Snoopy Island and Dibba: snorkelling and mountains

Snoopy Island lies just off a beach near Fujairah, named for its profile. The water is clear and the reef at its edges holds colourful fish and sometimes turtles, so hire a mask and snorkel from the beach and swim out. It is calm in winter and spring and can be choppy in summer. Lifeguards are not always present, so be a confident swimmer.

Dibba is a town split across Fujairah, Sharjah and Oman, with a long beach below a wall of mountains. Dive boats leave from here, and the road up the coast offers viewpoints and small villages. Inland, Wadi Wurayah is a protected mountain reserve with a waterfall; access is controlled and conditions change with rainfall, so check before you plan around it.

Go between October and April, with the best sea temperatures in autumn and spring. From Dubai, the drive is about two hours each way, so leave early. Check weather and sea conditions, avoid wadis in rain and pack reef-safe sunscreen. See our Fujairah events guide for how we work there: hotel and ballroom events only.

Swim only if you are confident in open water and never alone. Check the sea state before you go in: the coast can have currents and the water can turn rough with little warning. Use a snorkel vest if you are not a strong swimmer, wear reef-safe sunscreen, do not stand on or touch the coral and keep clear of boat lanes.

Take water, shade and a towel: facilities vary by beach. In the mountains behind the coast, check the forecast before any wadi walk, because rain upstream can flood a dry channel while the sky above you is clear.