and snorkeling activities for their guests.
Rustic Holiday
If you are looking for something different then a holiday with a rustic charm is worth considering. You can enjoy rustic luxury with mountains as a backdrop, swaying palms providing a canopy and a mile long private beach for you to laze on. The Six Senses hotel at Zighy Bay is a place that offers all this and more. The resourceful staff at the hotel can help you plan snorkeling excursions in the bay, as well as sunset cruises.
The Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, is yest another accommodation worth mentioning. It is located on Diba's Al Aqah beach and offers water-sport facilities on site, but you can also enjoy snorkeling and diving in the Indian Ocean waters nearby.
If you are looking for more choices then there is the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. This luxurious hotel property is on Al Aqah beach and like the other hotels and resorts you can enjoy water sports here, including diving and snorkeling.
If you are new to diving, you can always get PADI trained at one of the many scuba schools in Diba and around. You can book day packages with PADI or weekend packages in which you will be put up at diving lodges. Stay as close to the heart of the action as you can, and you will have an unforgettable diving holiday in Diba, between the mountains and the blue sea.
© 2014 Juana