REVIEW · DUBAI
From Dubai: 2 Dives for Certified Divers with BBQ & Transfer
Fujairah wakes up early, and your morning reef time comes fast. I like that this package pairs two different underwater sites with a smooth Dubai transfer, so you are not spending your day stuck in logistics. You get a small group (up to 10), guided by an experienced instructor, and the East Coast is known for coral life, wrecks, and macro critters like shrimps and nudibranchs. The main thing to weigh is that the day runs long, about 8 hours, with an early pickup between 6:00 and 7:00 AM.
What I love most is the combination of strong guiding and comfort: a 42-foot cruising boat with toilet and freshwater shower, plus a proper BBQ lunch back on land. One review called out the guide Sina, who guided two sites (including Snoopy Rock and Sharm Rocks) and spotted green turtles, pufferfish, clown fish, parrotfish, huge shoals, and even an adult black tip reef shark. The possible drawback is that one participant said some listed onboard amenities did not match what was expected, so if you care a lot about specific comfort items, ask what is on your exact boat that day.
In This Review
- Key highlights you should know
- Fujairah from Dubai: what the 8-hour schedule feels like
- Two underwater sessions with a guide who knows the sites
- What you can actually see: turtles, coral, and macro surprises
- Snoopy Rock and Sharm Rocks: why the named sites matter
- The boat and dive center setup: comfort is part of the value
- BBQ lunch at Reef Oasis: the meal you will be glad you planned for
- The land stops: Al Bidya Mosque, Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, and waterfalls
- Languages and guiding style: you are not stuck guessing
- Price and value: is $160 fair for two sessions plus transfer?
- Who this suits best, and who might rethink it
- Things to check before you go (so your day stays smooth)
- Should you book this package?
- FAQ
- Is this tour only for certified divers?
- Where does pickup happen?
- What time is pickup?
- How many underwater sessions are included?
- Is equipment included?
- Do I get lunch?
- What facilities are available on the boat?
- What should I bring?
- What is not included in the price?
- What languages are available for the instructor?
Key highlights you should know

- Two different reef stops on Fujairah’s East Coast, built for certified divers
- Small group size (max 10) for more time with your guide and better spotting
- Boat comfort: sunbed for tanning, indoor seating area, toilet, and freshwater shower
- BBQ lunch included at the Reef Oasis center, typically plentiful and well prepared
- On-land sightseeing stops include Al Bidya Mosque, Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, and Khorfakkan Waterfalls
- Instructor-led spotting for both big animals (like turtles) and small macro life (like nudibranchs)
Other Dubai dive sites we got in the water at
- From Dubai: Snorkeling Trip to Dibba Al-Fujairah
★ 4.5 · 503 reviews - Discover Scuba Diving in Dubai
★ 4.6 · 494 reviews - From Dubai: Fujairah Snorkeling with Turtles, Transfer & BBQ
★ 4.6 · 406 reviews - From Dubai: Fujairah Half-Day Scuba Dive and Snorkeling
★ 4.7 · 186 reviews
Fujairah from Dubai: what the 8-hour schedule feels like

This trip is designed as a full day, not a quick half-day underwater outing. Pickup is early, between 6:00 and 7:00 AM, and you will get your exact pickup time one day before you go. If you prefer slow mornings, plan to go to bed earlier than usual.
Once you are moving toward Fujairah, you have your first underwater session, then a break, then a second session. The schedule is tight enough to feel like you are getting your money’s worth, but not so rushed that you are constantly on the clock. After the second session and a 40-minute lunch, the operator adds short sightseeing stops on the way back.
Two underwater sessions with a guide who knows the sites

You are doing two guided underwater sessions at two different locations. Each session is listed as 1 hour, so the value comes from variety, not from trying to drag one location for too long. The East Coast around Fujairah is a strong match for both reef lovers and people who like to hunt for small stuff.
The guiding style here is built around safety first, then spotting the highlights. The experience description is clear that the instructor is certified and focuses on making the trip smooth and hassle-free. That matters because even certified divers can feel rusty after time off, and one review specifically praised a guide for being professional and careful.
What you can actually see: turtles, coral, and macro surprises

