Muscat

Muscat is a great base from which to explore Oman and offers a variety of diving opportunities both out of the city itself, and from the resorts which are located further down the coast to the south of the capital, stretching as far as Jebel Sifah. The diving here is characteristic of Omani waters: plankton-rich, which attracts large fish stocks and pelagics, but means visibility is usually around 10m. Stunning coral-covered walls and a general lack of current means plenty of time to spot marine life including lots of turtles, rays, various shark species and the occasional whale shark.

The Daymaniyat Islands

The Daymaniyat Islands helped place Oman on the world dive map. This string of offshore islands north of Muscat has been placed under the protection of UNESCO and provides divers with pristine coral gardens, walls, leopard sharks and abundant fish life. The best diving conditions are found in the area from April to October due to the wind direction and better clarity in the water, plus, June to September are the best months to have the chance to encounter whale sharks.  Water temperature varies due to the thermoclines by drops and rises of +/- 8 centigrade from surface to depth.

Fahal Islands

The Fahal Islands, which are situated north of Muscat are around 40 minutes by boat from Bandar Al Rhowda marina.  The reefs offer some of the most beautiful reefs and abundant diverse coral coverage to be found in Oman. Of the 39 genera of corals that have been found in the Muscat area, almost all occur at Fahal Island, on three nearby rock pinnacles which range in depth from 17 to 35m. 

There are two small wrecks, which draw a large amount of marine life, including the occasional black tip reef shark, various rays and turtles.

Bandar Khairan

Bandar Khairan is an area of outstanding beauty, boasting rocky outcrops, deserted beaches and small islands such as Ras Abu Dawud that are only accessible by boat. The underwater scenery is similarly dramatic with picturesque walls and reefs festooned with healthy finger and fan corals in purples and green, teeming with marine life. The shallow, sheltered dives of Bandar Jissa, which are great to dive in all conditions, afford lovely, simple night diving experiences. Bhandar Khairan is an area where turtles breed so turtles can be seen on nearly every dive.

Al Munassir Wreck

In 2003 the Al Munassir, a 3000 tonne vessel, was sunk at Bandar Khairan and is beginning to develop into a beautiful artificial reef dive. Although relatively new, this wreck is already smothered in corals and home to plenty of marine life. Easily accessible, the Al Munassir lies at 26m with her top at just 8m.

RAS aBU DAUD

Exclusively visited by divers heading out from Jebel Sifah, this site features a rugged topography with colourful corals and nudibranch plus of large shoals of pelagic fish species. In addition it's home to the Mimosa wreck, lying in just 14 metres of water.

Twin Centre & tours

Muscat and Jebel Sifah are perfect bases to extend your holiday time to include local sightseeing, desert adventures or a even a twin-centre visit to Mirbat in Oman's south (late October to early May only).

Clients booked in the Shangri La resort dive with Extra Divers - Qantab
Clients booked in the Sifawy Boutique Hotel dive with Extra Divers - Sifah
Clients booked in Barcelo Mussanah dive with SeaOman (Oman Sail)

The dive centres are located a distance from each other, so if you have a strong preference for one or the other this should be stated at the time of booking. It is more convenient for you to take the dive centre at your accommodation. 

Euro Divers - Bandar Al Rowdha

Euro Divers is based at Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Oman's premium marina near Al Bustian, Muscat. The marina has a fully licensed restaurant, bar and swimming pool.

The diving boats leave directly from the marina, taking 6 to 12 divers. Nitrox (32%) is offered for those already qualified at a small charge and a free refresher dive is offered at the Capital Area Yacht Club beach or Marina pool. Two dives are conducted in the morning, returning around 2pm, except for special trips. 

Diving is usually at Bandar Khairan area in the south of Muscat, where there are lots of fantastic dive sites & you can see lots of beautiful marine life such as lovely reef fishes, morays, sting rays sometimes, lion fish, cuttlefishes & perhaps some turtles. There is a nice wreck called the Al Munassir which lies at 30 meters down where schools of fish can be found on the decks.

Sometimes, there are visits to the Fahal Islands, which are in the north part of Muscat. At least 2 times each week, trips are organised to the Daymaniyat Islands, which is a national park. A supplement of 8 OMR is charged and 3 dives are usually offered.

