Dimaniyat Islands Snorkeling: One of Oman’s snorkeling hotspots is the remote archipelago of the Dimaniyat Islands, which lays off Muscat. Its vivid coral reefs, its prolific sea turtle colonies and the frequent visit of whale sharks along its coasts make the Dimaniyat a must for any snorkeling enthusiast visiting Oman.
The Dimaniyat is a remote 9-island archipelago situated about 40 kilometers off Muscat. Booking a boat ride (5-6 hours) is the fastest way to get there. The crossing takes about 1 hour from the Wave Marina, near the airport, from where most boat trips depart. Note: to secure the islands, landing is not permitted in the reserve between May and October.
Dimaniyat islands snorkeling tips
In the Dimaniyat two areas are particularly recommended for snorkeling, both located on the main island:
1. The seagrass beds grow in a small bay located on the main island’s southwest side (zone 1 on the map). It is the ideal place to meet sea turtles, mainly green sea turtles, who are numerous to come to the seagrass beds to eat and rest on.
2. The shallow bay situated on the main island’s northeastern side (zone 2 on map). You can snorkel a coral reef here, composed mainly of hard corals. Coral is wholesome but not very colorful. The reef contains a wide variety of reef fish including Sohal surgeonfish, Red Sea clownfish, Arab butterflyfish, blackspotted rubberlip and Arabian Picasso triggerfish. You might even spot, with a little luck, a moray eel concealed in the reef’s crevices, or an Arab angelfish, perhaps one of the most beautiful fish of the Arab Sea. Turtles are easy to find in the sea, too.
These two spots are the Daymaniyat islands most visited, but there are many other great snorkeling sites scattered throughout the archipelago. It is not uncommon to meet whale sharks when crossing to the islands, which are frequent in Oman ‘s Gulf between May and October. If the sea conditions allow, your guide will allow you to snorkel in the water just below the surface with these fabulous fishes crossing in peace.
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