From Dubai: 2 Dives for Certified Divers with BBQ & Transfer

Fujairah’s underwater world is the real prize here, with two different reef sites offering soft corals, hard corals, artificial habitats, wrecks, and small creatures that reward a careful look. I like the small group of no more than 10 people, and I like that the day includes hotel transport, equipment, lunch, and coastal sightseeing in one package. Guides such as Sina and Fajad are praised for calm, careful instruction.

The main thing to check before booking is the boat description. One recent customer expected a large salon, sunbed, and toilet onboard but found those features absent. The 42-foot boat is advertised with indoor seating, a freshwater shower, a toilet, and a sunbed, yet boat arrangements can be worth confirming directly before you pay.

Key points

• Two separate Fujairah sites: You get two guided one-hour sessions rather than repeating the same location.
• Small-group attention: The group is limited to 10, with a certified instructor or divemaster leading the underwater time.
• Good marine-life variety: Look for green turtles, puffers, clownfish, parrotfish, rays, nudibranchs, shrimp, and large schools of fish.
• Useful all-in-one setup: Hotel pickup, equipment, BBQ lunch, changing rooms, and showers are included.
• Comfortable boat facilities: The advertised 42-foot boat has a sunbed, toilet, freshwater shower, indoor seating, and sound system.
• A full East Coast day: Al Bidya Mosque, Khorfakkan Waterfall, and Khorfakkan Amphitheatre add sightseeing after the sea time.

Two Fujairah sites, one early start

This is an eight-hour day built around an early departure. Pickup from Dubai or Fujairah takes place between 6:00 and 7:00 AM, with the exact time sent to you the day before. That early start matters because Fujairah is on the UAE’s East Coast, and the drive from Dubai takes a good part of the morning.

I would keep the pickup morning simple. Have your passport, scuba certification, swimwear, towel, and sun protection ready before bed. You must carry your original passport and scuba license, and you must be medically fit for the activity.

The small-group format is helpful from the first briefing onward. With a maximum of 10 participants, you have a better chance of getting direct answers and a guide who can notice if you need help with equipment or air management. This is aimed at certified divers, but it also suits someone newly qualified and looking for a controlled first outing after completing a course.

The day is not a private charter, so the pace is shared with the rest of the group. Still, the combination of a certified instructor, two separate sites, and a reasonable group limit gives the trip a more personal feel than a crowded boat outing.

What you may find below the surface

Fujairah’s East Coast sites cover several kinds of underwater habitat. You may see healthy soft and hard corals, artificial reefs, wreck material, and small marine creatures hiding among the structure. The area is known for tropical fish, and the guide’s role is especially useful when the best sights are only a few centimeters long.

Look closely around coral and sheltered surfaces for shrimp and nudibranchs. Nudibranchs are small sea slugs, often colorful and easy to miss unless someone points them out. You might also find puffers, clownfish, parrotfish, rays, and large schools moving above the reef.

Larger animals are possible too. At sites such as Snoopy Rock and Sharm Rocks, the underwater life has included green turtles and a blacktip reef shark. You should not treat any animal sighting as guaranteed, but these reports give you a sense of the range available, from tiny macro species to sizeable reef visitors.

A guide can make a big difference here. Sina, one of the instructors, is praised for clear communication and attentive guiding. Fajad is also noted for helping with buoyancy and equalizing technique. Those are practical skills, not just pleasant extras, particularly if you have not used your certification for some time.

Each underwater session lasts about one hour. Between them, you get a 30-minute break. You should expect a briefing before entering the water, followed by time to rest, rehydrate, and prepare for the second site.

The 42-foot boat and its practical comforts

The advertised boat is a 42-foot cruiser with a sunbed, toilet, freshwater shower, indoor seating area, and sound system. For a day spent moving between two sites, those features can make the surface intervals much easier. You can sit inside, rinse off with fresh water, or spend time in the sun between sessions.

Bring your own towel. Towels, sunblock, and swimwear are not included, even though swimwear is listed among the items you should bring. I would also pack a dry change of clothes for the ride back and keep your passport and certification in a secure, dry place.

There is an important point of caution here. At least one customer booked this outing expecting the full set of larger-boat facilities and found that the boat used did not match those expectations. Since the advertised amenities may depend on the day’s vessel, confirm the boat setup with Reef Oasis Diving Center before departure if a toilet, indoor salon, or sunbed is important to you.

The center itself has separate women’s and men’s changing rooms and lockers. Showers are available there, which is useful after the second session and before lunch. This makes the day easier for anyone who does not want to spend the whole afternoon in wet swimwear.

BBQ lunch at Reef Oasis Dive Center

After the two sessions, you return to Reef Oasis Dive Center for a BBQ lunch. The meal takes about 40 minutes, so this is a proper break rather than a quick snack grabbed between activities. The food has been described as tasty and plentiful, which is welcome after a morning in the water.

Lunch is included in the $160 price, along with the equipment, guide, boat, and transport. That matters because separate costs for transfers, rental gear, meals, and a sightseeing stop can quickly add up in Fujairah.

The lunch stop also gives you a chance to change, shower, and settle down before the drive back toward Dubai. The day remains active, but it is not two hours in the water followed by an immediate long drive in wet clothes.

Al Bidya Mosque and the Khorfakkan coast

The return journey includes three short sightseeing stops. Al Bidya Mosque comes first, with about 10 minutes set aside. That is a brief photo and viewing stop, not a full cultural tour, so keep your expectations in line with the schedule.

