Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Diving In Oman

The sultanate of Oman on the Southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula has a long coastline formed by the Arabian Sea on the Southeast and the Gulf of Oman on the Northeast. With such a vast coastline, Oman has an exotic marine life and some of the world’s best diving sites. Diving in Oman forms a major attraction for tourists from all over the globe. The most striking feature is the coral reefs of Oman that provide a spectacular aquatic experience to the tourists.

Some of the most beautiful coral reefs sites of Oman are located in Muscat area, Damaniyat Islands, Bandar Jissah, Bandar Khayran, Fahal Islands, Barr al Hikman,Masirah Islands, Dhofar and Musandam .

Besides the coral reefs, there is a wide variety of fish and aquatic fauna that make diving in Oman a popular leisure travel activity. Sensitive to the fact that Oman has many endangered species of marine life, the government is doing all it can to protect its marine wild life. Divers and snorkelers are attracted to marine parks where the marine life is fully protected and can be experienced in all its glory.

There are many dive centers in Muscat, the capital of Oman and other popular diving sites like Musandam, Salalah and Mirbat. There are many tour operators that arrange diving expeditions for you. It is not necessary for you be a professional diver. There are instructors and guides who ensure that you are safe and are able to fully enjoy the dive. More often than not, the groups have a mix of amateur and professional divers. Using state of the art equipment, every precautionary measure is taken to ensure the safety of the divers. Besides the diving, these tour operators offer other excursions like bird watching, whale and dolphin watching, turtle watching, exotic animal watching, camel racing, horse riding, etc, and other sporting activities like trekking, hiking, sailing and a number of water sports, and dune bashing.

The government of Oman also plays a vital role in popularizing the diving sites. Fully aware that some of the diving sites in Oman house endangered species, it is taking all measures to protect its marine life. Almost all diving sites are free of commercial fishing and they also discourage spear fishing. Oman is member of many international environmental bodies that help it maintain the richness of its vast coastline and the aquatic life it harbors. This sensitivity towards protecting its marine life coupled with world-class facilities make diving in Oman a major tourist activity, and in turn making Oman a popular leisure travel destination.

No comments:

Post a Comment