This is a reef-focused outing, with both natural and artificial reef habitats. You can expect healthy soft and hard corals, plus wreck elements depending on the site. If you like big, easy-to-spot animals, keep your eyes on the mid-water and along reef edges.
One of the strongest clues from real examples in the reviews: green turtles showed up at both sites for at least one participant. That same outing also included pufferfish, clown fish, parrotfish, huge shoals of fish, and an adult black tip reef shark. Even if you do not see the shark, the general pattern is a mix of coral life and larger reef residents.
For smaller life, this area is a good place to look slowly. The experience notes highlight macro wonders, including shrimps and nudibranchs, and that kind of target list pays off when your guide is scanning and pointing. In plain terms, you will likely get more out of the water time if you spend energy looking at corners and undersides, not just the open reef.
Snoopy Rock and Sharm Rocks: why the named sites matter

The itinerary does not just say generic reef time, it clearly ties your day to specific locations. In one review, the participant did two sessions with Sina, one at Snoopy Rock and one at Sharm Rocks. Having the site names matters because it hints at what kind of structure you might get.
That same review included a detail that helps you picture the environment: a small submerged boat at about 25 meters. Whether you see a similar feature depends on the exact plan for your day, but it’s a good reminder that at least some sites are structured enough to create variety in depth and sightlines.
If you care about photography or about planning your buoyancy for different textures, this kind of site diversity is the whole point of doing two locations. One hour at one reef can be great, but two different sites keeps things interesting and reduces the chance you feel bored after the first stop.
The boat and dive center setup: comfort is part of the value

A lot of scuba days feel rough around the edges, but this one tries to keep you comfortable. The boat is listed as a 42-foot cruising vessel with a sunbed for tanning, a sound system, and indoor seating. More importantly, there is a toilet and a freshwater shower on board.
You also get lockers and changing rooms at the dive center, with separate men’s and women’s spaces mentioned in a review. That is a real quality-of-life detail, especially when you are coming from Dubai early in the morning and you do not want to deal with awkward changing conditions.
One review mentioned showers being available and changing rooms being well set up. If you are sensitive to post-water cleanup or you hate feeling sandy all day, this is a big plus. The only caution is the earlier one: one participant said some onboard features were not there as described. If you have strong needs tied to facilities, ask your operator before the day starts.
BBQ lunch at Reef Oasis: the meal you will be glad you planned for

After you surface the second time, you get a BBQ lunch at the Reef Oasis center. Lunch is allocated 40 minutes, which is short enough to keep the day moving, but long enough to eat without rushing.
In reviews, people described the BBQ as nice and plentiful, and another mentioned well prepared BBQ for the midday break. That combination is what you want on a long day. You do not just need food, you need food that actually satisfies you after morning water time.
You might also get extra goodies like photo and video downloads, since at least one review specifically said pictures and videos were available to download. It was not listed in the core inclusions, so treat it as a nice-to-have, not a guarantee.
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The land stops: Al Bidya Mosque, Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, and waterfalls
If you are coming from Dubai and you are thinking you will spend the entire day underwater, this trip adds a small, scenic layer. Right after lunch, you have a quick stop at Al Bidya Mosque for sightseeing (10 minutes). Then you move to Khorfakkan Amphitheatre (15 minutes) and Khorfakkan Waterfalls (15 minutes).
These are not deep, hour-long museum visits. They are short perspective breaks that add something memorable beyond the reef. If you like travel variety, you will appreciate it. If you prefer a pure water day, you might find the land portion a little brief.
That said, the waterfall stop is a strong payoff for people who want one stretch of fresh air and photos on the way back. Even with limited time, it turns the day from just logistics into a mix of nature and culture.
Languages and guiding style: you are not stuck guessing

The instructor team includes multiple languages: Arabic, English, Hebrew, Italian, and Russian. That matters more than it sounds. Clear briefings are not just comfortable, they help safety and reduce stress under water.
One review praised a guide named Fajad for being attentive, professional, and careful. Another praised Sina as a credit to the company, including how well she communicated and answered questions for someone inquisitive. When your guide is responsive, you tend to enjoy the water time more, because you are not fighting confusion while you are trying to focus on buoyancy and surroundings.
Price and value: is $160 fair for two sessions plus transfer?

