OMAN AGGRESSOR: Itinerary
Three 7-Night and one 10-Night Itinerary Offered:
Daymaniyat Islands (7 nights)
Embark/Disembark: Jebel Sifah Marina (Muscat)
2018: June 30 – Aug 18, 2018
2019: June 29 – Aug 17, 2019
Musandam Peninsula (7 nights)
Embark/Disembark: Khasab Port
2018: Sep 01 – Oct 20, 2018
2019: Aug 31 – Oct 19, 2019
Daymaniyat Islands – Hallaniyat Islands (10 nights)
Embark: Jebel Sifah Marina (Muscat) Disembark: Salalah Beach Marina
2017: Nov 01 – Nov 11, 2017
2018: Oct 31 – Nov 10, 2018
2019: Oct 30 – Nov 09, 2019
Hallaniyat Islands (7 nights)
Embark/Disembark: Salalah Beach Marina
2017: Nov 11 – Dec 30, 2017
2018: Jan 06 – Apr 28, 2018
2018: Nov 10 – Dec 29, 2018
2019: Jan 05 – Apr 27, 2019
OMAN AGGRESSOR – HOME PORT
The Oman Aggressor operates 4 itineraries from the following ports:
Jebel Sifah Marina and Salalah Beach Marina are beautiful and safe communities with many fine restaurants and shops. Khasab Port is within walking distance to many restaurants and shops.
We highly recommend arriving at least one day prior and staying at our host hotels:
DIVE SITE DETAILS
Musandam
The waters surrounding Musandam and the Straits of Hormuz provide awesome coral reef diving with more than 30 dive sites. Plankton rich waters attract over 900 species of fish, ranging from cleaner wrasse through to whale sharks. The marine life is very noticeable and leaves a lasting impression. Walls and extensive coral gardens are the character of the dive sites. The combination of plankton and strong local currents attract a great range of pelagic species, manta, eagle rays, dolphins, along with whale sharks. Mola Mola, sharks and as well as most species of turtle can be encountered. The caves looks like the ocean has eroded a series of chambers and tunnels into the surrounding limestone rock, which provide hiding spots for spiny lobster, cleaner shrimp and other creatures. The sandy bottom of the caves is the perfect daytime resting place for rays and sharks. Coral walls to depths of 20m/66ft along with caves and crevices created by erosion of the limestone substrate. Schools of jack and tuna prowl the open waters adjacent to the rock. The trade off for the high concentrations of larger marine life is underwater visibility, which lies in a range from 40 – 100ft/ 12 - 30m.
Visibility: 26 – 66 feet /8 – 20 m
Depth: 32 – 100 feet / 10 – 30 m
Current: gentle - strong
Water Temperature: 82 F / 28 C
Note: Thermocline below 39 feet / 12m - Temperature is dropping down to 74 F / 23 C
Daymaniyat Islands
The Daymaniyat Islands are the jewels for diving in the Gulf of Oman. This string of small, rocky islands north of Muscat are encircled with awesome coral reefs down to 100 feet/30 m and tons of fish. Coral reefs cover up to 70% of the dive sites seabed with more than 100 different species of soft and hard coral of which no less than 10% are unique to Oman’s waters. Marine life is abundant with 280 different species of fish, varying from sting rays, turtles, moray eels, leopard sharks whale shark. Green sea turtles & hawksbill turtles are common residents of the Daymaniyat Islands. Bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins and sometimes humpback whales can be encountered. The islands are a nature reserve and an important turtle nesting site as well as a sanctuary for migrating birds.
Aquarium - The Pearl of the Daymaniyat Islands where you can see everything. Fish in their thousands; schools of jacks, snappers, batfish, barracuda, red-toothed triggerfish. The variety of species is large; huge stingrays and eagle rays, turtles, leopard sharks, endless moray eels, scorpion fish, seahorses and numerous nudibranchs.
Daymaniyat - 3 Sisters - Abundant soft corals, stingrays, moray eels, mola mola and sometimes leopard sharks pass by.
Daymaniyat - Garden of Eden - An idyllic landscape with huge blocks spangled with soft orange, purple and yellow soft corals.
Daymaniyat - June – Table corals, soft corals, colorful fish in the thousands
Daymaniyat - Hayut - A wall covered with purple soft corals sloping down to 65 feet / 20 m and numerous of overhangs. Honeycomb moray eels, stingrays, lion fish and numerous nudibranchs.
