Comments on: Scuba diving in wilderness waters of Oman http://www.dailyscubadiving.com/scuba-diving-in-oman/ Blog about Underwater Life and Scuba Diving Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:56:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Neil Murphy http://www.dailyscubadiving.com/scuba-diving-in-oman/comment-page-1/#comment-1376 Neil Murphy Sat, 15 Jan 2011 07:22:31 +0000 http://www.dailyscubadiving.com/?p=678#comment-1376 Indeed Oman is a rare jewel to be found and experienced. However, a dive trip to Oman could never be completed without a trip up into Oman`s Musandam area. The Musandam is an enclave of Oman separated by the UAE. It is on the northern tip of the Arabian peninsula that juts out into the Straits of Hormuz. Described amongst people who have dived as the Norway of Arabia with its fjords and described underwater as the "the last frontier of diving." Over 900 species inhabit these waters and makes the biodiversity of the Red Sea look like a small aquarium in comparison. Live aboard dhow cruises are the most popular method of exploring this incredibly rich ecosystem. Up in the Musandam, people use their fish guides to find what they did not see instead of the other way around. Whale sharks, dolphins, bull, hammerhead, grey reef, blacktip and zebra sharks, sea horse, cuttlefish, schools of barracuda, yellow fin tuna and barracuda proliferate in these waters amongst all the usual tropical and temperate species encountered elsewhere. The talk amongst those in the know is that it will become the next Red Sea. For those of us that have had the privilege of experiencing this unique wilderness, it is almost a catch 22 for us as we would never begrudge another fellow underwater enthusiast from experiencing this treasure trove and at the same time we would love to keep as our special and unique secret. There are quite a few operators in the Dibba, Oman area that specialize in dhow and dive trips, my personal recommendation would be a company called Sheesa Beach Travel and Tourism, their fleet of 6 dhows and 3 fast, efficient speedboats are immaculate and the staff from the dhows and dive centre are world class professionals. They also have a traditional date plantation camp that one can camp in with really comfortable tented accomodation, a magic fire pit for gossiping around to end off a truly memorable diving experience. Indeed Oman is a rare jewel to be found and experienced. However, a dive trip to Oman could never be completed without a trip up into Oman`s Musandam area. The Musandam is an enclave of Oman separated by the UAE. It is on the northern tip of the Arabian peninsula that juts out into the Straits of Hormuz. Described amongst people who have dived as the Norway of Arabia with its fjords and described underwater as the “the last frontier of diving.” Over 900 species inhabit these waters and makes the biodiversity of the Red Sea look like a small aquarium in comparison.

Live aboard dhow cruises are the most popular method of exploring this incredibly rich ecosystem. Up in the Musandam, people use their fish guides to find what they did not see instead of the other way around. Whale sharks, dolphins, bull, hammerhead, grey reef, blacktip and zebra sharks, sea horse, cuttlefish, schools of barracuda, yellow fin tuna and barracuda proliferate in these waters amongst all the usual tropical and temperate species encountered elsewhere.

The talk amongst those in the know is that it will become the next Red Sea. For those of us that have had the privilege of experiencing this unique wilderness, it is almost a catch 22 for us as we would never begrudge another fellow underwater enthusiast from experiencing this treasure trove and at the same time we would love to keep as our special and unique secret.

There are quite a few operators in the Dibba, Oman area that specialize in dhow and dive trips, my personal recommendation would be a company called Sheesa Beach Travel and Tourism, their fleet of 6 dhows and 3 fast, efficient speedboats are immaculate and the staff from the dhows and dive centre are world class professionals. They also have a traditional date plantation camp that one can camp in with really comfortable tented accomodation, a magic fire pit for gossiping around to end off a truly memorable diving experience.

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