Best time for scuba diving in Oman
Oman is a year-round diving destination. Depending on where you want to dive in Oman, you can go scuba diving at any time. Diving in Muscat is possible at any time of year. If you want to dive in Salalah and Mirbat, it’s best to avoid June to September as the Khareef, a seasonal monsoon, appears at that time. This Arabian landscape is turned into a lush green oasis but the diving stops for a few months. The conditions are too rough for diving boats to go out.
When it comes to diving in Muscat, it’s best between May and October. Conditions are at their calmest and water temperature ranges from 25°C to 30°C. Visibility can be above 10 meters at this time. During the summer, the outside air temperature may be too hot for some, reaching well over 40°C. The extreme heat can make visiting Oman during these months a challenge. Strong winds during summer can affect visibility. The water drops to 18°C in winter and rises to 30°C in summer.
In September and October, whale sharks can be spotted around Daymaniyat Islands and Al Fahal Island. During the winter months, December to February, water temperature is usually between 18°C and 25°C. The water clarity is usually the best during this time. As you can see, there are some trade-offs to be made when deciding on the best time of year to dive in Oman.
For those wanting warmer water, outside air temperature will also be very hot. During winter, water temperature drops but there are fewer divers during this time. One thing is for certain, no matter what time of year you decide to visit Oman, you won’t be disappointed.
5 types of sharks you can dive with in Oman
5 types of sharks you can dive with in Oman
Diving with sharks is an amazing experience. Most sharks are scared of humans and will swim away as soon as they see us. You can spot up to 10 species of sharks around Oman but let’s take a look at some of the most popular:
Blacktip Reef Shark
The blacktip reef shark is a very skittish shark which poses no threat to humans. They can range from 1 to 3 meters in length. One of the most popular sharks to see while diving in Oman, you can find them at Seahorse Bay in Bandar Khayran and throughout the dive sites at Daymaniyat Islands.
Whitetip Reef Shark
The whitetip reef shark is the most common shark to be found around the Arabian Gulf. You can usually spot them resting in caves. These sharks hunt at night so during the day, it's easy to find them resting in dark places. Average length is roughly 1.25 meters.
Zebra Shark
Zebra sharks, otherwise known as Leopard sharks, live at Daymaniyat Islands. They are truly beautiful, with a long slender body, and an equally long tail. You can find them while resting on a sandy bottom. Leopard sharks eat clams, fish eggs, and shrimp and pose no threat to humans.
Whale Shark
Whale sharks are actually not whales at all and are actually a type of filter-feeder shark. From July to September, it’s common to find whale sharks at Daymaniyat Islands and Al Fahal Island. You can spot them while diving and snorkeling as they use their mouths to filter plankton from the water and remain close to the surface.
Oman Bullhead Shark
The Oman Bullhead Shark lives around the central coast of Oman and Pakistan. The average length is 56cm. The chance of seeing an Oman Bullhead Shark while diving is very rare, but some divers have reported spotting these majestic sharks during a dive. Sadly, they caught as bycatch by fisherman and as a result, their population is significantly declining.
Seeing a shark during a dive is an exhilarating experience for even the most accomplished diver. So what are you waiting for? Book your dives today.
When is Whale Shark Season in Oman?
When can i see Whale Shark in Oman?
It’s time to start thinking about your next holiday escape during one of Oman’s most thrilling seasons for adventure seekers, scuba divers, and water lovers:
Whale Shark season in Oman!
Whale sharks are unquestionably the most powerful fish in the ocean, with the largest reaching 12 meters in length and weighing up to 20 tons. (This implies they’re not just the world’s largest fish, but also the world’s largest vertebrates, with the exception of great whales.) Despite their enormous size, whale sharks are perfectly harmless to humans; they are filter feeders, and sieve small plankton from the water.
Where can I see Whale sharks in Oman
Daymaniyat Islands is one of the best spots in Oman for whale shark snorkeling and diving.
That’s because the gigantic fish congregate in large numbers along Muscats coastline every summer Whaleshark season is between September to November.
The sharks and their pups migrate south to the warmer waters of the southern hemisphere in search of many fish eggs, shrimp, copepods, and other little morsels. During this period, there is a very good chance of an encounter.
Swimming and snorkeling with Whale sharks
The Daymaniyat Islands and Al Fahal Island:
are two of the most well-known places in Oman for seeing the gentle giants up close. At Aura Divers, we provide you with an opportunity to get closeup and swim amongst the Whale sharks , which is as close to a miraculous experience as you can get in the ocean. Whale sharks are awe-inspiring creatures, not just because of their size, but also because of their elegance and beauty: with their wedge-shaped heads, muscular tails, and exquisite markings, they’re truly magnificent creatures.
Our boat dock at Al Mouj Marina makes it a great starting point for the whale-shark excursion because of its proximity to the Daymaniyat Islands. Spend the day communing with these magnificent fish, then reflect on your adventure in in one of the Marinas many restaurants and walkways Book a whale shark trip with us for the summer fun—we’ll take care of the rest.
