CURRENTS, THERMOCLINE, VISIBILITY OF UAE. BEST TIME TO DIVE
Best Time to Dive:
In the UAE is during the seasonal transitions — from summer to winter and vice versa. Technically, the UAE has two seasons: hot and hotter. So for diving purposes, we can call the “less hot” season winter.
The optimal diving windows are:
Late April to early May
Late September to early October
Keep in mind that due to climate change and shifting weather patterns, these periods can vary slightly from year to year. However, these months generally offer the best combination of water temperature, visibility, and marine activity.
Diving in the UAE: An Overview_:
Let me briefly highlight the East Coast — without comparison, it is the best place to dive in the United Arab Emirates. That’s not to say other locations in the country aren’t good! It’s just that the East Coast offers superior diving for many reasons. But that’s a discussion for another time. For now, let’s focus on the general diving conditions across the UAE.
General Conditions:
Let’s start with the currents. In my opinion, diving in the UAE often feels like diving in a lake — the waters are typically very calm. Occasionally, you might experience a light current, mostly caused by temperature differences between surface/shallow water and deeper layers.
This phenomenon is essentially what creates thermoclines, which are a defining feature of diving in the UAE. You can encounter thermoclines year-round, and while their frequency depends on the dive location, they are a common occurrence. Whether it’s summer or winter, you might suddenly feel a noticeable shift in water temperature as a colder or warmer mass of water moves through.
Visibility:
Visibility in the UAE is generally good. While you won’t find the crystal clarity of some of the world’s most renowned dive spots, it still holds its own. On the East Coast, visibility can reach up to 25 meters during optimal conditions — which is quite respectable on a global scale. Of course, there are places in the world with absolutely mind-blowing visibility, but the UAE offers consistency.