The mosque is one of the region’s recognizable historic sights, but the supplied timing gives you only a quick look. If you want a long visit or detailed architectural explanation, this outing is not designed for that. Its value is that you get a glimpse of a significant local landmark without adding another full excursion to your holiday.

The next stop is Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, where you have about 15 minutes to take in the coastal views. The stop is short, but it breaks up the ride and gives you a chance to stretch your legs. You will not have much time for an extended walk or a slow visit.

Khorfakkan Waterfall follows, also for about 15 minutes. The waterfall is a popular visual stop on the East Coast route, and it adds a change of scenery after the morning’s marine focus. As with the amphitheatre, think of this as a compact sightseeing pause rather than a full attraction visit.

These stops are a pleasant bonus, but they should not be the reason you book. The schedule gives the underwater sessions first priority. If your main goal is extensive sightseeing around Khorfakkan, choose a dedicated land tour instead.

What the $160 price really covers

At $160 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day in the UAE. It becomes more reasonable when you count what is bundled in: hotel pickup and drop-off from Dubai or Fujairah, two guided sessions, rental equipment, an instructor or divemaster, boat transport, lunch, changing facilities, and three short sightseeing stops.

The transfer is a major part of the value. Getting from Dubai to Fujairah on your own means arranging a car, planning the route, and dealing with equipment and parking. Here, the transport is organized for you, with WhatsApp communication used to confirm timing.

The small group also supports the price. A maximum of 10 participants gives you more attention than a large group, and the instructors speak Arabic, English, Hebrew, Italian, and Russian. That language range can make briefings and safety instructions easier for many participants.

The package is less attractive if you already have your own vehicle, scuba gear, and a preferred Fujairah operator. It is also not ideal if you want a private guide or a leisurely sightseeing day. For a visitor staying in Dubai who wants an organized East Coast scuba outing, however, the inclusions are practical and easy to compare.

Safety, communication, and skill level

All sessions are guided by a certified instructor or divemaster. Safety, site briefings, and assistance with equipment are part of the day, but you still need to arrive ready for certified-level scuba activity.

You must carry your scuba license and original passport. You also need to be medically fit. If you have any health concern that could affect scuba activity, resolve that before booking rather than waiting until the morning pickup.

This outing suits a range of certified ability levels. It can work for someone who has just completed training, as well as for an experienced diver who wants to look for Fujairah’s turtles, fish, wrecks, or smaller reef species. Fajad has been praised for offering useful tips on equalizing, while Sina is noted for answering questions and keeping communication clear.

Equipment briefings are generally handled well, though some parts may need improvement. I would ask questions early if a mask, regulator, buoyancy device, or other item does not feel right. A short conversation before leaving the dock is better than trying to solve a problem underwater.

Who should book this Fujairah outing

I would choose this trip if you are a certified diver staying in Dubai and want a convenient way to reach Fujairah without arranging transport. It is also a good fit if you care about marine life but appreciate having a guide point out small creatures instead of simply swimming over the reef.

The outing is particularly suitable for:

• Newly certified divers who want guided support
• Experienced divers interested in turtles, rays, fish, wrecks, and macro life
• Couples or friends who want a full East Coast day
• Visitors who value hotel transport and included rental gear
• People who prefer a small group over a large boat operation

I would think twice if you dislike early starts, cannot carry your certification documents, or want a relaxed beach day. The schedule is active, the pickup is early, and the return drive includes several short stops rather than long visits.

I would also confirm the boat facilities directly if the onboard toilet, indoor seating, shower, or sunbed is central to your decision. The advertised setup is comfortable on paper, but one customer reported a different arrangement.

Should you book the two-session package?

Book it if your priority is two guided underwater sessions in Fujairah with transport, equipment, lunch, and a small group. The strongest parts are the range of possible marine life, the careful instructors, and the convenience of having the whole day arranged from Dubai.

Do not book it mainly for the mosque, amphitheatre, or waterfall. Those stops are short add-ons. And do not leave your license, passport, towel, or sunblock behind.

For a certified diver who wants an efficient East Coast outing, the $160 price is fair when you use the included transfer and equipment. Confirm the boat before departure, then arrive early and ready to spend the morning looking closely at Fujairah’s reefs.

FAQ

Where does this scuba experience take place?

The underwater sessions take place in Fujairah on the UAE’s East Coast. Pickup and drop-off are available from hotels in Dubai or Fujairah.

How many underwater sessions are included?

You receive two guided sessions at different Fujairah sites. Each one lasts about one hour.

Is this suitable for beginners?

It is for certified divers, including people who have recently completed their course. You must carry a valid scuba certification and be medically fit.

What documents do I need?

Bring your original passport and scuba diving license. Both are listed as required items.

What time does pickup take place?

Pickup is scheduled between 6:00 and 7:00 AM. You receive the exact pickup time one day before the activity.

Is equipment included?

Yes. Scuba equipment is included, along with two guided sessions and a certified instructor or divemaster.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A BBQ lunch at Reef Oasis Dive Center is included after the two underwater sessions.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport, swimwear, towel, scuba certification, and sunblock. Towels, sunblock, and swimwear are not supplied.

What facilities are available at the dive center?

The center has men’s and women’s changing rooms, lockers, and showers.

Are the sightseeing stops included?

Yes. The return route includes short stops at Al Bidya Mosque, Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, and Khorfakkan Waterfall before returning to Dubai.