If you have dived in Musandam, Oman before, please share your experiences: Dive spots you would recommend, which Dive Center you used, Fishes & Diving, Visibility, Currents, etc. Please post your comments in the section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next trip
There are over 25 dive sites; most of the sites are reef dives. The spots are accessible for divers of all levels, although there are drift dives more suitable for experienced divers.
There is a wide variety of soft and hard corals (raspberry corals, purple whip corals, acroporas, brain corals), a good variety of pelagics ( green turtles, marbles sting ray spotted eagle ray, king fish, king barracuda, obtuse barracuda and more) and there are regular encounters with whale sharks from 3m to 8m.
The macro life offers photographers a fascinating experience with plenty of nudibranchs, cleaner shrimps, thor shrimps, box shrimp and much more.
Sometimes due to the tides, the current can be strong and it is highly recommended to have a reef hook and an SMB when diving in the Musandam.
There are usually 2 to 3 dives planned per day and some operators offer lunch on the day trips.
Average Cost:
The average price in the region for an open water course is 1800AED if you do an e-learning course ( 1 usd= 3.68 aed).
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Musandam, Oman.
Table of contents
Best time to dive in Musandam, Oman
Diving is possible all year round:
- The best season to dive is from September til the end of January and from May til September.
- From June to the end of august the temperatures are very high but diving is still very popular among the residents as it is one of the few activities where you can experience the outdoors. Nice thermoclines cool off the water.
- The top months for diving in the region is October through to December when the temperatures outside cool down to a comfortable 28 degrees.
- Whale Shark season is between May to October.
- The weather can get windy and choppy in February and March.
Being on the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance of gulf means there is a rich water teeming with plankton, so this does affect visibility. However it also means that the location is thriving with life.
One thing that can be said is that the visibility is very unpredictable and can range between 5 meters to 20 meters visibility from one day to another or even from one dive to the other so do check the conditions. The tides also strongly affect the visibility.
Top liveaboards in Indian Ocean & Musandam according to divers reviews
Scuba Diving conditions
Current: it can be calm or fierce dependent on tides and of course the lunar cycle, however there are sites that are largely out of the way of very strong currents, so a dive trip is rarely cancelled due to current, you will simply move to a different location within the Musandam.
Average Visibility: 10-15 m
Average water temperature: 25 degrees Celcius.
Depth range: 0 – 40m (and beyond).
Snorkelling in Musandam, Oman
All dive sites are accessible to snorkellers. Snorkellers can see a wide variety of corals soft and hard (raspberry corals, purple whip corals, acraporas, brain corals) as well as several reef sharks (grey and black tips) eagle rays, green turtles. Snorkellers are welcome on the speed boat trips.
Diving Safety
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Musandam, Oman, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Many thanks to the wonderful people at Discover Nomad for the amazing review and the pictures.
Photos Musandam, Oman
Travel Guide
Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Musandam, Oman Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.
Diving Reviews for this region
Seychelles
Seychelles offers pristine dive sites in a relaxed laid back destination.
Indian Ocean
Many tropical Islands to discover with some of the most beautiful beaches in the World and great Scuba Diving Spots!
Dive spots reviews in Indian Ocean & Musandam
Liveaboard Reviews in Indian Ocean & Musandam
MV Galatea
The Seychelles islands are a magical place to visit and dive and there are few better ways to tour the area and experience it’s blue waters and stunning reefs than the MV Galatea. Sometimes known as the ‘jewel of the Indian Ocean’, the Seychelles are a
MY Lucy
The stunning, 37 meters, MY Lucy is a unique luxury liveaboard sailing from Djibouti! Built in the past few years and launched in 2015, Lucy is a rare liveaboard vessel discovering the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean. Indeed, it promises uncrowded
SY Sea Bird
Silhouette Cruises, based in the Seychelles, were founded in 1997. With their fleet of sailing vessels they offer some of the most stylish, elegant and comfortable ways to enjoy a cruise of wonderful islands of the Seychelles. SY Sea Bird is one of the
SY Sea Star
SY Sea Star. Sleek. Luxurious. She is owned by Silhouette Cruises, based in the Seychelles, who were founded in 1997. They offer some of the most satisfying ways to enjoy an adventure cruising the wonderful islands of the Seychelles – the ‘jewel of the
Brown Dhow
The Brown Dhow is a liveaboard offering scuba diving cruises and day trips to the Musandam Peninsula in Oman. The 22 meters traditional dive vessel is part of the Al Marsa fleet and has been around since 2005. . Boat Cabin & Layout The Brown Dhow w
Oman Aggressor
The 45 meters Oman Aggressor is the newest liveaboard boat of the world-renowned Aggressor Fleet. Indeed, as of November 2017, the Oman Aggressor will be a new and interesting destination in the Middle East. The dive yacht proposes 4 itineraries to dis
SY Sea Shell
Silhouette Cruises, based in the Seychelles, were founded in 1997. Unlike many of the more ‘modern’ vessels on which you may spend a liveaboard trip, SY Sea Shell and her sister vessels of Silhouette Cruises are traditional sailing vessels. The vessels
SY Sea Pearl
Unlike many of the more ‘modern’ vessels on which you may spend a liveaboard trip, SY Sea Pearl and her sister vessels of Silhouette Cruises are traditional sailing vessels. Silhouette Cruises, based in the Seychelles, were founded in 1997. The vessels
Queen of Musandam
The 24 meters long Queen of Musandam liveaboard operates in Oman and cruises the Musandam Peninsula. The Al Marsa fleet has been sailing and satisfying customers since 1999. The Queen of Musandam is their flagship for the 6-7 nights diving safaris. . B
Red Dhow
The Red Dhow is a liveaboard of the Al Marsa fleet and sails the Musandam peninsula in Oman. The authentic Arabic dive vessel makes 23 meters in length and offers outstanding accommodations to divers who want to discover pristine reefs. . Boat Cabins
Hi,
which dive center do you recommend in Musandam and is which one has the guest house joined to it?
A friend and me are thinking to go diving in September.
Thank you.
Look forward to hearing from you.
BR,
Anne
Hello Anne! You can try Discover Nomad. It is run by a very nice fench guy.
Hi there,
I and my daughter are planning to go for an overnight dhow trip in musandam by the first week of March, I wonder whether it is a good time to do a boat trip and also whether it is a safe trip for a woman and a teenager daughter, only. I’d very much appreciate your feedback. Thank you
Hi Julien,
I’m a diver but also a free diver/snorkeler at heart – do you or any of your contacts know the best places with good snorkeling from the shore in Musandam?
Many thanks,
Marie
I have made a few trips to Musandam diving with Sheesa Beach. Sites have included Lima Rock (North and South), Lima Headland, Octopus Rock, and Ras Maruvi. All these are within a 2 hour boat ride from Dibba. All the sites are good for macro life as well as reef and shoaling fish. Large shoals of barracuda, bat fish, jacks, tuna and sardines are common visitors. It is not unknown to find whale sharks, rays and sun fish at the cleaning station on the exposed eastern end of Lima Rock. Ras Maruvi is brilliant for soft corals (bright oranges and pinks) and long wall with red toothed trigger fish flying along it. Above the water this area is popular with breeding ospreys which are good to watch during a surface interval.