Turtles, turtles, and more turtles. The Daymaniats are home to many of Turtles, Moray Eels, Rays, Cuttlefish, and at certain times of year Whale Sharks. The nature reserve is a fantastic snorkel and experience off the coast of Muscat, Oman. The islands have some of the world’s remaining pristine corals which is a joy to see when snorkeling.
Pros
Cons
Snorkel Video
Snorkel Snaps
Snorkel Review
Highlights
Coral present
1-4 Meters Average Depth
Very good visibility
East to medium difficulty
No Cafe’s at Islands
Tours approx $80 USD
Sea Urchins Present
Unlikely
When:
Who:
Cost:
Star Rating:
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The Daymaniyat Islands (Daymaniyats), are a group of protected islands situated approximately 69 km (43 m) off the coast of Muscat, Oman, in the Middle East. The protected nature reserve consists of 9 islands. The surrounding crystal clear waters are home to rich coral reef ecosystems, which is host several marine species.
There are snorkeling tour operators that depart from Al Mouj Marina that visit the Daymaniyat islands. Al Mouj is approximately a 25-30 minute drive. From the Al Mouj marina, it is approximately an hour’s boat ride to reach the islands. The tour operators require a permit to anchor in the islands, reducing the volume of tourists and boats.
The Islands are home to incredibly diverse marine life and wildlife which you can encounter on a snorkel trip. The islands are an attraction for its turtle residence, crystal clear waters, and once in a lifetime snorkel experience. Whale Sharks can even inhabit the deeper waters at certain times of the year!
Where is the Daymaniyat Islands?
Located just off the coast of Muscat, Oman, in the Middle East. The Daymaniyat Island Nature Reserve is protected and has been from 1996 and are a collection of islands with many good quality coral reefs. These islands and surrounding waters are a haven for a wide variety of marine life and bird life.
Snorkel Spot
In the shallow coral reef waters, you can normally see many Turtles feeding on the algae and vegetation, often feeding in large groups. You can see large schools of Purple-Grey Parrotfish feeding on the coral leaving clouds of sediment. Further out to the deeper coral you can spot the distinctive Honeycomb Moray Eel hiding in its den with its head poking out. I’ve seen some Moray Eels that have a soccer ball for a head, and up to 2 meters in length.
Spotted Eagle Rays can be seen gliding gracefully into the reef from the deeper sandy shores. These elegant creatures are usually seen cruising at depths of 3-5 meters. Finally at certain snorkel spots, such as Shark Bay, you can see Blacktip Reef Sharks swimming along the sandy channels.
More common reef fish such as the vibrant amber Arabian Butterflyfish, Arabian Surgeonfish, Damselfish, and Moorish Idols.
Vibrant Marine Life
The coral reefs are generally in a high-quality condition, with large patches of the towering boulder coral and colourful stoney coral patches. However there is still signs of coral bleaching with dead coral visible in patches on the sea bed. Very little bleaching on live coral was visible during the several snorkels at the islands.
Staggering Coral Reef
Safety Tip:
Be mindful of your surroundings, and be aware of where the boat or shoreline is. The island’s coast can be rocky and have sharp rocks. There are sea urchins, flippers are recommended to cover your feet and help swim.
During my many trips to the islands, the most popular spot is what the tour operator Daymaniyat Shells call Turtle City. The sheltered bay has an abundance of coral, sea vegetation, and of course, many, many, many turtles! The turtles are here all year round and feed on the vegitation and can bes seen in large numbers feeding. Species vary from the more common Green Turtle, to the rare Hawksbill Turtle, and Olive Ridley Turtle.
Turtles, Turtles, and more Turtles
Top Tip:
Check the wave level before booking a tour, from experience this can affect the water visibility and quality of the snorkel. This is the website I used to check the wave.
Magnificent Whale Sharks
If you visit the Daymaniyat islands September-October you can be lucky enough to see whale sharks feeding off the shore. These giants of the ocean can be seen towards the end of the year between September to November, as they migrate and feed on plankton rich waters. You will need to be on a boat/tour operator as the whale sharks are offshore and can be hard to spot. You can be lucky enough to see Bottlenose Dolphins and Spinner Dolphins on your boat journey off the North Oman coast.
On a specific snorkel trip to the Southern islands of the Daymaniyat Islands, the captain got word of Whale sharks feeding off the coast of Muscat, just off the Daymaniyat Islands. This was during the start of October when these gentle giants are known to feed in the waters off of Muscat, Oman. Whale Sharks are the largest fish in the Ocean, reaching lengths of 12 meters! These creatures are unfortunately Endangered creatures and can be very rare to see. Above was a picture of one of the larger adult Whale Sharks cruising in the deep blue waters.
