Wyndham Garden Resort Mirbat

Situated in the southern area of Oman's Dhofar region, the unspoilt coastline of Salalah and Mirbat stretches as far as the eye can see and offers unspoilt sheltered bays to explore in an area steeped in history and heritage, including an important role in the Frankincense route.  Set against the stunning backdrop of deserted beaches and the high Jebel Al Qara rising steeply out of the Dhofar mountain chain, this area offers a level of excitement and adventure hard to find in other destinations so close to home. Around Salalah itself, a surprising level of greenery can be found, with date palms, papaya and banana trees providing a healthy local income.

Shallow dive sites accessed by fast boat extend from Salalah to Mirbat along a 40 km stretch of the coast.  Marine life is typically Indo-Pacific offering a variety of macro life, brain and table corals and schooling fish, having more in common with its far southern neighbours than the Arabian Sea. The water's colour is more blue and visibility generally higher than the dive sites located around the Muscat and Daymaniyat regions, offering a great contrast in marine conditions if twinned with a stay in Muscat or the Daymaniyats.

Due to local prevailing conditions, these dive sites are only open to divers seasonally from October to May. It remains a beautiful area to visit outside of this time, but you are not guaranteed to be able to dive every day though the dive centres remain operational.  From May, the seasonal monsoon creates a phenomenon called the 'khareef', bringing in moisture rich winds turning the beautifully barren desert plateaux and gullies verdant green.

Mirbat & Salalah Dive Sites

Extra Divers run an excellent dive operation from the Wyndham Garden Resort Mirbat set on a remote stretch of coastline around 45 minutes from Salalah. Around 20 dive sites are within 5–15minutes from the hotel jetty. Sites are teeming with marine life, featuring reefs populated by lobsters, rays, octopuses, and large cuttlefish. Divers can also explore two shipwrecks: the Chinese Wreck and the Marriott Wreck, both serving as artificial reefs attracting a multitude of fish schools. Other highlights include turtles, torpedo rays, bluespotted rays, eagle rays and a variety of eels, including the rare dragon moray. The dive sites are suitable for divers of all certification levels, with most spots being relatively shallow, ranging from 20 to 25 meters. The southern region of Oman does not feature steep drop-offs or reefs deeper than 30 meters.

Snorkelling with Dolphins and Whale Watching

Beginning in November, guests can encounter large schools of dolphins on almost daily snorkeling tours to a beach about an hour’s drive away. Here guests may have the chance to observe dolphins in their natural habitat. 

In January to April the area becomes a migratory path for orca and humpback whales, although rarely spotted during a dive it is common to see them from both the day boat and liveaboard.

Marine Life

Nudibranchs, variety of Moray eels, rays, hard corals, cuttlefish, dolphins, 2 small wrecks, tuna, sharks, octopus, snapper, trevally, turtles and the odd Humpback whale!

Kelp!

If you choose to travel to southern Oman at the end of the Khareef period, chances are you will dive among small Kelp forests. Up to 10 metres in height, the giant algae flourish in the cool water thermoclines, providing safe harbour for thousands of juvenile fish.   They can be seen during the summer months, gradually dying out in the latter weeks of September and early October.

Twin Centre Holidays

The Sultanate of Oman is the gateway to the Arabian Gulf and was for thousands of years the focus of the frankincense trade route. An ancient nation of maritime traders, Oman’s empire at one point extended down the East African mainland as far as Zanzibar. Strategically situated between India and Europe, the influence of Oman’s historical trading partners has left its mark on the population, which is both tolerant and cosmopolitan. Arabic is the official language, although English is widely spoken in some areas.

Salalah is the capital of Oman's southern Zufar and Dhofar region. It is often considered to be the ‘second city’ of the Sultanate but is quite small in tourist terms. Salalah is celebrated as the birthplace of the current ruler of Oman, Sultan Qaboos and his palace (now a summer residence), as well as a number of historical sites, are worth a visit.

The whole Dhofar region is famous for both its historical part in the frankincense trade and its khareef (monsoon) which transforms the region into an oasis of verdant pastures.

Salalah makes an ideal twin centre destination and guests visiting might like to extend their stay with a day or two in Muscat.

Dive Packs

Options available include 3 and 5 days dive packages (2 unguided dives per day). Divers with less than 25 logged dives in their log books require a guide, or those requesting a guide, will need to pay a supplement locally. Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.

