Diving In Oman: Ultimate List of Best Diving Sites

Oman, known as the ‘Jewel of Arabia’ and famous for its rocky mountains and extensive desserts is also a secret scuba diving paradise. Diving in Oman is a must-do activity for any adventure lover. The diving sites vary from warm shallow waters around the Muscat region to rocky underwater slopes in the Southwest region, each offering a different diving experience altogether with varied species of marine life.

Home to a 3,000km coastline which offers one of the world’s most incredible underwater experiences makes diving in Oman a unique opportunity to witness healthy corals and colorful marine life within the crystal clear waters of the Arabian Ocean. The strategic location of Oman in the south with Strait of Hormuz makes the marine life of Oman nutrient filled with diverse species of fishes and sharks which are not be found anywhere else in the Arabian peninsula.

To help you plan your next diving adventure, here is a list of the best scuba diving sites in Oman waiting to be explored!

Also see: My Ultimate Guide To The Best Beaches In Oman

Note: Diving is a great adventure to do but not at the cost of your health! I highly recommend getting insured by World Nomads (the best Travel Insurance Company) before planning your next dive

Diving Site: Daymaniyat Islands

Location: 70km off the coast of Muscat (30 minutes fast boat ride from Al Mouj Marina, Muscat)

This is my personal favorite and undoubtedly the best diving site in Oman! Daymaniyat Islands is a cluster of nine small islands that is also a UNESCO protected marine nature reserve (Note:  A license is required to visit the islands, therefore, it is only possible to reach there with a licensed tour operator). Daymaniyat Islands are famous for its crystal clear turquoise waters and white sand beaches, as the island features submerged reefs, swim-through caves and incredible marine life close to the surface of the water, which is a paradise for divers diving in Oman.

Leatherback sea turtles are very easy to spot during the hatching season (July to August). Moray eels, giant kingfish, and clownfishes are found here in abundance as well as whale sharks, humpbacks and mantas are also very easy to spot across the island waters. Another highlight of this diving site is high underwater visibility of 20 to 30 meters, which is a treat for any diver. Daymaniyat Islands are an underwater paradise that will give you the adventure of a lifetime.

To Have A Memorable Experience of Diving At The Daymaniyat Islands – Book A Day Trip WIth Mola Mola Diving Center Inclusive of Two Dives & a BBQ Lunch

Diving Site: Bandar Al Khairan

Location: 25km from the Muttrah area in Muscat (15 minutes fast boat ride from Marina Al Rowdha in Sidab, Muscat)

Bandar Al Khairan is the perfect diving site for anyone on a short trip to Muscat. No need to sweat out for booking a trip to the far islands when you have one just in the backyard (not literally though). Bandar Al Khairan is the most scenic island within the Muscat governorate which makes it one of the most popular getaways among the residents and tourists. The way to the island goes through dramatic cuts of naturally standing limestone cliffs in the sea that are cut into beautiful pieces making the passage for boats to pass through. To give a full-fledge diving in Oman experience, Bandar Al Khairan Island offers three scuba diving sites. Al-Munassir, the first site is a wreck dive which has turned into an artificial coral reef and serves as a major source of life for many marine species in the area. Mermaid Cove is another famous diving site on the island which is a rocky bay. Hard colorful corals are easily spotted at this scuba diving site and it offers great underwater visibility. The final diving site on the island is the Seahorse Bay. This scuba diving site is famous for the abundance of moray eels, anemone shrimps and clownfish found here.  Best visibility cannot be promised at this diving site for most of the months due to thick haze clouds formation in the area. Keep reading to know more about the best diving season in Oman.

Diving Site: Al Fahal Island

Location: 4km from Muscat (20 minutes boat-ride away from Ras Al Hamra area in Muscat)

Also known as the ‘Shark Island’, Al Fahal Island is located in the heart of the Capital city of Muscat. It is a great site for snorkeling and scuba diving both and it is a must-go place for anyone who is visiting Muscat and wants to have a quick dive in the Arabian ocean. This limestone rocks island emerged from the sea due to changes in the sea level over the years. The underwater world of Al Fahal Island contains soft and hard corals with schools of colorful fishes which swim in and around the corals making a pleasant site for the divers. Barracudas are very often spotted swimming near the diving bay. If you’re lucky, you can also get the opportunity to swim with the whale sharks that are mostly found lazing at the bottom of the sea. When diving in Oman, you will find quite a few wreck dive sites. The advanced deep-sea divers can opt for an adventurous wreck dive at Al Fahal Island. A tugboat wreck can be found at 30 meters below sea level on the northern side of the island. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, a 40 meters dive can take you to the deep reefs sitting silently at the bottom of the surface.

