A new chartering service gives everyone the chance to see the aquatic Abu Dhabi and learn about the marine life in the capital.
Abu Dhabi’s spanning coastal waters mean it is a special location for marine life. Saadiyat Island is home to turtles and the crystal waters are host to a variety of species of this magnificent creature. Now visitors and residents have a chance to learn about one of Abu Dhabi’s best assets; the sea.
The Park Hyatt’s in-house marine biologist, Arabella Willing, will be guiding local tours of Abu Dhabi’s waterways. The new eco-tours will educate and inform guests while also giving them spectacular views of the marine environment all aboard local charter boats. Arabella will be teaching visitors about the local environment and marine life in and around the city.
‘Spreading awareness is so important, the more people who know and care about the environment the better. The tours are aimed at providing our guests with the opportunity to experience and learn about the fantastic wildlife that can be found here in Abu Dhabi. Saadiyat Beach is amazing, but there are many different ecosystems, we want our guests to be able to explore and make the most of their time in Abu Dhabi,’
Arabella says.
Visitors will learn not only about animals but the importance of the capital’s mangroves and their preservation. ‘The UAE is an extreme place in terms of climate, it can be so hot and dry that there is relatively little growing in most of the country. On average there’s less than two percent vegetation cover. The mangroves on the other hand are thick forests of productivity, supporting hoards of other species above and below the waterline. They improve the water quality, cycle nutrients and, like all green plants, remove carbon dioxide from the air. Their intricate root systems are not only perfect hiding places and nursery grounds for a range of marine organisms, but they help us too by protecting and stabilising the coastline from storm surges, currents and waves. Mangroves are one of the most important and threatened ecosystems on earth,’ Arabella tells us.
Arabella came to Abu Dhabi in June to assist the Park Hyatt with their ecological footprint and preservation on Saadiyat. ‘One of the reasons Saadiyat is so special is its natural beauty; the hawksbill turtles have been nesting here for generations.’
The Park Hyatt eco-tours are being run in partnership with Captain Tony’s, the first eco-conscious boat tour operator in Abu Dhabi. Captain Tony says: ‘The fact that Park Hyatt actually has a full-time, in-house marine biologist demonstrates we’re on the same page when it comes to environmental issues, so it was really a no-brainier teaming up with them. It’ll be a first of a kind in Abu Dhabi and of course, because we promote ourselves as an eco-conscious boat tour operator, it was about time we deliver tours that are not only great fun but also insightful and educational.’
The Dolphin Bay tour is Dhs600 per adult, Dhs400 per child aged six-12, inclusive of refreshments or you can privately charter the tour for Dhs4,800. The Mangroves tour is Dhs400 per adult, Dhs250 per child aged six-12, inclusive of refreshments or you can privately charter the tour for Dhs3,200. www.captaintonys.ae (02 650 7175).
Pick your tour
There are two types of tours available; the Dolphin Bay Tour and the Mangrove Eco Boat Tour.
Dolphin Bay Tour: Duration is three hours, stopping briefly at a mangrove forest for a quick talk by Arabella on the way to Dolphin Bay where everybody will get a chance to swim, snorkel, have a drink and a snack, explore the beautiful surroundings and keep an eye out for the dolphins which usually tend to be around this area.
Mangrove Tour: On this tour guests will be taken on a gentle cruise to a nearby mangrove forest where Arabella will explain about the importance and preservation of mangroves. If the tide is right the operators will allow people to take a walk around the mangroves.
