OMAN SCUBA DIVING

Long know as the hermit of the Middle East, the Sultanate of Oman is slowly emerging from the shell. Oman is quite different from the other Gulf States. Indeed, occupying the south-eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula it, technically, is not Gulf country at all.

In contrast to the vast desert wasteland of Saudi Arabia or the tiny city-states of the Gulf, Oman is a land of dramatic mountains and long unspoiled beaches. Its capital, Muscat, does not have the nouveau-riche feel that typifies much of the rest of the Gulf.

During the 17 th, 18 th and 19 th centuries Oman was an imperial power which vied first with Portugal and later with Britain for influence in the Gulf, the Indian Ocean and along the coasts of India and East Africa.

Tourism is still a new concept for the Omanis and the country has taken a cautious approach to its development. In many ways Oman remains the most traditional country in the Gulf.

SCUBA DIVING IN OMAN

The seas of the Sultanate of Oman occupy an isolated corner of the Indian Ocean, where some of the world’s most varied and biologically productive waters are found. In the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, vast open-ocean plains, canyons and trenches of extreme depth abruptly meet the coastline forming underwater cliffs several kilometres high. This contrasts with the gently sloping continental shelf of the Arabian Gulf and northern Gulf of Oman and has resulted in a great diversity of marine habitats.

Daymaniyat Islands
The Daymaniyat Islands are the jewels in the crown for diving in the Gulf of Oman. These tiny islands lie about 18 km off the Batinah Coast and are Oman's only marine National Reserve protected by UNESCO since 20 years. Diving here is spectacular. Coral reefs cover up to 70% of the dive sites seabed with more than a hundred and fifty different species of soft and hard coral. Marine life is abundant varying from sting -rays, occasional turtles, moray eels, Leopard sharks, etc and on rare occasions the whale shark.

Fahal Island
Fahal is a Rock Island located 4 km offshore from Muscat's popular tourist beach. It takes fifteen minutes by boat from our Dive Centre. Smaller in area than Bandar Khairan it offers equally excellent diving, with bays containing different types of hard and soft coral. For the more adventurous divers there is a cave swim-through and a wreck at 30 meters to the north of the island.

Sharks can be often found basking on the sandbanks.

OMAN DIVE CENTRE AND RESORT

The Oman Dive Center is the oldest dive center of Oman; Founded in 1989 it has had numerous changes. Since 2004 the Oman Dive Center is managed by Extra-Divers worldwide and transformed into the only "eco dive resort' of Oman. In fact the only one in the Middle East. Located in a private cove on the edge of a large lagoon Accommodation can be provided in traditional Barasti beach huts, walk from your door into the warm lagoon in approx 20 paces! The Barasti huts are all en-suite and air-conditioned.

Terraced restaurant with beach view, beach bar with oriental corner, swimming pool and private beach are the facilities available.

All dive sites are all within easy reach of the Oman Dive Centre, the closest only 3 minutes away and the furthest a mere one and a half hours boat drive.
The Oman Dive Center is a spacious and fully equipped dive center with a custom build diving pool, Nitrox fills and a large collection of rental dive equipment.

At present there are 4 custom build diving boats and a bigger fifth boat is on the way. The instructors speak 11 languages and in most of these languages the dive course material is available.

CLIMATE IN OMAN

Its varied geography means Oman has a wide variety of climatic conditions. Muscat is fiercely hot and humid from mid-March until October and pleasantly warm from October to March. Indeed, during June unwavering humidity and average day-to-day 31-38°C (88-100°F) temperatures make for seriously dangerous conditions. In the southern Salalah area, humid weather with temperatures approaching 30°C (90°F) is common even in December. Unlike the predominantly dry northern region, the Salalah area gets drenched by monsoon.

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