Visibility: 49 – 100 feet / 15 – 30 m
Depth: 32 – 100 feet / 10 – 30 m
Current: gentle
Water Temperature: 80 F / 27 C
Note: Thermocline below 32 feet / 10 m - Temperature is dropping down to 75 F / 24 C
Bandar Khayran - more than 30 dive sites are located within a series of coves and bays southeast of Muscat. Bandar Khayran offers a variety of different dive sites, from shallow coral reefs and swim-throughs to drop offs 100ft/30m. Spectacular soft and hard corals, giant honeycomb moray eels entangled through the reef, lobsters lurking from beneath rocks, large sting rays laying covered in the sand, turtles and nudibranchs resting among the reef, schools of fish in their thousands prowl around.
Visibility: 49 – 100 feet / 15 – 30 m
Depth: 32 – 100 feet / 10 – 30 m
Current: gentle
Water Temperature: 84 F / 29 C
Note: Thermocline below 32 feet / 10 m - Temperature is dropping down to 75 F / 24 C
Al Munnassir – Wreck - the Royal Navy of Oman sunk this 3000 ton vessel (276ft/84m) in 2003 as an artificial reef; she lies upright on the bottom in about 100ft/30m. Fish in the thousands prowl around; giant morays and grouper, large schools of snapper and goatfish as well as turtles and rays all now call this wreck home.
Visibility: 49 – 100 feet / 15 – 30 m
Depth: 19 – 100 feet / 6 – 30 m
Current: gentle
Water Temperature: 84 F / 29 C
Note: Thermocline below 32 feet / 10 m - Temperature is dropping down to 75 F / 24 C
Fahal Island – this small limestone island offers excellent dives with swim-throughs and reefs down to 130ft/40m. Giant eagle rays gliding into the blue, schools of fish whale sharks and dolphin can be encountered. Fahal is also known by “Shark Island” due to sightings of sharks resting on the sand banks.
Visibility: 49 – 100 feet / 15 – 30 m
Depth: 32 – 130 feet / 10 – 40 m
Current: gentle
Water Temperature: 84 F / 29 C
Note: Thermocline below 32 feet / 10 m - Temperature is dropping down to 75 F / 24 C
Hallaniyat Islands are located off the south eastern coast of Oman. The islands are the paradise of untouched dive sites and home to pristine corals, wrecks and whales. New dive sites and wrecks can be discovered all the time. Diving highlights are undoubtedly the opportunity to see the resident population of humpback whales but also includes encounters with manta rays and sperm whales. Huge schools of dolphin are often seen as well as green turtles. Giant oceanic manta rays, giant groupers, giant catfish and mobulas are common encountered. The islands boast a healthy marine life with awesome coral garden and you will see fish in their thousands. Hallaniyat Islands are an undiscovered diving region where you can expect everything!
November - December
Rays, giant catfish, mobulas, leopard shark, schools of jacks, barracudas, morays eels, honeycomb moray eels, nudibranchs and fish in the thousands. Giant oceanic manta rays can be encountered. Close to shore there is plenty of kelp with animal life nestled in there.
Visibility: 13 – 56 feet / 4 m - 17 m
Depth: 92 feet / 28 m
Water Temperature: 75 – 80 F / 24 - 27 C (thermoclines)
Current: medium and swell
January - March
Humpback whales can be encountered, hearing the sound of whales while diving, giant groupers, moray eels, honeycomb moray eels, dragon morays and thousands of colorful reef fishes.
Visibility: 16 – 65 feet / 5 - 20 m
Depth: 92 feet / 28 m
Water Temperature: 73 – 77 F / 23 - 25 C (thermoclines)
Current: less
April
Yellowfin, barracudas, schools of jacks, big rays, octopus, giant groupers, leopard sharks, milk fish, schools of dolphins and beautiful colorful reef fish in the thousands as well as Humpback whales.
Visibility: 39 – 130 feet / 12 - 40 m
Depth: 92 feet / 28 m
Water Temperature: 73 – 77 F / 23 - 25 C (thermoclines)
Current: strong
Best of Oman - Explorer-Adventure Trip (10 nights)
Daymaniyat Islands - Bandar Khayran - Fahal Island - Hallaniyat Islands
Sailing from Bandar Khayran to Hallaniyat Islands you will discover new dive sites with pristine corals, healthy marine life and wrecks in a nearly undiscovered diving region. Here you can expect everything!
