Blogs
Broadening Horizons: Incredible Oman
The team from dive tour operator Sea to Sky head to Oman to experience diving with the vast variety of marine life on offer there….
As tour operators specializing in diving holidays, it’s integral for us to personally explore and visit our suppliers worldwide. This ensures that we can provide our guests with authentic feedback and firsthand experiences both above and below the water, aiming to tailor the perfect trip for them.
Our recent diving adventure took us beyond the familiar Egyptian, Indonesian, or Maldivian waters, leading us to the enchanting Musandam peninsula in Oman. While this journey marked a new discovery for Jeremy, it served as a rediscovery for me, harking back to a visit almost seven years ago.
The serendipitous introduction to Musandam occurred during a business trip to Abu Dhabi. Extending my stay to indulge in some diving, I instantly fell in love with the place and made numerous return visits until the closure of the Extra Divers diving center. However, staying connected with local friends revealed that Bader had established his own diving center, sparking our interest in a week-long exploration.
Nestled at the tip of the Strait of Hormuz, often referred to as the Norway of the Middle East for its fjords, the Musandam peninsula boasts a dramatic coastline. Situated opposite Iran and part of Oman, it stands separated from the main Oman state by the surrounding UAE.
Approaching the main town, Khasab, the landscape unfolded with majestic cliffs of basalt and sand dramatically meeting the azure sea. Khasab itself seemed to emerge seamlessly from the rocky cliffs. Our stay at the Atana Musandam, a boutique hotel with elegant rooms, two restaurants, a pool, and a spa, provided a comfortable haven. The breakfast spread, featuring a delightful mix of hot and cold options, local and continental fare, along with fresh fruit and coffee, became a delightful start to our days.
While the main restaurant at Atana was popular, we opted to immerse ourselves in the authentic Khasab experience by sampling local restaurants. Armed with insider tips, we explored places like Al Shamalya, offering Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. The menu featured a range of options, with standout items like paneer curry, grilled chicken, and delectable paratha. Exploring the local Uber app, Otaxi, for transport added to our independence, with journeys costing around 1.5 OMR. We also dined at Pakistani and Yemeni restaurants, each offering unique culinary delights.
Khasab doesn’t lack options for necessities, thanks to a massive LuLu supermarket conveniently located across from the hotel. However, one notable absence was alcoholic drinks in Khasab’s restaurants, making it necessary to rely on duty-free allowances if desiring a discreet drink. Respecting local customs and laws, we enjoyed the warmth and hospitality of the Omani and Indian population, immersing ourselves in the food, culture, and lifestyle.
Now, let’s hear from Jeremy about his initial impressions of the underwater wonders in Musandam:
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed diving in Musandam. The ease of diving was impressive, and what stood out to me was the incredible variety, quantity, and diversity of marine life. Nudibranches and pipefish were abundant, and the friendly turtles and enormous batfish made each dive unforgettable. The coral diversity was equally impressive, varying from site to site and with depth. Abu Rashid dives with its lilac soft coral carpet and thrilling drift, along with Pipi Beach, stood out. While we didn’t encounter pelagic species, we did spot eagle rays splashing at the surface from the boat.”
Having dived in the peninsula multiple times before, I noted the unusual calm conditions on this occasion. Better visibility and stronger currents added adrenaline to our dives. May, in particular, boasts an abundance of leopard sharks on the lookout for mates. My past encounters with mola mola, grey and black tip sharks, and the diverse array of rays and lobsters have made Musandam a paradise for underwater enthusiasts.
The dives cater to every level of experience, providing different but equally unforgettable adventures depending on conditions. Our journey to Musandam wasn’t just about exploring the beauty of the underwater world; it was a well-rounded exploration that intertwined with the richness of local culture and cuisine.
We are delighted to have Musandam Discovery as a supplier, and their partnership has thrived for over a year now. Sea to Sky has exclusive rights worldwide for groups of six or more, and the feedback from a group of UK divers on our Trustpilot is nothing short of 5-star excellence.
Solo travellers have also relished the hospitality of Khasab, particularly from Lauren, Shihab, and Bader. Don’t just take my word for it — go and experience it yourself and revel in the beauty of Musandam Discovery and Khasab.
For more information about diving in Oman, visit www.myseatosky.co.uk/diving-oman.
Join Sea to Sky and embark on new diving adventures! Visit www.myseatosky.co.uk for more information.
As National Safe Boating Week approaches, Save the Manatee® Club is urging boaters, and anyone that enjoys Florida’s waterways, to respect and protect the defenseless manatees that inhabit our shared waterways. From May 18 to 24, leading up to Memorial Day Weekend, the campaign aims to raise awareness about recreational boating safety and the importance of safeguarding imperiled manatees during the summer boating season. This week also emphasizes the importance of encouraging boaters to enroll in a boating safety course.