At $160 per person, the value is in the bundle. You are paying for hotel pickup and drop-off between Dubai and Fujairah, two guided underwater sessions at different sites, equipment, BBQ lunch, and boat comfort with real facilities.
This is not just a taxi to the water. The included scuba equipment and two sessions reduce your “hidden costs,” like renting gear or piecing together separate tours. The early pickup also suggests you are using a full day of logistics rather than a short, on-the-fly outing.
You should compare this price only to other packages that bundle all of the basics: transfer, guide-led sessions, and a meal. If a cheaper option cuts out equipment or removes the lunch and transport, the true cost catches up fast.
Who this suits best, and who might rethink it
This is built for certified divers who want two different underwater sessions, guided, with a strong chance of seeing reef animals. It is also described as catering to different levels, including someone doing their first dive after course completion or someone who has done many.
You will likely enjoy it most if you like structure. Two 1-hour sessions with a guide means you get a plan, and you spend your energy on watching, not organizing.
If you hate early starts, or if you are sensitive to long days with limited breaks, you might find the schedule more demanding than you expect. And if you only want a pure underwater day with zero land sightseeing, you may prefer a shorter or more focused option.
Things to check before you go (so your day stays smooth)
Before pickup, make sure you have the essentials listed for the activity:
- Passport (carry your original passport)
- Scuba certification card/license
- Swimwear
- Towel (towels are not included)
- Medical fitness for scuba
Also note what is not included: towels, sunblock, and swimming wear. It’s easy to show up without thinking, then realize you need an extra small purchase. Pack a towel and sunblock to avoid friction, especially since you are outdoors for the sightseeing stops.
Finally, think about what you need on the boat. The operator lists toilet, shower, and indoor seating. Since one participant reported a mismatch with expectations, it is worth asking what will be available on your specific departure. It’s a small question that can save you a lot of stress.
Should you book this package?
I would book it if you want a straightforward, guided day that mixes two different underwater sites with a real meal and a few memorable land stops on the way back. The best reasons are the combination of small group size, strong guiding, and the chance of seeing standout reef animals like turtles, plus macro life like nudibranchs.
I would pause before booking if you are extremely sensitive to onboard comfort details, or if the early pickup and full-day format sounds exhausting. If you do book, message the operator before you go with your must-have onboard comfort questions.
If you are the kind of diver who values good guidance and wants your day to run on schedule, this one fits well.
FAQ
Is this tour only for certified divers?
Yes. The experience is for certified divers, and you are required to carry your scuba certification card or license.
Where does pickup happen?
Pickup and drop-off are offered from Dubai or Fujairah hotels, depending on where you are starting.
What time is pickup?
Pickup time is between 6:00 and 7:00 AM. You receive the exact pickup time one day in advance.
How many underwater sessions are included?
Two guided underwater sessions are included, each listed as 1 hour, at different dive sites.
Is equipment included?
Yes. Scuba diving equipment is included.
Do I get lunch?
Yes. BBQ lunch at the dive center is included, with a lunch break allocated after the second underwater session.
What facilities are available on the boat?
The boat includes a toilet and freshwater shower, plus an indoor salon and a sunbed for tanning.
What should I bring?
Bring your passport, swimwear, towel, and your original scuba certification card or license.
What is not included in the price?
Towels, sunblock, and swimming wear are not included.
What languages are available for the instructor?
Arabic, English, Hebrew, Italian, and Russian are listed as available. The group size is limited to 10 participants.
Reefs and Wrecks We Got Into
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