Daymaniyat Islands (7 nights)
Embark/Disembark: Jebel Sifah Marina (Muscat)
2018: June 30 – Aug 18, 2018
2019: June 29 – Aug 17, 2019
Musandam Peninsula (7 nights)
Embark/Disembark: Khasab Port
2018: Sep 01 – Oct 20, 2018
2019: Aug 31 – Oct 19, 2019
Daymaniyat Islands – Hallaniyat Islands (10 nights)
Embark: Jebel Sifah Marina (Muscat) Disembark: Salalah Beach Marina
2017: Nov 01 – Nov 11, 2017
2018: Oct 31 – Nov 10, 2018
2019: Oct 30 – Nov 09, 2019
Hallaniyat Islands (7 nights)
Embark/Disembark: Salalah Beach Marina
2017: Nov 11 – Dec 30, 2017
2018: Jan 06 – Apr 28, 2018
2018: Nov 10 – Dec 29, 2018
2019: Jan 05 – Apr 27, 2019
OMAN AGGRESSOR – HOME PORT
The Oman Aggressor operates 4 itineraries from the following ports:
- Jebel Sifah Marina (Muscat): Daymaniyat Islands itinerary (7 nights)
- Khasab Port (Musandam): Musandam Peninsula itinerary (7 nights)
- Jebel Sifah Marina (Muscat): Daymaniyat & Hallaniyat Islands itinerary (10 nights)
- Salalah Beach Marina: Hallaniyat Islands itinerary (7 nights)
Jebel Sifah Marina and Salalah Beach Marina are beautiful and safe communities with many fine restaurants and shops. Khasab Port is within walking distance to many restaurants and shops.
We highly recommend arriving at least one day prior and staying at our host hotels:
- Khasab: Atana Khasab Hotel (Musandam Peninsula itinerary -7 nights)
- Jebel Sifah: Sifawy Boutique Hotel (Daymaniyat itinerary-7 nights & Daymaniyat/Hallaniyat 10 night itinerary)
- Salalah Beach: Juweira Boutique Hotel (Hallaniyat itinerary – 7 nights)
DIVE SITE DETAILS
Musandam
The waters surrounding Musandam and the Straits of Hormuz provide awesome coral reef diving with more than 30 dive sites. Plankton rich waters attract over 900 species of fish, ranging from cleaner wrasse through to whale sharks. The marine life is very noticeable and leaves a lasting impression. Walls and extensive coral gardens are the character of the dive sites. The combination of plankton and strong local currents attract a great range of pelagic species, manta, eagle rays, dolphins, along with whale sharks. Mola Mola, sharks and as well as most species of turtle can be encountered. The caves looks like the ocean has eroded a series of chambers and tunnels into the surrounding limestone rock, which provide hiding spots for spiny lobster, cleaner shrimp and other creatures. The sandy bottom of the caves is the perfect daytime resting place for rays and sharks. Coral walls to depths of 20m/66ft along with caves and crevices created by erosion of the limestone substrate. Schools of jack and tuna prowl the open waters adjacent to the rock. The trade off for the high concentrations of larger marine life is underwater visibility, which lies in a range from 40 – 100ft/ 12 - 30m.
Visibility: 26 – 66 feet /8 – 20 m
Depth: 32 – 100 feet / 10 – 30 m
Current: gentle - strong
Water Temperature: 82 F / 28 C
Note: Thermocline below 39 feet / 12m - Temperature is dropping down to 74 F / 23 C
Daymaniyat Islands
The Daymaniyat Islands are the jewels for diving in the Gulf of Oman. This string of small, rocky islands north of Muscat are encircled with awesome coral reefs down to 100 feet/30 m and tons of fish. Coral reefs cover up to 70% of the dive sites seabed with more than 100 different species of soft and hard coral of which no less than 10% are unique to Oman’s waters. Marine life is abundant with 280 different species of fish, varying from sting rays, turtles, moray eels, leopard sharks whale shark. Green sea turtles & hawksbill turtles are common residents of the Daymaniyat Islands. Bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins and sometimes humpback whales can be encountered. The islands are a nature reserve and an important turtle nesting site as well as a sanctuary for migrating birds.
Aquarium - The Pearl of the Daymaniyat Islands where you can see everything. Fish in their thousands; schools of jacks, snappers, batfish, barracuda, red-toothed triggerfish. The variety of species is large; huge stingrays and eagle rays, turtles, leopard sharks, endless moray eels, scorpion fish, seahorses and numerous nudibranchs.