Manatees are semi-migratory marine mammals that are commonly found in shallow estuaries, bays, rivers, canals, and coastal areas throughout Florida and neighboring states. With some manatees venturing as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts, collisions between these gentle giants and watercraft have become distressingly frequent. Boat propellers and high-speed collisions pose significant threats to manatees, often resulting in severe injuries or even death.
Save the Manatee Club is calling on all water enthusiasts to follow essential manatee safety tips to ensure the well-being of the imperiled manatee:
- Obey Speed Zone Signs: Familiarize yourself with and adhere to posted speed limits to prevent collisions with manatees.
- Reduce Glare with Polarized Sunglasses: Wear polarized sunglasses to enhance visibility and spot manatees below the water’s surface.
- Recognize Manatee Signs: Learn to identify signs of manatees in the area, such as swirls or flat spots on the water caused by their movements.
- Respect Manatee Sanctuaries: Keep a safe distance from posted manatee sanctuaries and avoid pursuing or harassing these marine mammals, as it is illegal and can disrupt their natural behaviors.
- Report Distressed Manatees: In Florida, promptly report distressed, injured, tagged, or orphaned manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). Outside of Florida, report sightings to the appropriate state agency or rescue organization. A list of agencies to contact is available at savethemanatee.org/report.
- Protect Seagrass Beds: Avoid boating over seagrass beds and shallow areas where manatees may be feeding. Stick to deep water channels while remaining vigilant, as manatees also utilize these channels during their travels.
- Dispose of Fishing Line Responsibly: Anglers should properly dispose of or recycle used fishing line to prevent entanglement hazards for manatees.
“Each year, National Safe Boating Week provides an excellent reminder for all of us to be aware that we share our waterways with vulnerable manatees,” emphasized Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist and Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club. “With the recent Unusual Mortality Event on Florida’s East Coast claiming an alarming number of manatees’ lives, it is more crucial than ever to prevent preventable deaths caused by watercraft collisions. By following manatee-safe boating guidelines, such as obeying speed zones and remaining vigilant for manatees, everyone on the water can contribute to the protection of these gentle giants.”
Save the Manatee Club offers a range of free materials to help safeguard manatees and raise awareness about manatee-safe boating practices. Shoreline property owners and park or marina managers can order aluminum dock signs to alert others about the presence of manatees in their areas. Boaters and paddlers can request packets containing a safety tips card, a waterproof boat banner, and a decal to display on their vessels, providing the number to report manatees in distress. To view and request these materials, visit savethemanatee.org/resources. Save the Manatee Club will also be hosting a live webinar for National Safe Boating Week on Tuesday, May 21st at 6pm EST. To register, visit savethemanatee.org/register.
Shells of the World: A Natural History by M.G. Harasewych
Shells of the world is a guide to the world of marine, shelled molluscs. And what a varied and interesting world it is. Some of my favourite things to find on a dive are detailed in this book, including disco clams (or Electric File Clams as they are correctly names), the cephalopods, giant clams and sea hares. There are also many on my wish list, top of which is the Nautilus.
Each chapter provides a detailed description of the species, along with beautiful images. You can dive deeper and discover where they live, both with global distribution and the habitat they prefer. Learn about their diet, reproduction and diversity.
Having dipped in and out of this lovely book over the past few weeks, it has inspired me to learn more about this group of animals that we see on most divers, wherever we are in the world. Some of the shells are incredibly intricate and beautiful. I have always agreed with never collecting, or touching, marine life. The description of a certain set of cone shells should be a warning to those that are happy to pick up marine life! One of the cone shells has a local name called the cigarette snail. Why? Because once the venom is in your system from this animal, you only have time to smoke one cigarette before the affects of the venom are fatal!
What the publisher says:
Mollusks are invertebrate animals with a remarkable natural history and a rich fossil record, and their shells are prized for their breathtaking variety and exquisite beauty. Shells of the World provides a wide-ranging look at the incredible diversity of marine mollusks. An informative introduction outlines the lineages covered, followed by a directory section, split into classes, that profiles a broad selection of different taxa to give a sense of their sheer numbers and variety.
- Features hundreds of beautiful color photos, depicting both the live animals and their shells
- Discusses mollusk evolution, anatomy, life cycles, behavior, and ecology
- Describes unique characteristics, distribution, habitat, and size
- Provides valuable insights into the conservation of the world’s marine mollusks
- Ideal for malacologists and shell collectors everywhere
About the Author:
M. G. Harasewych is research zoologist emeritus and former curator in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is the author (with Fabio Moretzsohn) of The Book of Shells: A Life-Size Guide to Identifying and Classifying Six Hundred Seashells.
Book Details
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Hardcover
Price: £25
ISBN: 9780691248271
Published: 9th April, 2024
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