By
Hasan Kamoonpuri — Of the 60 diving sites in Muscat Governorate,
Daymaniyat Islands archipelago, a group of nine uninhabited Islands,
can be singled out as the largest area of outstanding beauty and
natural scenery in Oman. Known for its pristine corals, diversity of
marine life with whale-sharks and leopard sharks as regular
visitors, Daymaniyat Islands are popular during the New Year and
winter season.
Daymaniyat Islands are set to emerge as the regional hub for diving
and other water sports. Since the best time to enjoy scuba diving,
snorkelling and dolphin watching trips in Oman are November through
January there is a beeline of tourists, including local visitors, at
the Daymaniyat Islands nowadays.
With nine islands and a sanctuary for migrating birds, Daymaniyat is
a Nature Reserve under the protection of the Ministry of Environment
and Climate Affairs for the past 16 years. Located about 18
kilometres off the Batinah coast, these islands offer excellent
off-shore diving opportunities, says Keith Holt, Director, Global
Scuba. Some tourists who come in groups like to go in for camping
trips on various islands, dolphin watching, game fishing, and other
sea tours.
Global Scuba, which specialises in diving at the Daymaniyat Islands,
the jewel in the crown of the dive sites in Oman and the GCC, says
the diving is spectacular with 12 diving sites offering magnificent
gardens, reefs and walls of 110 species
of coral of which 10 per cent are unique to Oman. The marine life is
very rich with 280 species of fish — such as large pelagiacs, manta
and sting rays, leopard shark, turtles and not forgetting the whale
shark, which is a frequent visitor. The sea off the Islands are also
a paradise for those who enjoy snorkelling.
Daymaniyat is one of the few sites which is full of colour with its
never ending soft coral, pastenague rays, moray eels, diodons and
leopard shark dozing on a bed of white sand. A unique feature of
Daymaniyat is that tourists can enjoy regular sightings of five of
the seven known species of turtles. Another distinctive feature is
that it offers several unique spots which are outstanding tourist
destinations.
Garden of Eden, a popular spot at Daymaniyat, is known for its
unique landscape with enormous blocks of soft coral — orange, purple
and yellow — in a multitude of shades. The leopard sharks like to
“stroll” around the garden and welcome the company of the whale
shark!
June Daymaniyat, another exciting spot is a big draw for tourists
because of its tables of coral, soft corals and schools of multi-coloured
fish. The site, which is a further 10 minutes away, is the best
opportunity to sight the whale shark during summer time,.
Noodle Daymaniyat, an equally attractive site, is the favourite spot
for the
leopard sharks to take their siesta and if you are likely to miss
them then there is the magnificent scenery to savour. It is a
popular rendezvous for rays, turtles, bee nest moray eels to get
together and it is a delight for the eyes, says Monique Borlée of
Global Scuba.
The Aquarium at Daymaniyat is the pearl of the Daymaniyat Islands
where one can find and see a vast array of fish, and corals. At
times there are so many fish that it is difficult to see the
magnificent under water scenery. Schools of crabs, vivananeaux, bat
fish, (who will follow you throughout the dive) barracudas, and
trigger fish with red teeth make the site all the more attractive.
Rays are enormous — eagle and stingray; turtles, leopard sharks,
moray eels, scorpion fish, guitar sharks and in summer the whale
shark is a regular visitor. If they are at home you can meet the sea
horses, says Keith Holt.
Hayut Daymaniyat, which is a wall going down to about 20 metres, is
known for an abundance of purple soft corals. For the bee-nest
morays this as a meeting place. It will be a good idea to take your
torch with you, there are a lot of overhangs where the rays and lion
fish are hiding.
The Turtle City at the Daymaniyat is not deep, so diving here is
ideal for beginners.
The coral garden is spread out like a carpet. Large marine turtles
are very common as are the bat fish. If you are lucky the leopard
shark will keep you company with small manta rays.
Ever since its inception in 2003, Global Scuba has seen a steady
rise in tourists going in for water sports in Oman, which includes
boating, diving, snorkelling, surfing, donut and banana rides, water
skiing, knee-boarding, turtle watching, caving, or just plain
kayaking at the beaches.
A tourist from Iran who recently visited Daymaniyat Islands, said
it’s underwater scenery features stunning rock falls, picturesque
walls and reefs festooned with colourful array of coral and tropical
fish. Its shallow bay dives and deep wall dives attract both the new
and experienced divers.
The Daymaniyat Islands, about 17-km offshore, support extensive reef
development. Daymaniyat reefs are typically dominated by a few
genera, but at some sites where the assemblage is mixed, coral
diversity is known to be high. Daymaniyat reefs provide a diverse
habitat and feeding gro
unds
for commercially important fish and a high potential value to Oman’s
tourism industry, says Monique Borlée.
Most tourists accept that the islands of Daymaniyat are
exceptionally beautiful. They are a treasure trove of nature’s gift
of beauty.
The diving here is the best in the Middle East and the variety of
sea life is considered by many divers to be richer than that found
in the Red Sea.
Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve, located in Wilayat Al Seeb in the
Muscat Governorate and Wilayat Barka in Al Batinah South
Governorate, is a big attraction for tourists. It is spread over 100
hectares (247 acres) and is composed of nine islands.
The reserve features pristine beaches on which the white sands are
caressed by the sea’s crystal blue waters. This reserve has a rich
natural heritage and is replete with several kinds of coral reefs,
including some examples that are quite rare. The island is home to a
large number of sea turtles that lay their eggs and nest there, as
well as a magnet for migratory and indigenous birds.
— Pictures by Global Scuba
