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As a youngster, I was infatuated by the
concept of space travel. Like most
starry-eyed infants, one of my ambitions
"when I grow up" was to become
an astronaut led by the fascination of
discovering a whole new world and
experience the sensation of
weightlessness. As I grew older, I
realised that dream would end up in the
trash can just like my hopes of playing
rugby for Wales or football for Manchester
United.
However, I
recently learned that there is actually a
whole new world out there. One that is
accessible to anyone and waiting for me to
quite literally dive into.
The wonders of the deep blue sea are as
illuminating in the United Arab Emirates
as they are anywhere else in the world as
the corals and bays kissing its coastline
offer some sensational sights. Of course,
it only takes the purchase of a snorkel
and mask to discover them, but if one
really wants to be a part of it, to swim
with the fish, turtles and dolphins and to
glide freely under the surface of the
ocean, a scuba diving course provides the
only suitable passport to do so.
There are
numerous courses to select from in the UAE,
but my choice was the Professional
Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
course run by Al Boom Diving in Jumeirah.
It didn't take me long either to discover
that becoming a qualified diver
was not just about slipping on the flashy
gear and taking the plunge. No, it was
about learning every aspect of survival in
the deep for my own safety and for those
that I choose to dive with in the future.
The course consisted of an intensive two
weeks alternating between classroom,
swimming pool and beach. Each session took
two hours. My instructor for the
fortnight was Mel Jones, a 47 year-old
Englishman who became hooked on diving
when he first 'went under' nine years ago
and has spent thousands of dollars
climbing the ladder to become an
instructor in an activity that started
merely as a hobby.
The course is
split into five modules and the pattern is
simple. First you learn a module in the
class and the following day you get to try
out the new skills in the swimming pool.
At the end of each week comes the big
treat of being let loose in the sea. Here,
all the skills studied in the classroom
and practiced in the pool, are tested in
the deep blue for real. The courses
are tailored to fit around a busy work
schedule with some offering just one
session a week. My strong advice though is
to dedicate
yourself to a fortnight of evenings to
really get a feel for it. You learn early
on that you must always dive with a
'buddy'. This is the term given to a
diving partner who will keep an eye on you
under the water and vice versa just to
make sure that any possible problems that
may arise are dealt with promptly.
The course
teaches the student everything from
mastering the scuba gear to
rescuing your 'buddy' should any
difficulties occur. The reassuring thing
about a PADI course is that you know that
if a problem is encountered, someone will
be close at hand to help you get out of
trouble. The two weeks culminate in
a written exam. If you fail, you retake it
until you pass - simple! So, armed
with a credit card-sized PADI pass that is
recognised globally, the world is at my
feet, or should I say under it. The PADI
Open Water Diving Card is a license to
dive all over the world.
But you don't
have to travel far from the UAE to
discover unlimited beauty that is
virtually untouched by human hand.
But don't take my word for it, dive in and
see for yourself!
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Five
phrases to remember
Buddy - This is the person you pair
up with when diving.
Squeeze - This is the condition
that affects all body spaces while
descending into
the depths.
Equalise - This is the method to
counteract the squeeze. To unblock the
ears, divers are advised to pinch the nose
and blow.
Nitrogen Narcosis - Sometimes
divers suffer a feeling of being drunk due
to too much nitrogen in their system. To
overcome this, divers must ascend a few
feet to balance out their system.
Aqualung - This is the metal tank
that slips onto the back of the diver
which is
filled with air and it usually lasts for
about an hour.
Why
people learn to dive?
Catherine Logan, a 25 year-old
flight attendant with Emirates Airline,
said: "I was curious to discover what
was down there and I was not
disappointed."
Alex Anderson, a 48 year-old
tourist from Denmark: "An amazing
experience, I should have started scuba
diving years ago."
Oliver Samson, a 33 year-old
television producer, said: "Those
first few breaths under water really get
the heart pumping, but once you overcome
your original fears it is an unbelievable
experience."
Elaine Impiazzi,
a 52 year-old company executive, said:
"I had to find out for myself what
everyone else was talking about."
Ian Bebb,
a 38 year-old quantity surveyor, said:
"Learning to dive has opened up a
whole new dimension in my life."
Where
to go...
The
UAE is blessed with literally dozens of
accessible dive sites on both the West
Coast, in the Arabian Gulf, and the East
Coast, in the Gulf of Oman. West
Coast
What the West Coast lacks in Coral, it
makes up for in the number of shipwrecks
that are submerged close to the shoreline.
Boats that have either succumb to the
elements or simply been sunk by the armed
forces' practice rounds or fisherman's
explosives provide a
plethora of species that thrive
relatively untouched just
a short boat ride from the coast.
Five
sites to try on the West
Car
Barge and its Tug: By
far, one of the most popular wreck dive
sites on the West Coast. Contrasting
stories say the barge and tug were bought
by a local fisherman and purposely sunk to
create a breeding reef, that provides a
haven for
millions of colourful fish just 10 miles
off Dubai.
Sir Bur Na'air: The island was once
used for the Arabian pearl divers and
fisherman as a rest stop during their
weeks at sea. Its bays provide excellent
spots for both diving and
snorkeling but are prepared for a few
surprises. Turtles, barracuda and masses
of fish can be seen within yards of the
sandy and coral beaches.
