OMAN LIVEABOARD DIVING

MARINE LIFE IN OMAN

Superb diving all year round with an abundance of sea life. Oman diving is comparable to the Red Sea but with out the crowds. The Daymaniyat Islands are a national park and the authorities are keen on protection of there natural beauty and resources. Diving is relatively easy with light surface conditions, zero to mild currents and generally good to excellent visibility. Sea life from Dolphins, whales including 3 different types of Killer Whale to every type of ray there is. The macro lovers will not be disappointed either with numerous nudibranches, unique anemone fish and shrimps. Ultimately though it is the migrating Whale Shark that is top of all our lists and they can be seen here in the summer months.

BEST DIVE SITES

White sandy beaches fringe the plain to Salalah, in the south of Oman, stretching for miles along the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea. Dive sites at the Hallaniyat Islands are relatively untouched and new sites are being discovered all the time. A fantastic variety of rays, moray eels and nudibranch along with large grouper, turtles and dozens of fish schools can be seen as well as a Portugese wreck. Salalah waters are unusual in that small areas of kelp forests can also be found, especially post Khareef season.

ITINERARY

The dive safaris run from Saturday to Saturday. The first six nights are spent on board, and the last night is spent at the Marriott Hotel Mirbat. On Saturday afternoon, the ship departs from the port of Mirbat. The tour takes you first along the coast until you reach the village of Hasik where you will begin the crossing to the Hallaniyat islands. The first of the islands is reached after a 3-4 hour crossing. Over the next few days you will explore the dive sites are around the five islands. Three to four dives are scheduled each day and some night dives as well. Disembarkation on Friday afternoon at Mirbat harbour. From there you will be transferred to your hotel for the last night, or on to your next destination in Oman. All local agents are working hard to ensure you a smooth process, please do not expect perfection yet. This is a destination for divers with a thirst for adventure and pioneering spirit.

F.A.Q. REGARDING OMAN LIVEABOARDS

Passport&visas: You should be in possession of a full 10-year passport valid for at least 6 months after completion of your journey. It is your responsibility to ensure that your travel documentation including visas and passport are in order and available in good time before travel. The visa can be obtained on arrival at Seeb International Airport, at sea ports and land borders.

Do people speak English there? Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken.

Can I pay by credit card? Credit Cards such as American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Diners Club are widely accepted in shopping areas.

What should I wear? This is a conservative Muslim country so sensitive tourists should avoid shorts, short skirts, tight clothes and tank tops except on a beach. Hair cover is not necessary for women.

What Wetsuit Should I bring? During winter months, the sea temperature drops to 20-25 C° and a 5 mm wetsuit may be necessary. In summer, as the sea temperature rises, a 3 mm wetsuit will suffice.

Will I dive with whales? The best time to dive with Humpback Whales is between November and January.

What is exploration diving? This type of adventure diving takes you to unexplored dive sites. The advantage of this type of diving is that you will visit dive sites that have never been dived before and you can see things that no one else has seen. The disadvantage may be that when exploring new sites, they are not yet mapped, so the presence of marine life may be unpredictable.