The centre offers diving from a fast, fibreglass speedboats. Boats typically leave at 8:00 AM for two morning dives and return to the jetty afterward. Afternoon dives can be arranged on request, subject to a minimum number of participants. Most dive sites are just 5 to 15 minutes from the jetty.

Snorkelling with Dolphins

Starting in November, visitors can encounter large schools of dolphins. During the dolphin season, almost daily snorkelling tours are offered to a beach about an hour’s drive away, where guests may have the chance to observe dolphins in their natural habitat. From January to April, Mirbat even offers the opportunity to spot whales or orcas from the dive boat.

Dive Courses

A range of diving courses is available for those looking to learn to dive. Please enquire for details.

Extras in Resort

Add-ons and extras are available in resort, please contact us for full information.

• Equipment rental
• Local marine tax
• Snorkel excursions

Please note, the dive centre is closed seasonally from June 1st to September 30th due to weather conditions.

Getting Around

A small number of taxis are available in Salalah and local 4-wheel drive hire is available. You may organise excursions locally including mountain trips, cycling and hiking.

Climate

Air temperatures at sea level remain fairly high throughout the year, from high 20s to high 30s°C.

The coastal areas have a hot and humid season from May to September (average 32-38°C).

The southern coast of Salalah & Mirbat experiences the 'Khareef' from around June to early October, catching the northern edge of the monsoon winds, which turns a large area in the locality completely green.

From October to April, air temperatures are very pleasant during the day and cool at night.

The annual rainfall in most parts of Oman rarely exceeds 125mm, and generally the weather is good.

Water Temperature

From November to April, average water temperatures vary between 22–26°C, with some thermoclines.

Regaldive recommend divers use a 3mm full wetsuit and a 5mm full wetsuit in the winter months. The full suit is recommended due to the small stinging hydroids prevalent in the Indian and Arabian ocean. Although unlikely to cause any damage, it just makes the dives more comfortable should there be anything in the water and provides protection for the legs and knees during shore dive entries and exits.

A unique feature of Oman’s diving are the number of endemic corals that have learnt to survive in temperatures above their normal temperature range.

Currents and Visibility

Salalah and Mirbat offers something for every level of diver and is an excellent place to learn to dive, with most sites close to shore not experiencing any strong currents.

Visibility is in a range between 10 and 20 metres, with more blue water in comparison to Oman's more northerly destinations. Lower visibility is caused by plankton blooms, which attract greater numbers of fish and marine mammals.

Time

Oman is +4 hours ahead of GMT.

Currency

The Omani Rial

Euros and US Dollars are also widely accepted. We recommend taking some money in cash. ATMs are available in Muscat Airport, Salalah Town and there is an exchange facility in most hotels (though exchange rates are not generally competitive).

Travellers cheques can be cashed in Oman, but please check local banking hours as they tend to be open when you are diving.

Tipping

Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to travellers for personal recognition of the services offered.

If you do not have local notes in small denominations, use foreign USD notes.

Activities

Excursions can be arranged locally for mountains trips, hiking and cycling, or why not hire a 4-wheel drive to discover the coastal area of Muqsahl to the west?

Flight Information

Into Muscat & Salalah: Flights with Oman Air direct into Muscat from London Heathrow. Connecting flights to Salalah from Muscat.

Into Dubai: Flights with Emirates into Dubai non-stop from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle (conditions may apply on certain regional departures).

Departure tax: N/A

Visas

Entry requirements vary from country to country, and it’s important to check the latest visa information well before you travel. Some destinations may allow visa-free entry for a limited period, while others require an eVisa or a visa obtained in advance. To ensure you have the correct documentation for your trip, we recommend checking the official advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or contacting the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

Passports

Before you travel, make sure your passport is valid for the full duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of your destination. Many countries require at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date, while others may have different rules. For the most reliable and up-to-date information, visit the UK Government’s passport guidance or the official travel advice pages for your destination. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

If you’re planning to travel to or via an EU country (with certain exceptions) your UK passport must meet two key requirements, it must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country and it must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.

Vaccinations & Health Advice

Health and vaccination requirements differ depending on where you're travelling. Some destinations may require proof of specific vaccinations or recommend certain precautions to protect your wellbeing.

We’re not qualified to provide you with specific advice on vaccinations and strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare professional before you travel to discuss the inoculations you may need to consider.

For trusted guidance on health and vaccination advice, refer to the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice, Masta Travel Health or Travel Health Pro websites.