Hammour Barge: Sunk by local
fisherman to form an artificial reef, it
has got its name from the amount of
hammour that call this submerged vessel
home. It is virtually ignored by divers,
which is a shame because there is a
massive array of colourful coral fish to
be seen.
Cement Barge: This site provides
one of the few accessible wrecks for
snorkeling with the boat less than five
meters below the surface. The barge, which
sunk in heavy weather about five miles off
Dubai, is a haven for wildlife and its
original cargo of cement bags can still be
seen.
Jumeirah Reef: The creation of the
magnificent Burj Al Arab had a knock on
effect for the underwater environment.
Hundreds of huge hollow concrete block
used to build the island's base were left
over and used to create a magnificent reef
about three miles off shore. The nooks and
crannies created by the man-made marine
mansion are now swarmed by wildlife of all
sizes. Sharks and barracuda swim
side by side with fish the size of a
finger. This reef is not accessible to
anyone though, it is owned by the hotel
and prior permission must be sought from
the Pavilion Dive Centre, Jumeirah Beach
Hotel.
East
Coast
Snoopy Island: So called because it
looks like snoopy lying on his back taking
a snooze, Snoopy Island is one of the most
extensively dived sites in the country.
Located just 100 metres off the beach
rolling up to the popular weekend getaway
of the Sandy Beach Hotel, the corals and
gentle currents make it perfect for
smokeless.
Car Reef Cemetery: When 200 wrecked
cars were dumped into the sea in the late
80's, a new reef was born. The silt means
it is not ideal for diving but on certain
clear days it looks like the car park of a
seaside supermarket, which has been
flooded. Sea horses and frogfish call it
home but the lords of the manor are the
resident moray eels that stretch to two
metres long.
Dibba Island: Further north, close to
the Omani border, sits the rugged Dibba
Island which will virtually guarantee a
view of turtles. Night dives are something
special here with colourful coral aplenty
and it's an excellent venue for snorkeling
too.
Shark Island: Also known as Khor
Fakkan Island, Shark Island is one of the
most elegant places to spend a day's
diving in the UAE. Its close location to
shore makes it easily accessible and
there's a tidy little beach ideal for
picnics and sunbathing. The down side is
that the rocks are covered in nasty little
urchins that can sting when stood upon.
The island, as its name suggests, is
frequently visited by sharks in the winter
months along with a vast assortment of
fish and the odd ray or two.
Coral Garden: For a true botanical
adventure under the waves, the aptly named
Coral Garden is the place to visit.
Located close to Shark Island, Coral
Garden is an explosion of colour sprawled
over a multi-tiered area and inhabited by
a multi-coloured fish population. Coral
Garden is home to species of coral that
can't be found in most places of the UAE
and its tricky location means it is more
suited for the experienced diver.
What
to see...
Sharks
and Rays - It may worry many to know
that sharks and rays thrive in the waters
surrounding the UAE's shoreline but the
comforting factor is that they have
learned to live alongside man and pose
little threat. The UAE's waters are
home to dozens of species of shark and
rays including the relatively rare and
beautiful Whale Shark.
Turtles
Turtles are one of the most gracious and
welcoming animals of the seas. They can be
found in the waters of the Gulf and the
Arabian Sea in all sizes and are a joy to
watch providing they are left alone to
carry on with their own business. Be
warned though; don't touch the turtles as
they may be sleeping and the shock could
cause them to swallow water and drown.
Fish
You do not need to travel to the Maldives
or the Great Barrier Reef to witness a
colour bonanza under the waves. The waters
around the UAE are alive with an explosion
of colour associated with scores of
different species of fish. From minuscule
to massive, the shipwrecks off the West
Coast and the corals off the East Coast
are a true wonder and one of the best-kept
secrets of the diving world.
Coral
While there is a relatively limited supply
of coral off the West Coast; there is
abundance off the East. Whip Coral, Black
Coral, Favite, Seapens, Anemones and Cave
Coral are just a few that can be found on
both coast lines.
Dolphins
The Arabian Peninsula, and particularly
the Oman region, is home to literally
thousands of dolphins. While it is rare to
see them on a dive, as they don't usually
come in close to the shore, there is a
very high chance that you will see them on
the way to your dive. Fancy
a go? Diving may seem like a
straightforward activity, but there are
more levels of expertise to it than you
could possibly imagine. From 'try dives'
to learning to become an instructor, Al
Shindagah provides a sample of the various
levels available.
BubbleMaker
Diving may be more suited for adults, but
it's certainly not a kids-free zone. The
PADI BubbleMaker programme is for kids who
are eight years old or above. They
can try diving in a confined environment
under the close supervision of an
experienced, PADI-qualified instructor.
The maximum depth is two metres and the
instructor teaches basic essential skills
required for diving in water on scuba.
Well-equipped centres will have specially
adapted equipment to ensure it's a smooth
dive for the little ones.
Try dives
Still undecided? For many, the thought of
becoming qualified and going through
classroom sessions can prove to be a
daunting proposition and put many off. But
there are opportunities available to take
a sample of the deep without committing to
a course. Under the professional eye of a
PADI instructor, students are guided
through all the theory and basic skills.
Discover Scuba takes as little as two
hours and includes a pool or confined
water session with an instructor. If
the student wants to take their experience
one step further, the Discover Scuba Dive
builds on theory and basic skills to go
for a real dive in the sea.
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