Oman: Snorkelling in the Ad Dimaniyat Islands

There's only one place you should go if you want to go snorkelling in Oman and that's the Ad Dimaniyat Islands. Located northwest of Muscat, what you're going to be able to do and see there depends on what time of year you're in Oman. 

We were in Oman April into May, but went snorkelling in May which meant that we were unable to land on the islands. That's because between May and October sea turtles use the beaches for their nesting eggs so it makes sense that humans are barred from setting foot on those white sands. 

 

But, you might have guessed it, that means there's a chance you'll see sea turtles on your snorkelling trip - and we certainly did! If you are lucky enough to see them, please don't chase after them like we saw some tourists do. You can experience their magic without getting too close, believe me. If you're snorkelling between July and September, there's every chance you might see whale sharks - I'm not sure how I feel about that! Their size would scare me a little bit, but it would be cool to see them. 

Trips to the Ad Dimaniyat Islands sail from Al Seeb Port and tend to last 4-5 hours, including either lunch or snacks and refreshments. We booked this trip which cost us £64 each, and it was fab in that we saw lots of tropical fish and sea turtles. However, we did find the boat itself to be a bit busier than expected - we were quite packed on - so do bear that in mind and try and find a group trip with a low amount of passengers. Definitely worth doing though, if you can! x