Oman

Scuba diving in Oman

OMAN DIVING HIGHLIGHTS

INTRO TO OMAN

The Sultanate of Oman is located on the peninsula of the Arabian Sea. It borders the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west, and Yemen in the southwest. With its rich heritage, varied wildlife and friendly people, Oman definitely offers more than just the desert! 

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Diving Information 

Oman Marine Life   

Expect to see a wide variety of soft and hard corals, nudibranchs and reef fish in this area. You'll also have the chance to see numerous whale and dolphin species, turtles, rays and sharks, including whitetip reef sharks, green and hawksbill turtles and even spinner and bottlenose dolphins!  

Diving Conditions

• Water Temperature: Water temperatures range from 19-28°C/66-82°F.
• Visibility: 15-30 m/50-100 feet
• Depth Range: Typical maximum depths range from 20-28m / 66-92 feet

Dive Sites 

Here are some of the best diving spots in Oman:

• 1. Daymaniyat Islands, Muscat – This area circled by coral reefs and is a nature reserve and an important turtle nesting site. You’ll be surrounded by abundant fish and glide over lush coral reefs down to 30 meters/100 feet. Aside from turtles, you'll also see rays and reef sharks.
• 2. Fahal Island, Muscat – This small island offers excellent diving with reefs down to 40 meters/130 feet. Due to frequent sightings of sharks on the adjacent sandbanks, people also call it Shark Island.
• 3. Bander Khayran, Muscat – While the diving is mostly on shallow coral reefs, the area also features a few drop-offs and one of the best wreck dives in Oman - the Al Munnassir. This 276-foot vessel was sunk by the government as an artificial reef and now lies upright about 100 feet of water. The vessel is now home to giant morays, large schools of snapper and goatfish, turtles and rays.
• 4. Lima Rock, Musandam – You’ll find coral encrusted walls to depths of 20 meters/66 feet along with caves and crevices created by erosion of the limestone substrate. Schools of jack and tuna are common in this area and whale sharks may be seen in the cooler months.
• 5. The Caves, Musandam – This site provides hiding spots for spiny lobster, cleaner shrimp and other creatures from the turtles cruising by. Rays and sharks find perfect daytime resting place at the sandy bottom of the caves.

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Travel Information 

How to Get There 

Virtually all international flights arrive at Muscat International Airport (MCT) in Muscat. There are also a small number of regional international flights to Salalah (SLL), the only other airport in the country. If you fly into Muscat, you can take Oman Air to fly to Salalah. Buses are a cheap and safe option to reach your destination. They travel regularly between Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, Sur and Mizwa.  

How to Dive Oman

There are excellent resorts with dive centers and liveaboards available in Oman.  

Best Time to Dive

Although you can dive year round, the best time to go is from April to October with visibility well over 10 meters. September and October are considered as the 'whale shark season'. The winter months are not the best time to dive as the water temperature falls below 68 degrees F and the visibility can be quite bad.

Topside & Non-Diving Activities

• Historic forts
• Oman's rugged mountains, offering some stunning scenery and great opportunities for driving in dry wadis
• Huge desert dunes
• Nice beaches
• Shopping

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LIVEABOARD AVAILABILITY

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Other Useful Information 

Practical Information

• Currency: Omani Rial (OMR)
• Language: The official language is Arabic but English is widely spoken at resorts
• Main Airport Code: MCT
• Time Zone: UTC+4
• Electricity: 240 volts, 50Hz

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