 Home | Members' Home |
What's this? |
Dive Review of
|
| Reporter | |||
|
Dive Experience
|
51-100 dives | ||
|
Where else diving
|
[Unspecified] |
||
|
Dive Conditions |
|||
|
Weather
|
sunny |
Seas
|
calm |
|
Water Temp
|
90 to 91 ° Fahrenheit |
Wetsuit Thickness
|
0 |
|
Water Visibility
|
40 to 50 Feet |
|
|
| Dive Policy | |||
|
Dive own profile?
|
? | ||
|
Enforced diving
restrictions
|
[Unspecified] |
||
|
Liveaboard?
|
no |
Nitrox Available?
|
N/A |
| What I saw | |||
|
Sharks
|
None |
Mantas
|
None |
|
Dolphins
|
None |
Whale Sharks
|
None |
|
Turtles
|
None |
Whales
|
None |
|
Ratings 1
(worst)- 5 (best):
|
|||
|
Corals
|
 |
Tropical Fish
|
 |
|
Small Critters
|
 |
Large Fish
|
 |
|
Large Pelagics
|
 |
|
|
| Underwater Photography 1 (worst)- 5 (best): | |||
|
Subject Matter
|
|
Boat Facilities
|
|
|
Overall rating for UWP's
|
|
Shore Facilities
|
|
|
Comments
|
Hot water - a lot of plankton, etc. |
||
| Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst)- 5 (best): | |||
|
Accommodations
|
|
Food
|
|
|
Service and Attitude
|
|
Environmental Sensitivity
|
N/A |
|
Dive Operation
|
|
Shore Diving
|
|
|
Snorkeling
|
N/A |
|
|
|
Overall Rating |
|||
|
Value for $$
|
N/A | ||
|
Beginners
|
|
||
|
Advanced
|
|
||
|
Comments
|
Al Boom diving is located at the Sandy Beach Hotel in Khor Fakkan, having just moved there about 3 weeks ago. Soon we were on their boat, heading for nearby Shark Island. Shark Island - 45ft 36 min Shark Island is just off the coast from Khor Fakkan. The air temperatures were in the 120s F, and the water was just as warm here as in the Persian Gulf at this time of year. Because of the location in the Gulf of Oman, open to the Arabian Sea, the fish life was much better than the Persian Gulf, though. I found the Clownfish I have been seeking for so long, and in abundance. Everywhere I looked were anemones, each fiercely guarded by its clown. We also found a Moorish Idol, some Oman Butterflys, a Moon Wrasse, Orange Dottyback, Bridled Triggerfish, and several Bluetail Boxfish. In the summer, the hot water is clouded with bacteria and plankton. I assume much better photo opportunities exist in cooler months. As we circled the small island, we found even more beautiful specimens. Yellow ear Angelfish, Gardeners Butterflys, Two Bar Bream, and an exquisite Collare Butterflyfish are among the many examples that we found on this dive. Diving in the UAE is relatively cheap, once you get here. I paid about 200 Dirham in Dubai, and a little less in Khor Fakkan, which equates to about $50-55 US, including most of the gear. I took my regs, computer, mask and camera only. These prices may be low season prices, as it is definitely the low season in July and August. The temperatures are quite high at this time of year - the busy season is over the winter as Europeans (primarily from the UK) come here to escape the miserable northern winters. Over the winter months, I am told the air temps are in the low 80s f, and the water is about the same. |
||
|
NEW! Leave a comment (Subscribers & Online Members only -- 200 words max) Subscribers should go here to leave a comment | |||
|
Questions?
|
|||||||||||
|
Other United Arab Emirates Dive Reviews and Reports
|
|||||||||||