Summary
Overall the Daymaniyat’s is one of my favourite snorkel locations in the world. It has high quality coral, turtles all year round, Reef sharks, Reef fish, crystal clear waters, and finally Spinner Dolphins and Whale Shark’s in the surrounding waters at certain times of the year. From the several snorkel trips I’ve been on over the years, the Daymaniyat’s is up there.
Tour Guide Options
There are a handful of tour operators running from Al Mouj Marina, which is located a 20 minute taxi journey East of Muscat centre. Check the snorkel operators trip advisor rating and reviews before making a decision, as safety is always a priority.
Best Time Of Year
Towards the end of the year (November-January) it is rare to see whale sharks and algae forms which can affect water visibility.
The best time of year to visit the Daymaniyat Islands are April to May and the end of September to early November. October is probably the best month to see whale sharks.
September and October Whale Sharks usually inhabit waters off of the islands. You can potentially see these giants on your boat trip to and from the Daymaniyat Islands. You will also likely see Green Turtles all year round.
What I Saw
(Seen on multiple trips to Daymaniyat Islands 2018/19/21/22)
| Green Turtle | Hawksbill Turtle |
| Oman Cuttlefish | Honeycomb Moray Eel |
| Blacktip Reef Shark | Starry Pufferfish |
| Picasso Triggerfish | Banded Snake Eel |
| Moorish Idol | Keeltail Needlefish |
| Black Sea Urchin | Clark’s Anemonefish |
| Box Pufferfish | Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray |
| Porcupine Stingray | Arabian Surgeonfish |
| Arabian Butterflyfish | Teira Batfish |
| Sergeant Major Damselfish | Crescent Wrasse |
| Acroporidae Coral | Massive Boulder Coral |
| Brain Coral | Table Coral |
Popular Marine Life
Parrotfish
Green Turtle
Pufferfish
Cowtail Stingray
Arabian Butterflyfish
Arabian Surgeonfish
Blacktip Reef Shark
Picasso Triggerfish
Moorish Idol
Damselfish
Oman Cuttlefish
Honeycomb Moray Eel
Rare Marine Life
Spotted Eagle Ray
Spinner Dolphin
Banded Snake Eel
Whale Shark
Hawksbill Turtle
Black Sea Urchin
Leopard Sharks
Clark’s Anemonefish
Blue Spotted Ribbontail Ray
Batfish
Common Octopus
Reef Mantaray
Coral Reef
Table Coral
Massive Boulder Coral
Brain Coral
Acroporidae Stoney Coral
Frequently Asked Questions
There are tour operators at Al Mouj Marina located 15-20 minutes West of Muscat city center. Travel by boat is the easiest way to get to the Daymaniyat Islands, which takes approximately 45 minutes from the Al Mouj Marina
From our experience, the tours cost approximately $70-$80 for half a day (30 OMR). Usually, the tours include multiple snorkel locations and include light snacks and water.
If you are visiting Muscat, Oman and you want to snorkel at the Daymaniyat Islands, tours are running all year. However, towards the end of the year and start the water can have an algae-green tint to the water. Not to say you won’t see turtles and other cool marine life. In the summer it can get very hot in the day. Generally, good times to visit are around March-May and September-October. If you are keen to snorkel with Whale sharks, then September to October is a good time.
The easiest way to get to the city center from Muscat International Airport is by taxi, approximately a 15-20 minute drive, to transfer to your hotel or accommodation in the city center. Tour operators at Al Mouj Marina are located 20 minutes west of Muscat city center. Taxis are readily available, you can hail a taxi or book via Otaxi, an app-based taxi service.
The easiest way to get to the city center from Muscat International Airport is by taxi, approximately a 15-20 minute drive, to transfer to your hotel or accommodation in the city center. Tour operators at Al Mouj Marina are located 20 minutes west of Muscat city center. Taxis are readily available, you can hail a taxi or book via Otaxi, an app-based taxi service.
In October 2022, we went on a chartered snorkel trip to the Daymaniyat Islands. Whale sharks generally migrate to the coastal waters of Oman from September to early October. We snorkeled with Whale sharks at the start of October. It is important to have low wave height conditions, check before you book a trip.
Depending on speed and sea conditions, the boat trip takes approximately 45 minutes to get to the Daymaniyat Islands from Al Mouj Marina.
You can see turtles all year round at the Daymaniyat Islands. There are a number of turtle species found at the Daymaniyat’s including Green, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley turtles’. Turtles can often be seen close to shore within the islands, feeding on algae, I have seen fifteen turtles feeding in an area of 4 square metres.
Luke
FOUNDER
Luke is a passionate snorkeler who started Snorkelverse to live his dream of combining his passions for snorkeling, marine life, protecting marine ecosystems, and helping others.
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