Al Mahara Diving Center

Located in Abu Dhabi, Al Mahara Diving Center has been a fixture of the local diving community since 2010. As a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, it serves as a hub for both recreational divers and those pursuing a professional career in diving.

The centre operates from several locations, including its main base on Al Mina Road and various hotel partnerships. This allows for easy access whether you are looking for local reef dives or planning longer trips to the Mussandam region in Oman.

The centre is run by an experienced team of diving and kayaking professionals. Their focus is on providing a stress-free learning environment with significant emphasis on practical application and marine conservation through initiatives like Project Aware and Reef Check.

To accommodate an international clientele, the instructors are multilingual, with the ability to conduct training in English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, German, French, and Spanish. This makes the centre a versatile choice for divers looking to complete certifications in their native language.

The training programme is extensive, covering the entire PADI spectrum. Beginners can start with the Discover Scuba Diving programme or work through the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses. More specialised training is available through the PADI Specialty Diver programmes, including Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Underwater Navigation.

For professional divers, the centre is a dedicated Instructor Development Center (IDC). They offer pathways through Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, and Open Water Scuba Instructor, with a reported 100% success rate for their professional development programmes. They also provide Emergency First Response (EFR) training and various lifeguard and Starguard certifications.

The centre utilises both dhows and speedboats for its excursions. The dhows are well-equipped for longer trips, offering full meals, hot drinks, snacks, and on-board facilities including showers and bathrooms.

Whether you are heading out for a day trip to local sites or a multi-day excursion, the vessels are organised to handle different dive profiles, including night dives. Nitrox is available for those looking to extend their bottom time on these trips.

For those who prefer to dive with their own kit, the centre provides a full range of high-quality equipment for hire, including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, masks, fins, computers, torches, and even GoPro cameras. A deposit is required for any equipment taken off-site.

The centre also maintains a retail shop stocking major brands such as Aqualung, Apeks, Scubapro, Cressi Sub, and Suunto. This ensures you can find reliable gear or dive computers before heading out to the water.

The local reefs are home to a vibrant community of tropical reef fish, including snappers, jacks, and various species of grouper. You will often see moray eels tucked into ledges and colourful hard corals providing the structural backbone of the habitat.

In the deeper waters and during trips to Mussandam, the variety increases significantly. Divers may encounter southern stingrays, turtles, and large schools of fusiliers and barracuda. Seasonally, the area offers the chance to see manta rays, eagle rays, guitarfish sharks, and whale sharks.

Macro life and smaller inhabitants include various species of juvenile fish and diverse reef dwellers. The presence of diverse coral formations ensures a constant movement of smaller species throughout the reef flats and walls.

Diving in the region is accessible year-round, with water temperatures starting around 23°C. The local sites include a variety of environments, from shallow reef flats to deeper wrecks and walls.

While many sites are accessible to all levels, certain locations like Ras Ghanada are better suited for advanced divers. The centre also organises night dives, allowing you to experience the reef as the nocturnal species emerge.