Spearfishing in Dubai ???

Well, spring is here, finally. Kinda boring without the sea, without diving. After sitting around all winter, I decided to join a group of spearfishers from the Vodolaz radio forum who were planning a trip to the UAE.

Flying far would've been pricey, and Dubai is right here next to us. But I was really itching to dive. So I went for it - though I wasn't hoping for anything special, having seen the reports of earlier hunters.

A ticket at a ridiculous price of 175 manat (there and back) opened up for us not just shopping Dubai. But also the beaches and the Persian Gulf from the underwater side.

On the very first day, on a tip from a local (now local - formerly Ukrainian spearfisher), I took a Pampano of 8.5 kg practically off the beach. Underwater visibility left a lot to be desired - 3-3.5 m, water temperature pretty comfortable at 22 degrees through the whole water column. No point dragging along my 7 mm suit - didn't even get it wet. The fish were moving in a school of 5, I picked a bigger one and made a good shot, stunning the fish. There were a couple more passes, apparently by the same little school. But there was already enough for the frying pan - so after swimming around for another half hour and not getting anything trophy-sized, fish on the shoulder and back to the hotel with the guys.

The next day, driving further along the coast, we dove off a cape. But no luck - it was too shallow there for big fish. And then the Russian spearfishers showed up, and boat trips further from shore to the sunken ships paid off - everyone shot some fish. Barracudas, groupers, trevallies of quite decent size and other small critters inhabiting the wrecks were a treat for the eyes. Here, of course, it was more fun in terms of fish, and the water was clearer too.

But the most successful and unforgettable trip was to an artificial island, built up by one of the sheikhs for one of his commercial projects (a gigantic job done). Knocking together a kilometre-long island at a depth of 24 m. And so, at 5:30 we're on site. During the 1.5-hour ride we froze pretty good, and while pulling on my suit there was just one thought - DO I NEED THIS. But after an hour of hunting, our happy faces were shouting without words - YES WE DO.

Taking a Rob Allen 140 gun and all the gear for trophy hunting on the trip, I wondered if I'd overdone it. As it turned out, not for nothing - the direct connection of the shaft via the line to the float and the slip tip kept the fish from getting away. Murky water, on the drop I see a mackerel heading off, just a huge mackerel, shot.... hit it at the end of range in the lower part of the belly. The slip tip held the fish, Alex came over, dove under and secured the Kingfish with a 2nd shaft. It came in at 27 kg.

The trip was a success - thanks to Alex Suslin for bringing us together from different countries for this adventure.

Managed to film a few things - enjoy watching

http://youtu.be/5HapnGLQY9A