The town of Salalah, known as the "perfume capital of Arabia", is situated in the Dhofar region, in the southern part of Oman.
This area is the only one directly exposed to the South East monsoon which creates an ideal micro-climate for lush green vegetation, spectacular waterfalls that make it a real tropical paradise, in contrasts with the neighboring barren Empty Quarter Desert. Baobab trees, coconut cultivation, all the vegetation remind the African one.
Salalah represents the perfect balance of a glorious past and the modernity splendor: the ruins witness to its past prosperity, whereas every street of its modern part reflects the progress and the achievements of Oman. The vestiges of past ages enchant tourists and bring them back to another time. There are three archeological sites and traces of an ancient wall and fort.
Salalah has not only picturesque ruins to offer: the natural attractions of the nearby mountains and abundant stands offrankincensetrees, many landscaped gardens and parks, make the city a favoured resort for tourists.
DIVING AND SEALIFE
After a return into a glorious past through the ruins and after the enchantment of the nature, it’s time to enjoy the beautiful beaches and the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean.
This region is perfect for diving holiday, especially during the cold European winter. The season for diving Salalah is October – May. The other half of the year the southeast monsoon (Khareef) brings rain and unsettled conditions. The temperature of the water is most of the year at 23-24 degrees.
As most of the dive site are shallow (max. 15 meters), this area is great for divers that are looking for long relaxed dives with lots to see and to photograph. Diving is pretty much undiscovered here and therefore the corals are absolutely beautiful and pristine. Marine life is typically Indo-Pacific offering a variety of macro life, and schooling fish; you could often see turtles, giant morays, all kind of sting rays. There are also three wrecks at a max. depth of 10 meters. The wrecks have been there for more than 100 years and therefore fully overgrown by corals.
Extra Divers run an excellent dive operation from two bases; one based at the Mirbat Marriot set on a remote stretch of coastline, and the other at the Salalah Crowne Plaza, close to Salalah town itself. Many of the potential sites accessed by boat are yet to be discovered, offering something for the more adventurous experienced diver, as most diving has been conducted from the shore until this point.
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