Repeat guests of Euro Divers can have one dive free of charge for every five days package purchased on presentation of their logbook with the Euro Divers stamp.

Dive Packs

Options available at Euro Divers include 3, 5 and 6 days boat diving packages (two boat dives per day).  Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.

EXTRAS IN RESORT

Prices listed below are an indication only, and subject to change.

• Environmental tax:  OMR 3 per person per day
• Daymaniyat Islands: OMR 8 per trip
• Nitrox 32%:  OMR 3.5 per fill
• Night Dive: OMR 10 (excludes dive torch)
• Third dive: OMR 15
• PADI Course manual: OMR 25
• PADI Certification fee: OMR 25
• Euro Divers logbook: OMR 2
• Dolphin watching trip: OMR 16 per person
• Dolphin watching / snorkelling trip:  OMR 22 per person (equipment not included)

Equipment rental - 1 days:

• Full kit incl. computer:  OMR 20
• Regulator:  OMR 5
• BCD: OMR 5
• Wetsuit:  OMR 5
• Mask, snorkel & fins:  OMR 6
• Computer:  OMR 5

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Extra Divers - Qantab

Extra Divers run the dive centre in Qantab, based in the marina at the impressive Shangri La hotel complex along the coast, south of Muscat. The dive centre can offer PADI, SSI and CMAS instruction and offers the chance to discover many spectacular and unspoiled dive sites.  

Managed by a professional team, the dive centre provides quality training and instruction in several languages.  Extra Divers has two dive boats just a few steps away from the dive centre, a shop, underwater camera rental and equipment rental, diving with 12l Aluminium tanks with DIN & Int. fittings, and nitrox facilities.

Extra Divers also offer night dives on request, payable locally.

Dive Packs

Options available include 3 and 5 days diving packages (2 unguided dives per day, shore or boat). 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.

EXTRAS IN RESORT

Prices listed below are an indication only, and subject to change.

• Local marine tax:  OMR 4 per day
• Snorkel excursions:  OMR 20 (minimum of 2 persons)

Equipment rental - per day, payable locally:

• Full kit incl. computer:  OMR 15
• Regulator:  OMR 3.5
• BCD:  OMR 3.5
• Wetsuit:  OMR 3.5
• Mask, snorkel & fins:  OMR 4
• Dive torch:  OMR 5.5
• Computer:  OMR 3.5
• Private Guide:  OMR 15 per dive
• Private Guide: OMR 25 per dive trip (two dives)
• Nitrox: OMR 2 per fill

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Extra Divers - Sifah

Extra Divers operate the dive centre at the Sifawy Boutique Hotel in the luxurious Jebel Sifah Resort development. The dive centre can offer PADI, SSI and CMAS instruction and shares many dive sites in the Bandar Khairan area with its sister dive centre Extra Divers Qantab to the north. Boat diving is available from the marina on a two dives a day basis and the dive centre offers a shop, underwater camera rental and equipment rental, and diving with 12l Aluminium tanks with DIN & Int. fittings. Nitrox is available for suitably qualified divers.

Extra Divers also offer night dives on request, payable locally.

Dive Packs

Options available include 3 and 5 days diving packages (2 unguided dives per day, shore or boat). 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.

EXTRAS IN RESORT

Prices listed below are an indication only, and subject to change.

• Local marine tax:  OMR 4 per day
• Snorkel excursions:  OMR 20 (minimum of 2 persons)

Equipment rental - per day, payable locally:

• Full kit incl. computer:  OMR 15
• Regulator:  OMR 4
• BCD:  OMR 4
• Wetsuit:  OMR 4
• Mask, snorkel & fins:  OMR 5
• Dive torch:  OMR 4
• Computer (compulsory):  OMR 4
• Guide: OMR 2.5 per dive compulsory with less than 25 dives

Seaoman dive (oman sail) - BARCELO mussaNah

SeaOman run the dive centre at the Barcelo Mussanah Resort. The dive centre offers PADI courses as well as boat diving, allowing divers to discover the many spectacular and unspoiled dive sites of the Daymaniyat islands.  

