A diving cruise in Oman is an adventure as the area is still relatively unknown and diving tourism is fairly new in the region. The Oman Explorer is perfect for those seeking exploration and a cruise ‘off the beaten track’.

The final itinerary is, of course, always dependant upon weather, sea conditions and where the best animal sightings are at any particular time of year

SAMPLE ITINERARY INFORMATION:

The Oman Explorer offers three distinct itineraries; a Best of Muscat cruise, a transition cruise from Muscat to Mirbat, and from November to mid-May she cruises in the south of Oman, around the Hallaniyat Islands operating from Salalah.

Best of Daymaniat Islands:  During the summer and fall, Oman Explorer operates in the central area, in the capital region around Muscat. These tours start and end in Sifah and you’ll spend three days at the Daymaniat Islands, one day in Fahal and one and a half days in Bandar Khayran. Numerous dive sites, for all levels of divers, are located around the 9 islands. The area is a protected nature reserve and features great masses of fish, leopard sharks, lots of turtles, and often, a whale shark or two.  Fahal, a large island near Muscat, offers bays which contain many varieties of hard and soft corals and on the sandy bottom there is a chance to spot sharks and stingrays. The wreck of Al Munassir at Bandar Khayran is also on this route and it’s populated with moray eels, lobsters, many nudibranchs and huge schools of fish.

Hallaniyat Islands:  The Hallaniyats which are probably the most diverse diving area in Oman’s waters. Lots of biodiversity and an abundance of fish. The 5 islands are located in the open ocean with huge schools of fish, a nice wreck, occasional sightings of mantas and mobulas and, with a bit of luck, you will meet the resident population of humpback whales and the huge pods of dolphins on the way back to Mirbat!

Transfer-Cruise Muscat to Mirbat:  At the beginning of the cruise the dive sites of Al Munassir Wreck and Fahal Islands are explore..You’ll then heads southwards along the coast: in 10 days of transit, new and exciting dive sites are often discovered. You’ll mainly encounter different species of smaller rays, leopard sharks and lots of cuttlefish, moray eels, turtles and nudibranchs. The cruise ends with diving the Hallaniyat Islands: humpback whales, pelagic mantas and huge schools of dolphins are not uncommon here.  Also off the coast of Mirbat, the last stop of the crossing, there are beautiful old wrecks and masses of fish.