Oman with Nabucco Extra Divers, 2006

By Edward Clamp


Journey

We travelled to Muscat via Bahrain from Gatwick and returned via Abu Dhabi on Gulf Air. The flight out was comfortable and the change of aircraft at Bahrain quick. On the return there appeared to be a mix-up with our flight. We were allocated a different flight in Oman and ended up meeting our proper flight from Muscat in Abu Dhabi. This may have been a case of airline overbooking. It entailed a further three-hour wait in the middle of the night there and our late arrival back at Gatwick.

On arrival in Muscat around midnight there was no travel rep to meet us. We milled around outside the airport for a while then met Karen and Petra who were obviously going to the same resort as us and, unlike us, were expected. At first the local driver refused to take us, as we were not on his list. With some persuasion and a little pressure he agreed to drive us to the resort. We arrived in pitch black. The security gate opened and we moved into the hotel area. The manager was awoken and we were allocated temporary accommodation for the night. Taken to our room we set up the mosquito net and fell into bed.


The next morning we awoke early and uncertain. We opened a window next to our bed to see bright blue sea lapping onto sand a few yards away. Wow!! We remained in this hut for the rest of our stay and were completely happy with our accommodation if not our method of arrival.

Diving

All my diving was with Nabucco Extra Divers, Muscat - Website.

The diving is organised on site at the resort. I found the organisation very efficient if not very friendly. The kit area was very clean and well run with sufficient facilities to hang up and stow dive gear. Taken to the various dive sites experienced divers were allowed to carry out their own dives. Luckily I buddied up with Karen for the week who was visiting from the UK on her own.

Our dive routine was to dive twice daily, usually in the morning. A third dive could be done in the afternoon if required. The dive sites were all fairly near to the resort, never more than 20 minutes away. All dives were made from the Nabucco Extra divers boat that was very efficiently coxed by local men. Unfortunately there was a plankton bloom forming in shore that decreased the underwater viz quite considerably.

Karen and I did our check dive with a local dive guide at Cockleshell Bay. We saw loads of small fish, a large moray and a very large eagle ray. Sea temp was 23 degrees. The next day we dived Plug point and First Entrance. Again we sighted much sea life including lobsters and crayfish but we were becoming slightly disillusioned by the lack of viz. Karen's sharp eyes spotted a whale on the surface while in transit to one dive site.

The next day we went out to Fahal Island and dived the Shallow Reef. Despite its name we reached 28m and saw loads more life in better viz. A large grouper was seen plus many moray eels. I had just bought an underwater digital camera so was in seventh heaven snapping away at last after losing my black and white Ricoh camera in the mid seventies.




We then dived East Bay as a shallow dive - 13m. This was my favourite dive. I have never ever seen so many morays collocated. They were close together all along the reef. The most wonderful sight, however, was the abundance of cuttlefish. I spent ages following these colourful creatures attempting to get the ultimate shot.

The next day we returned to diving closer in-shore. Firstly on the wreck of Al Munnasir Website . I am not a fan of wrecks specifically sunk to make dive sites so this one left me a bit cold. Max depth here 30m. Later we dived Novice Bay to a depth of 18m. Again plankton spoiled the viz. I had a brush with a sea urchin here, picking up a few spines. The local remedy was administered with the local dive guides pouring scalding hot coffee over my knee, followed by an anti-septic spray. Teach me to get my buoyancy right....



After this we were only interested in diving Fahal Island. We dived the Deep Reef here. The top of rocky outcrop here is 10m underwater and can be swum round in one dive. Nearby is a lorry situated on sand at around 34m. Look out for those friendly groupers. Later we dived the island's South Bay. Diving here was very much guided by local dive guide Faisal. Again there was an abundance of fish life including a friendly turtle. My dive log tells me that we spent some time over pristine corals here searching for small sharks to no avail. Never mind we saw loads of other sea life. I enjoyed the easy, relaxed diving around Muscat very much.






The resort

The main accommodation at this resort consists of 30 beach bungalows with ceiling fans and partially open bathrooms with en-suite showers and WC. Each bungalow has a wooden patio leading onto the beach. Our holiday was on a half board basis. We ate nightly at the restaurant located in the resort. We felt completely at home during our stay and my non-diving wife also enjoyed the resort, its environment of sheltered bay, safe swimming and bird life. Evening meals were spent dining in the open restaurant with my wife and I, dive buddy Karen and Petra who came from Germany. The food was good with a local fish selection normally available.

On the last day while waiting for our evening flight we took the option of a tour visiting the town of Muscat. It included the fish market, the souk, forts, old town and the Mosque. The Mosque is worth a visit on its own as it has the largest carpet and chandeliers in the world. Please DO NOT step off the tourist carpet.

Booking

I booked the holiday through a special offer with Regaldive: Regaldive Website who gave me a further discount as a BSAC diver.

Eddie Clamp
December 2007


Return to OMAN