Where to learn scuba diving in Dubai?

Dubai - The total cost is Dh2,350, with all course materials, certification fees, insurance and equipment rental included.

If you live in the UAE then by now you're sure to be well aware that the Emirates are a haven for scuba divers. But how many of you have actually taken the time to learn? Those who do will not be disappointed - the country's coasts are home to a vast array of fascinating and beautiful aquatic life.
Luckily for us, the UAE is among the best places in the world to learn to dive, with a wide variety of top-notch schools offering everything from introductory courses to highly specialised ones such as search and recovery or wreck diving. The most common entry-level course is the "open-water diving" course.
At Dubai's popular Al Boom Diving, the course is divided into three main sections: classroom instruction in the basic principles of scuba diving, four pool dives to learn the basics, and four open water dives, two of which take place off Jumeirah beach and two of which happen in Fujairah. The total cost is Dh2,350, with all course materials, certification fees, insurance and equipment rental included.
For a unique experience that can only be done in Dubai, why not take a dive at the Dubai Mall? There are a number of options available there, including a "discover scuba" dive and a shark dive with 750-pound Sand Tiger Sharks. Whichever you choose, the results will be fascinating as there are over 70 different marine species living in the aquarium, all within close proximity. If you already know how to scuba dive, consider taking a wreck diving course.
There are a number of fascinating shipwrecks to be explored in the waters of the UAE. A great one for novice wreck-divers is the "cement barge" which sank in 1971 en route to Dubai, and sits in fairly good shape 12 metres underwater. Scuba diving is a fun, safe and fascinating pastime that you can take with you all over the world. Why not begin today?
bernd@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai