DIVE INTO OMAN’S HIDDEN DEPTHS
Times News Service
MUSCAT: Oman’s winter season is a great time for those who visit and live in the Sultanate to experience the country’s many marine tourism activities.
Cooler weather, the country’s calm and quiet sea, and its beautiful beaches see Muscat Governorate become a destination for those who want to enjoy swimming, diving, bird and dolphin watching, or for those who like to see the sunrise amidst nature, considered good for camping and recreation.
From Marina Bandar Al Rawdha to the cruise boats, tourists can enjoy beautiful sights of Muscat along the coast, such as the Jalali and Mirani forts and Al Alam Palace. They can then move on to watch dolphins on a trip, which may include swimming, diving or other water sports before docking at Bandar Al Khairan beach to enjoy Arabic dining arrangements and other activities.
These trips vary in time, and occur more during the winter season due to the exceptional weather Muscat enjoys at this time of the year. It is accompanied by a range of services and recreational activities such as rowboats, rubber dinghies, surface swimming, volleyball, football and basketball, which are usually associated with these trips.
As far as diving is concerned, the Sultanate is one of the most famous diving destinations in the region. This is because of its awesome diversity in marine life. It has small islands and bays and caves, which offer varieties of marine life, as well as unique coral reefs. The most important diving areas around Muscat are Al Khairan, Al Fahl Island, Dimaniyat islands, Khaleej Al Maqbarah in Old Muscat and Al Jissah beach. Each of these sites contains at least 11 different diving spots, each of which is diverse in its environment.
Among other marine activities is dolphin watching, just a few kilometres from the Muscat coast. Omani whales and dolphins have about 20 species and the most common dolphin is the Dollar Sandbar, which has a large population of up to several hundreds living in the waters around Muscat. This is why many tours on small boats come to watch these dolphins and their wonderful performances. In view of the huge revenue potential, many companies organise multiple trips to these marine areas.
Said bin Habib Al Rahbi, owner of the Star of Marine Tourism company, said, “The demand for marine tourism in Muscat Governorate was huge, particularly in the winter season. The company has a lot of offers to encourage tourism during this season. The company organises all kinds of marine cruises, which include activities such as dolphin watching, swimming, day-long and overnight trips. This is due to the support given by the authorities concerned of the Sultanate, particularly the Ministry of Tourism.” Mohammed bin Saeed Al Gardani, Chairman of Al Ainain Marine Tourism Company, added, “The company organises tours to Khiran and Dimaniyat Islands, as well as sunset cruises and dinner on the floating restaurant in Muttrah.”
“Maritime tourism is popular during the winter season among Omani citizens,” he said. “The company is particularly known for its first floating restaurant in the Sultanate, which has a huge turnout. When the season is good, there are efforts to attract all segments of Omani society. But the biggest challenges facing marine tourism are the weather and sea waves, which could sometimes cause the cancellation of a trip for the safety of tourists.”
“Government organisations have played a major role in improving the level of tourism through their support to the companies,” added Al Gardani. “We want to provide innovative offers to introduce marine sports and competitions on the islands. These would include competitions of Omani traditional games and modern marine sports. There are also discounts for students and families, as well as special tours for women.”