Oman

Daymaniyat Islands

The Daymaniyat Islands are Oman’s only Marine National Nature Reserve and a diver’s paradise. This group of 9 uninhabited islands forms a chain stretching from East to West for 20 km and is home to dreamlike coral gardens with hard and soft coral. Visitors include bull sharks, leopard sharks, turtles, dolphins, tuna, jacks and swarms of small fish. The north side of the islands is for diving with rock faces and shelves going to a depth of 30 meters, the south side has beautiful shallow reefs that are outstanding for snorkelers.

Sea	Gulf of Oman (Arabian Sea)
Number of Dive Site	20
Experience Level	Beginner – Advanced
Depth	5 – 40 m
Visibility	10 – 30 m
Currents	Can be strong
Surface Conditions	Usually calm, but can be rough
Water Temperature	23 – 30
Good For	Big and small animals, reef life, walls
Number of Days	4 days
Available	Resorts, and day trips
Best Time to Go	Year Round

Mussandam Peninsula

Far north of Muscat bordering the UAE, the Mussandam peninsula is the most northerly province of Oman and marks the entrance to the Arabian Gulf via the Straits of Hormuz. Huge cliffs form a fjord like land and seascapes, which define the coastline, providing a dramatic backdrop both above and below water. Mussandam is recognized for its exhilarating drift diving due to these fjords squeezing the water through the narrow passages formed by the cliffs. Coral encrusted drop offs plunge to great depths and the swift currents attract many pelagic visitors and plankton feeders such as manta rays, whalesharks, eagle rays and the occasional sunfish.

Sea	Gulf of Oman (Arabian Sea)
Number of Dive Site	25
Experience Level	Beginner – Advanced
Depth	5 – 40 m
Visibility	5 – 20 m
Currents	Can be strong
Surface Conditions	Usually calm, but can be rough
Water Temperature	22 – 30
Good For	Big and small animals, reef life, walls, drift dives
Number of Days	4 days
Available	Resorts, and day trips
Best Time to Go	Year Round