Scuba Shade

Located within the Habtoor Grand Resort on the Dubai coast, Scuba Shade operates as a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Resort. The centre serves as a gateway to two distinct diving environments: the wreck-strewn waters off the Dubai coastline and the more varied reef systems found along the East Coast in Fujairah.

Whether you are looking to start your training or are a professional diver working towards your Instructor certification, the centre provides the infrastructure required for both recreational and career-focused diving. They operate seven days a week, facilitating daily departures for those looking to explore the local marine life.

As an IDC (Instructor Development Centre), Scuba Shade is geared towards high-level professional training. They host a range of courses from the initial Bubblemaker and Seal Team programmes for younger divers through to Divemaster and Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) certifications.

The team consists of highly qualified instructors capable of guiding divers through the full spectrum of PADI training. All instruction and dive operations are conducted in English, ensuring clear communication for international divers during technical briefings and training sessions.

The training catalogue is extensive, covering all PADI levels. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving, Scuba Diver, or the Bubblemaker and Seal Team programmes for children. For those progressing through the standard progression, the centre offers Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Deep Diver courses.

For divers looking to enhance their skills or safety, ReActivate™ Scuba Refresher and EFR (Emergency First Response) are available. The centre also provides professional pathways, including Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) programme, alongside its status as an IDC facility.

The centre operates a 35-foot dive boat for its excursions. This vessel is used to reach the various dive sites along the coast, including the wreck sites and the reefs of Fujairah.

Full equipment hire is available on-site for divers who do not wish to travel with their own kit. This includes masks, snorkels, fins, BCDs, regulators, dive computers, and wetsuits.

The centre also maintains an on-site shop for those looking to purchase their own diving equipment.

The reefs are home to a variety of larger species, including turtles, electric rays, and stingrays (Myliobatiformes). You will often encounter eels (Muraenidae) tucked into ledges and various species of snapper (Lutjanidae) and jack (Carangidae) patrolling the water column.

In the open water, look out for barracuda (Sphyraena), yellowtail barracuda (Sphyraena flavicauda), and trevally. Other common residents include batfish (Platax) and various groupers (Epinephelinae).

Macro life and smaller inhabitants include cuttlefish (Sepiidae) and a variety of juvenile fish. The seabed is also populated by sea urchins and various molluscs such as oysters and scallops.

Diving is possible year-round in the region. The water temperature varies between 10°C and 15.6°C depending on the season.