Diving Site: Musandam – The Caves Island and Lima Rocks

Location: Towards the southern edge of Oman nearing the UAE border.

The Cave Island

Musandam in Oman, also known as the ‘Norway of Arabia’ is widely famous for its dramatic inlets and highly diverse marine life. Separated from the rest of Oman by UAE, Musandam can be a great final diving spot if you’re leaving for Dubai by road. This less populated region is blessed with two of the most unique diving spots in Oman. For advanced level divers, ‘The Caves Island’ offers a challenging yet interesting dive. A cave is visible on the surface of the water at Ras Sannat, which is the main diving spot. Another cave diving spot is Khor Mala, where various caves are found under the water. The erosion from the sea has cut these caves into dramatic shapes and waterways for the marine life to pass through. This site is famous for stingrays and sharks which are usually found resting on the bottom. The cuts in the caves are filled with a shoal of goldfishes and shrimps which hide inside the caves.

Related: Read This Guide About Visiting the Musandam Peninsula With Kids

Lima Rocks

The other famous diving spot is the Lima Rocks in the Dibba area of Musandam governorate. Lima Rocks is a small island of limestone rocks, a plethora of coral and diverse marine life. The limestone rocks on the island are cut into different shapes by sea erosion and have become a home to many small sea creatures like shrimps, crabs and even octopuses which can be seen hiding inside the underwater caves. Advanced diving skills are recommending at this diving site as the currents are usually very high. To get a complete underwater experience of Lima Rocks, divers are advised to dive into deep waters where there are high chances of spotting 2.5m long nurse sharks, devil rays and hard corals. Lima rocks are undoubtedly the lesser known but the most mesmerizing diving spot in Oman.

Diving Site: Dhofar– Khuriya Muriya Islands

Location: 40km of the southeastern coast of Oman (can be accessed through boat rides from the cities of Mirbat and Sadah)

The Dhofar governorate is the southern region of Oman, widely famous for its lush green scenery and dramatic misty weather particularly during the Monsoon season (known as ‘Khareef’ locally). Most of the people exclude the Dhofar region when considering diving in Oman as diving in Dhofar is relatively not very common and only a handful of diving companies operates diving tours around the region. The Khuriya Muriya islands (also known as Al Hallaniyat Islands) are a cluster of five small islands located off the coast of Salalah (capital city of Dhofar governorate) in the province of Shalim. The main attraction of Khuriya Muriya Island is the existence of hard coral and kelp forest grown together due to changes in the water temperatures during summer, which is found only at a few spots in the world. A kelp forest as long as 10m is grown every year during the summer months, which eventually dry off by September. The marine life extensively comprises huge moray eels, parrotfish, and turtles. The island also includes a wreck of the British Ship, which was sunk by the Germans during World War I, which is another highlight of the dive. Khuriya Muriya Islands are an unspoiled beauty and one of great scuba diving sites in Oman with stretches of lonely pristine beaches still waiting to be explored that should be in your list of diving in Oman.

Check out the best places to stay in Oman:  Hotels Combined I Booking.com

Diving Season in Oman

Oman is a hot and humid country which makes diving in Oman possible throughout the year. However, the recommended time is to dive from the month of September to February as the water temperature remains moderate around 25°C to 28°C with visibility up to 10 to 15 meters at most of the major diving sites enhancing the overall dive experience. The months of July to September marks the nesting season of turtles, which increases the chances of spotting it at the Damaniyat Islands and Bandar Al Khairan.

Check out this comprehensive guide of Where to Dive in Oman by Lonely Planet.

During the monsoon season, the sea becomes extremely rough, particularly in the Dhofar governorate so diving or even venturing into the sea during monsoons is highly prohibited in the region. This overview written by PADI about diving in Oman is also a great resource when choosing where to go.

Don’t know what to do next? Check out my complete series of Oman destination guides:

• The Best Hiking Trails In Oman
• 6 Amazing Ways To Spend Winter In Oman
• 10 Amazing Things To Do In Muscat
• Best Day Trips To Take From Muscat

Disclaimer: Some of the links in the article are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. However, I only recommend products and services I trust.

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