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Oman

Introduction

Oman (officially known as the Sultanate of Oman), is an Arab country on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by the United Arab Emirates (northwest), Saudi Arabia (west) and Yemen (southwest). The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the south and east, and by the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. It is in this Gulf of Oman than diving takes place. The most famous area are the Daymaniyat Islands, which lies 15 km off the Batinah Coast and are Oman's only Marine National Nature Reserve.

Travel facts

Calendar

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best period
acceptable period
not recommend
water temperature

Diving type

Destination
easily accessible
easily accessible
bargain destination
bargain destination
Diving level & type
for beginners
for beginners
for advanced divers
for advanced divers
shore diving
shore diving
liveaboard
liveaboard
Diving Characteristics
pelagics
pelagics
lots of fish
lots of fish
lots of corals
lots of corals
interesting underwater scenery
interesting underwater scenery
Other activities
attractive natural spots
attractive natural spots
gastronomy
gastronomy
night life
night life
beach
beach
snorkeling
snorkeling

Map

map

Infrastructures

  • diving center
    Al-Sawadi Beach Resort
    Al-Sawadi Beach Resort (diving center)
    telephone : 968 26795545
    fax : 968 26795535
    address : P.O. Box 747, Postal Code 320, Barka, Sultanate of Oman
    rating : 1 / 4 starsrating : 1 / 4 stars
    comments :
    The diving center is located directly in the hotel. All the equipment is state-of-the-art, including boats and diving gear. Although the staff are friendly and helpful, they are much less efficient when it comes to leaving on time with the boats... For example, we had to wait in one occasion under the sun for up to 45 minutes before boarding, simply because some other customers were late! This lack of seriousness prevents us from recommending this diving center.

  • hotel
    Al-Sawadi Beach Resort
    Al-Sawadi Beach Resort (hotel)
    telephone : 968 26795545
    fax : 968 26795535
    address : P.O. Box 747, Postal Code 320, Barka, Sultanate of Oman
    rating : 2 / 4 starsrating : 2 / 4 stars
    comments :
    Located 90 km from the capital Muscat, and 50 minutes from the airport, through a highway lined up with trees. The hotel is luxurious and well-managed, and the rooms are scattered around an immense flower garden close to the sea. The tides are high and swimming is only possible at certain times. Fortunately, the hotel has a large swimming pool as well as a jacuzzi. A tennis court with lights at night, as well as squash and fitness facilities, are available to hotel guests. As the hotel is isolated, it is hence best to rent a car for sightseeing and excursions in Muscat and the surrounding villages. If you'd like to go for a walk during low tide, you can safely reach a small hill dominated by a castle in 30 minutes, from which there is a superb view.

    Despite all this, it's hard to feel really at home in this establishment, as the service being not really efficient. If you're a woman, the feeling is also rather unpleasant...

Diving Sites

  • rating : 4.0
    Al Fish Rock
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 20 m
    description :
    Dive in the open sea, 700 meters from the nearest island. Walls ranging from 8 to 20 meters, with a zebra shark lying on the sandy bottom (over 2.5 meters long). Schools of trevally and platax, as well as various reef fish, mostly at 8-10 meters. Also three eagle rays, but above all the presence, just below the surface, of thousands of jellyfish which, fortunately, are not stinging.

  • rating : 4.0
    Zebra Corner
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 6-14 m
    description :
    Next to the beach of a small island, a shallow dive site on a sandy slope. Large coral patties covered with mostly soft corals, although a few hard ones are also present. All look healthy. Among the fauna, we were particularly impressed by a 2-meter-long zebra shark (beige-green in color, seen through a school of lutjans), as well as a veritable wall of hundreds of small jellyfish. Also two turtles, but above all the presence of schools of hundreds of fish - one of the largest concentrations we've seen to date!

  • rating : 3.0
    Aztec Reef
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 17 m
    description :
    Behind the largest island, a dive site open to the ocean. The current is stronger than on the other sites, and the water temperature is also a little colder. Magnificent relief, accentuated by the presence of mostly soft coral. Lots of reef fish - and jellyfish on the surface. An eagle ray, a turtle lying in the coral and large lobsters.

  • rating : 3.0
    Barracuda Corner
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 18-20 m
    description :
    Diving near a rock, on a gentle slope alternating coral and sand. The corals are small, mainly brain corals and anemones. The fauna is varied, and in particular we were able to observe numerous schooling reef fish, such as surgeonfish and hogfish. We also saw moray eels, lionfish, a large porcupine, loaches, devilfish, parrotfish and snapper. And lots of lobsters (between 7-10, of imposing size).

  • rating : 3.0
    Dana Island
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 20 m
    description :
    Close to a rock, with a gentle slope on one side and a small wall to the open sea. Beautiful corals, particularly colorful, but rather small... A school of giant cuttlefish, a turtle, a stonefish, lionfish, a black-spotted stingray, lots of moray eels, a porcupine and a pufferfish.

  • rating : 3.0
    Dods Down
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 16 m
    description :
    Wall dive - or rather, mound dive. Shallow site, but particularly fishy, with beautiful corals and lots of anemones. A turtle came towards us and let itself be touched. Moray eels, big lobsters, two stonefish, parrotfish, big tuna and, of course, the usual reef dwellers in schools (angelfish, jacks, snapper).

  • rating : 2.0
    Coral Garden Reef
    rating : 2.0
    depth : 6-12 m
    description :
    A dive site 300 meters from Barracuda Corner, at shallow depth and on a similar topography. However, this site is significantly less attractive due to the presence of dead coral, probably caused by fishermen (remains of nets were observed on multiple spots). A varied fauna was nevertheless seen: anemones, giant starfish (40 cm diameter), cuttlefish (between 5-7), ray, two flatfish and fusiliers.

  • rating : 2.0
    Dana Wall
    rating : 2.0
    depth : 10 m
    description :
    This wall, some 100 metres wide, descends to a depth of 21 metres - after which there is simply a flat sandy bottom. Interestingly, while the water at 6-10 metres is full of fish, there's not much at 18-20 metres! A large porcupine, boxfish, lobster, stonefish and, of course, jellyfish.
    At the end of the dive, the guide led us into the depths. In fact, he was hoping to come across the stingrays that are sometimes found on this site - the previous year, he had seen a hundred of them together! Too bad we didn't meet them, but we made up for it by coming across a school of barracudas at the end of the dive.

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