BY Kamakshi Gupta

The construction boom is threatening the existence of dive sites in Dubai, a diving tour operator said.

According to Stephanie Davies, owner of Scuba Dubai, there are barely any dive sites remaining off Dubai, and the ones that exist are far off the shore.

"Dubai never had too many natural dive sites, but the ongoing construction has meant that many existing wrecks have also been removed," she said.

Artificial reefs

"While construction is important for the future of Dubai, developers should create artificial reefs in surrounding areas to recreate a habitat for marine life," Davies added.

The process is not complicated.

"Once a ship is sunk, within 24 hours fish come to the area, and in one year a thriving marine community is formed," she said. Corals, however, take more than a decade to form.

Although creating artificial dive sites is an alternative, John Burt, a marine biologist and lecturer at Zayed University, said it can never mimic the same marine organisms and fish.

Besides creating artificial reefs, relocating existing ones away from construction sites is another alternative.

"A coral should be moved only when the construction will directly impact the dive site and there is no other alternative," Burt said.

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