Oman
Daymaniyat Islands
Hawksbill turtles nest among nine islands whose coral reads clear from the surface.
The boat anchors over coral close enough to the surface to read, and nothing on it is touched. The nine islands stay low and pale behind, closed to landings from May to October so the hawksbills that nest in early summer are left alone.
The Daymaniyat Islands lie low off the Muscat coast, nine islands of pale rock over coral gardens clear enough to read from the surface. The whole group is a nature reserve: hawksbill turtles dig their nests here from May to July, and landings close from May to October so the islands are left to them. Licensed boats carry the Environment Authority permit and the day, with snorkel and dive sites picked to the sea. Nothing is touched underwater, which is the reserve working as designed.
Couple
A boat day with the crossing, the reef and lunch on deck built in; the crew picks the anchorage and the two of you take the water at your own pace.
Friends
Snorkellers and divers share the same boat here, so a mixed group gets one day out with the site matched to each ability.
- Hawksbill turtles nest here from May to July, and landings close from May to October to protect them.
- Coral gardens sit in clear water a short crossing from the Muscat coast, inside a nature reserve.
- Entry runs on an Environment Authority permit, which the licensed boat operators fold into the trip.
- Snorkelling, diving and kayaking all run from the boats, with the site picked to the day's sea.
Full-day boats grill a barbecue lunch aboard between snorkel stops, with refreshments through the day.
Back at the marina, Muscat's fish restaurants finish the day the reserve began.
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