Boat diving is offered to a range of dive sites. The proximity of the centre to the famous sites at the Daymaniyat islands make this an ideal base for exploring these sites. The Damaniyat islands’ large unspoiled reefs host a wealth of sea life unparalleled in the region. On average, the exotic waters around Oman offer a wonderful visibility of 20 to 30 metres.

Shallow coral reefs teem with around 1,300 - 1,500 different species; leatherback sea turtles paddle just beneath the surface, and you may even be lucky enough to observe the magnificent whale shark in season. Considered to be ‘the’ Damaniyat islands dive specialists, SeaOman's PADI certified instructors and divemasters have in-depth knowledge of each one of its 29 dive sites, ensuring that each trip into Oman’s underwater paradise feels like the adventure of a lifetime.

Day boats depart around 08.00 and return around 14.00 with travelling time to the Daymaniyat Islands around 1 hour. Diver’s with accessibility needs are catered for here. Nitrox is available.

Dive Packs

Options available include 3, 4, 5 and 6 days boat diving packages (two guided dives per day). Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.

EXTRAS IN RESORT

Prices listed below are an indication only, and subject to change.

• Snorkelling trip: OMR 30

Equipment rental - per day, payable locally:

• Full kit including computer:  OMR 15
• Regulator:  OMR 5
• BCD:  OMR 5
• Wetsuit:  OMR 5
• Dive torch:  OMR 4
• Computer (compulsory):  OMR 3

DIVE COURSES

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

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.

Muscat features a historical waterfront and small but interesting souk area, located near the Royal Palace. Other activities include desert safaris, exotic bird watching and rock climbing which may be arranged locally.  For a more modern look at Omani way of life, visit one of the larger shopping malls the Middle East is well known for, on the outskirts of northern Muscat where the locals hang out over strong cups of coffee.

Getting Around

Local taxis can easily be arranged from any of the resorts by your hotel reception to any of the main areas in Muscat.

Climate

Temperatures remain high throughout the year.  The coastal areas have a hot and humid season from May to September (average 32-40°C). The humidity during the hottest months can affect air visibility. From October to April air temperatures are 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 sit around 22°C, with some thermoclines. Over the summer, temperatures can rise to 26°C with some colder currents. A hood is recommended in the winter months and a 5mm wetsuit all year round.

A full suit is recommended due to the small stinging hydroids prevalent in the Indian and Arabian ocean. Although unlikely to cause any damage, it makes the dives more comfortable should there be anything in the water.

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

Muscat and Mirbat/Salalah offer something for every level of diver and both are excellent options as places to learn to dive.

Muscat: Visibility is in a range between 10 to 20 metres. Reduced visibility in Muscat is caused by plankton blooms, which attract greater numbers of fish and marine mammals. Sightings of Mantas and other pelagic plankton feeders more frequent than the Red Sea because of this.

Mirbat/Salalah: Water in Salalah is typically more blue and slightly clearer, having more in common with its neighbours further south than the Arabian Sea. Average visibility 10 - 20 meters.

Time

Oman is +4 hours ahead of GMT.

Currency

The Omani Rial £1 = 0.5 Rials

United Arab Emirates Dirhams £1 = 5 AED

Sterling and US Dollars are also widely acepted. We recommend taking some money in cash. ATMs are available in Dubai airport and in Khasab town. Major cards are accepted at all hotels.

Travellers cheques can be cashed in Oman, but banks and exchange offices do tend to charge a high exchange rate.

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

Other activities include desert safaris, hiking, exotic bird watching, historical interest forn the Frankincense route and rock climbing. 

If flying with Emirates, stopovers in Dubai are available either your outbound or inbound flight.

Flight Information

Into Muscat & Salalah: Flights with Oman Air and British Airways 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).

Flight Duration: Approx. 7 - 8.5 hours

Departure tax: N/A

Passports & Visas

Please always check your own entry requirements regardless of your nationality. Your passport should always have at least 6 months validity on date of return travel. Always check for last minute changes in entry requirements. Nationalities other than British citizens should check with their own consular office.

British passport holders can enter Oman for up to 14 days without a visa. If you wish to stay for longer than 14 day you can either apply for a visa online before departure or obtain one on arrival. For information can be found on the FCO website, Entry to Oman.

Vaccinations

Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.  For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic or GP.  Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.  There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to Oman, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio.

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