Tommi,
In addition to me (in Abu Dhabi), there are about 5 Inspiration divers in Dubai and 5 KISS divers in Abu Dhabi. Plus/minus 1-2 to the total count since it is an ex-pat community so people leave/come all the time.
There is 1 BSAC dive club in each city: Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah (north of Dubai) with multiple boats (i.e. usually 2-3 per club) that dive regularly on each week-end.
There are a number of dive centers that could take you out diving in Abu Dhabi (~2-3), Dubai (~4-5) and the East coast of UAE: Fujeirah (1) and Khorfakkan (3-4). Plus dive stores in each city selling OC/recreational gears.
However...
- There is NO dive store that stocks dive sorb. Scuba-Dubai could order for you at a premium price, and will take time.
- There is ONLY Scuba-Dubai that will do O2 fills. Not sure if they have booster.
- There is NO dive store that rent Rebreather tanks.
But...
- The Rebreather guys in Abu Dhabi / Dubai will be glad to help out with the O2 fills if you join their club for very small nominal fee.
- With the same club, you will be able to go out on their boats as well.
- With the Dubai club, if qualified, you could join us on the weekly trimix dives on the East coast ranging from 72 to 110m wrecks.
- The recreational dives will be max at 30m since it is the deepest wreck around before the 72m wreck. Except for one wreck going from 25 to 85m, but not dived weekly.
So my advices are:
- Bring your own sorb. As much as you can. If you leave early, the local Rebreather guys will be more than happy to buy them off your hands.
- If you want to borrow my 2 x 3L AL tanks that could be set-up inverted or right-up for the duration of your visit, you are welcomed to them. A small "gift" of sorb in exchange would be greatly appreciated, but not necessary.
- Water will be warm, so you could count on longer sorb duration than your coldwater environment - if you want to estimate the amount needed.
- Leave your drysuit unless you are going to be here during the Winter months and be diving deep. Otherwise a skin/3mm for Summer and 3/5mm for Winter is adequate. For your reference, I get cold easily so I use 3mm in Summer, 5mm in Fall and TLS-350 during December/January.
Anything else that I missed, just ask...
I have my own set-up to be completely self-sufficient (i.e. sorb, gas, compressor, booster, tanks, etc) so I don't rely on any of the dive store, and I just join a few guys from Dubai on the trimix dives on the week-end diving off the East coast. So I don't know any more details about the dive store, but could get you hooked up with people who do.
.