< Back
THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND OMAN: Diving in the Middle East
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND OMAN
Despite their large coastlines, the UAE and Oman have only taken off as good destinations for diving holidays in recent years. These countries have been popular vacation resorts for many years thanks to the warm winter sunshine that they provide. But now, visitors are realising that in addition to the shopping, the restaurants, the hotels and the desert, there are also some excellent dive sites to discover. The region has dives to suit all abilities, and the sea temperatures are usually warm, reaching 33˚C in the summer. The East Coast of the UAE and Oman are normally considered to have the best diving in the region, with dramatic walls and drop-offs, and an incredible range of marine life, including whale sharks, manta rays and turtles. This is a little known area in the diving world, and the shorelines and reefs are virtually untouched. Night diving here is always rewarding, thanks to the large quantity of phosphorescence present in the water. The West Coast is less popular with divers, because the visibility is not as good. However, on clear days, the coastline around Dubai on the West does have some excellent wrecks to explore, where divers can expect to see rays, turtles, tuna, dolphins, angelfish, barracuda and sea snakes.
UAE and Oman Highlights
Fahal Island in Oman has some amazing dive sites, where divers can enjoy cave swim-throughs and both hard and soft corals in a vibrant range of colours. There is a good range of marine life which makes this a great area for diving, including sharks; dolphins; tuna; barracuda; sting rays; and even occasionally orcas.
Fujairah is the only emirate of the UAE that faces East onto the Gulf of Oman and the Northern Indian Ocean rather than West onto the Persian Gulf. The waters here have an abundance of plankton, which has turned them into a busy feeding ground for many underwater inhabitants, including large marine creatures. The dive sites around this area offer divers a high chance of seeing whale sharks. Martini Rock is one of the most famous dive sites in Fujairah. There are several sandy gullies and the rock is covered with brightly coloured corals, urchins and starfish. Scuba divers can expect to see a wealth of marine life including mackerel, snapper, tuna, barracuda, seahorses, parrotfish, clownfish, lionfish and triggerfish.
Bander Khayran in Oman is a coastal area with fjord-like entrances and lots of small bays. Best known for its fantastic reef diving, the area has lots of dive sites to explore. There is good visibility for diving, and an exciting range of underwater life.
The Daymaniyat Islands offer some of the best diving in the Middle East. This is a string of nine rocky outcroppings as well as lots of smaller rock formations situated off the Batinah Coastline in Oman. The diving here is at quite shallow depths of up to 30 metres, and the currents are generally fairly light. The diving here is coral-intensive, and while there are not as many large schools of fish as some of the other dive areas in Oman, the species on the reef are bursting with colour. Divers will almost certainly see sharks, rays, turtles. Dolphins, whalesharks and even humpback whales are also spotted. The islands are home to an impressive range of marine birds including ospreys, terns and red-billed tropics.
The Musandam peninsula offers some world class coral reef diving. As with a lot of the seawater in Oman, the water is full of plankton, which attracts a diverse range of fish. The region is protected from commercial fishing, meaning that divers will be amazed by the incredible volumes of creatures residing beneath the water. There are over 25 dive sites here, including walls and coral gardens. Whale sharks and rays are commonly seen in these waters. This area is extremely beautiful, making it perfect for an unforgettable diving holiday.
Despite their large coastlines, the UAE and Oman have only taken off as good destinations for diving holidays in recent years. These countries have been popular vacation resorts for many years thanks to the warm winter sunshine that they provide. But now, visitors are realising that in addition to the shopping, the restaurants, the hotels and the desert, there are also some excellent dive sites to discover. The region has dives to suit all abilities, and the sea temperatures are usually warm, reaching 33˚C in the summer. The East Coast of the UAE and Oman are normally considered to have the best diving in the region, with dramatic walls and drop-offs, and an incredible range of marine life, including whale sharks, manta rays and turtles. This is a little known area in the diving world, and the shorelines and reefs are virtually untouched. Night diving here is always rewarding, thanks to the large quantity of phosphorescence present in the water. The West Coast is less popular with divers, because the visibility is not as good. However, on clear days, the coastline around Dubai on the West does have some excellent wrecks to explore, where divers can expect to see rays, turtles, tuna, dolphins, angelfish, barracuda and sea snakes.
UAE and Oman Highlights
Fahal Island in Oman has some amazing dive sites, where divers can enjoy cave swim-throughs and both hard and soft corals in a vibrant range of colours. There is a good range of marine life which makes this a great area for diving, including sharks; dolphins; tuna; barracuda; sting rays; and even occasionally orcas.
Fujairah is the only emirate of the UAE that faces East onto the Gulf of Oman and the Northern Indian Ocean rather than West onto the Persian Gulf. The waters here have an abundance of plankton, which has turned them into a busy feeding ground for many underwater inhabitants, including large marine creatures. The dive sites around this area offer divers a high chance of seeing whale sharks. Martini Rock is one of the most famous dive sites in Fujairah. There are several sandy gullies and the rock is covered with brightly coloured corals, urchins and starfish. Scuba divers can expect to see a wealth of marine life including mackerel, snapper, tuna, barracuda, seahorses, parrotfish, clownfish, lionfish and triggerfish.
Bander Khayran in Oman is a coastal area with fjord-like entrances and lots of small bays. Best known for its fantastic reef diving, the area has lots of dive sites to explore. There is good visibility for diving, and an exciting range of underwater life.
The Daymaniyat Islands offer some of the best diving in the Middle East. This is a string of nine rocky outcroppings as well as lots of smaller rock formations situated off the Batinah Coastline in Oman. The diving here is at quite shallow depths of up to 30 metres, and the currents are generally fairly light. The diving here is coral-intensive, and while there are not as many large schools of fish as some of the other dive areas in Oman, the species on the reef are bursting with colour. Divers will almost certainly see sharks, rays, turtles. Dolphins, whalesharks and even humpback whales are also spotted. The islands are home to an impressive range of marine birds including ospreys, terns and red-billed tropics.
The Musandam peninsula offers some world class coral reef diving. As with a lot of the seawater in Oman, the water is full of plankton, which attracts a diverse range of fish. The region is protected from commercial fishing, meaning that divers will be amazed by the incredible volumes of creatures residing beneath the water. There are over 25 dive sites here, including walls and coral gardens. Whale sharks and rays are commonly seen in these waters. This area is extremely beautiful, making it perfect for an unforgettable diving holiday.
Top diving ideas
-
Challenging dive sites
Take your diving to new levels - discover the world's most difficult diving -
-
-
