Close Encounters
Sharks can come within arm’s reach, making this far more unusual than a standard aquarium visit.
Diving in Dubai Mall Aquarium with Al Boom Diving
Downtown Dubai
Al Boom Diving runs scuba experiences inside the Dubai Mall Aquarium in Downtown Dubai, including shark dives and Shark Walker sessions. Beginners and certified divers can take part, with instructors providing step-by-step guidance and, on some experiences, filming the underwater encounter.
Reputation Score
4.8
★★★★★
278 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Rich Marine Life
The tank gives divers close views of sharks, rays and fish that can be difficult to spot together in the wild.
Family Option
An 8- and 10-year-old pair completed a scuba session, with reviewers praising the patience shown toward children.
Take-Home Media
Some sessions include underwater photos and videos, giving visitors a record of the dive to take away.
Tips for a Better Visit
Allow Time. Build extra time into your visit for the health declarations and other paperwork before the dive.
Check Media. If photos and video matter to you, ask what equipment is being used, as one review criticised older GoPros and low-light results.
Expect Briefing. First-timers should pay close attention to the practice and safety briefing; reviewers found the preparation especially helpful.
Respect Sharks. Keep your hands to yourself around the animals rather than attempting to touch them.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Burj Khalifa - Downtown Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Burj Khalifa - Downtown Dubai, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Tue | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Wed | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Thu | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Sat | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Sun | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
Popular Mentions
Shark dive
The shark dive is the central experience in the reviews, with visitors describing close encounters and careful supervision.
Shark Walker experience
The Shark Walker experience lets visitors approach the aquarium’s sharks with guidance, including support for nervous first-timers.
Shark Walk experience
The Shark Walk experience is described as a helmet-based walk among sharks, with clear instructions and safety supervision.
certified shark tank scuba dive
Certified divers can choose the certified shark tank scuba dive, with reviews highlighting a thorough safety briefing.
Common Concerns
Photo Quality
One visitor found the underwater images average because of low light and older GoPros.
Heavy Paperwork
The pre-dive health declarations felt repetitive to one visitor, who said they signed their name around 20 times.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Al Boom Diving puts you inside the Dubai Mall Aquarium for a close-up marine-life experience rather than a conventional open-water dive. The main draws in the reviews are the shark dive, Shark Walker experience and certified shark tank scuba dive. Visitors describe sharks passing within arm’s reach, alongside rays and unusually close views of fish, while shoppers watch from outside the tank.
You do not need extensive diving experience to consider it. First-time divers say the instructions were clear and that patient supervision helped them feel safe underwater. One family took 8- and 10-year-old boys for a scuba session, and the business description says beginners and certified divers aged 8 and up are welcome.
A useful pre-dive practice session is part of the experience, so listen carefully even if you are excited to get into the water. There are two practical cautions. The paperwork can feel excessive: one reviewer said they signed their name around 20 times for health declarations.
Underwater photos and videos are a memorable extra, but quality may vary; one visitor found footage average because of low light and older GoPros. If the media matters, ask about the equipment before starting. For a genuinely unusual Downtown Dubai activity, the setting itself is the point: you are diving while aquarium visitors look in from the other side of the glass.