Daymaniyat - 3 Sisters - Abundant soft corals, stingrays, moray eels, mola mola and sometimes leopard sharks pass by.
Daymaniyat - Garden of Eden - An idyllic landscape with huge blocks spangled with soft orange, purple and yellow soft corals.
Daymaniyat - June – Table corals, soft corals, colorful fish in the thousands
Daymaniyat - Hayut - A wall covered with purple soft corals sloping down to 65 feet / 20 m and numerous of overhangs. Honeycomb moray eels, stingrays, lion fish and numerous nudibranchs.
Visibility: 49 – 100 feet / 15 – 30 m
Depth: 32 – 100 feet / 10 – 30 m
Current: gentle
Water Temperature: 80 F / 27 C
Note: Thermocline below 32 feet / 10 m - Temperature is dropping down to 75 F / 24 C
Bandar Khayran - more than 30 dive sites are located within a series of coves and bays southeast of Muscat. Bandar Khayran offers a variety of different dive sites, from shallow coral reefs and swim-throughs to drop offs 100ft/30m. Spectacular soft and hard corals, giant honeycomb moray eels entangled through the reef, lobsters lurking from beneath rocks, large sting rays laying covered in the sand, turtles and nudibranchs resting among the reef, schools of fish in their thousands prowl around.
Visibility: 49 – 100 feet / 15 – 30 m
Depth: 32 – 100 feet / 10 – 30 m
Current: gentle
Water Temperature: 84 F / 29 C
Note: Thermocline below 32 feet / 10 m - Temperature is dropping down to 75 F / 24 C
Al Munnassir – Wreck - the Royal Navy of Oman sunk this 3000 ton vessel (276ft/84m) in 2003 as an artificial reef; she lies upright on the bottom in about 100ft/30m. Fish in the thousands prowl around; giant morays and grouper, large schools of snapper and goatfish as well as turtles and rays all now call this wreck home.
Visibility: 49 – 100 feet / 15 – 30 m
Depth: 19 – 100 feet / 6 – 30 m
Current: gentle
Water Temperature: 84 F / 29 C
Note: Thermocline below 32 feet / 10 m - Temperature is dropping down to 75 F / 24 C
Fahal Island – this small limestone island offers excellent dives with swim-throughs and reefs down to 130ft/40m. Giant eagle rays gliding into the blue, schools of fish whale sharks and dolphin can be encountered. Fahal is also known by “Shark Island” due to sightings of sharks resting on the sand banks.
Visibility: 49 – 100 feet / 15 – 30 m
Depth: 32 – 130 feet / 10 – 40 m
Current: gentle
Water Temperature: 84 F / 29 C
Note: Thermocline below 32 feet / 10 m - Temperature is dropping down to 75 F / 24 C
Hallaniyat Islands are located off the south eastern coast of Oman. The islands are the paradise of untouched dive sites and home to pristine corals, wrecks and whales. New dive sites and wrecks can be discovered all the time. Diving highlights are undoubtedly the opportunity to see the resident population of humpback whales but also includes encounters with manta rays and sperm whales. Huge schools of dolphin are often seen as well as green turtles. Giant oceanic manta rays, giant groupers, giant catfish and mobulas are common encountered. The islands boast a healthy marine life with awesome coral garden and you will see fish in their thousands. Hallaniyat Islands are an undiscovered diving region where you can expect everything!
November - December
Rays, giant catfish, mobulas, leopard shark, schools of jacks, barracudas, morays eels, honeycomb moray eels, nudibranchs and fish in the thousands. Giant oceanic manta rays can be encountered. Close to shore there is plenty of kelp with animal life nestled in there.
Visibility: 13 – 56 feet / 4 m - 17 m
Depth: 92 feet / 28 m
Water Temperature: 75 – 80 F / 24 - 27 C (thermoclines)
Current: medium and swell
January - March
Humpback whales can be encountered, hearing the sound of whales while diving, giant groupers, moray eels, honeycomb moray eels, dragon morays and thousands of colorful reef fishes.
Visibility: 16 – 65 feet / 5 - 20 m
Depth: 92 feet / 28 m
Water Temperature: 73 – 77 F / 23 - 25 C (thermoclines)
Current: less
April
Yellowfin, barracudas, schools of jacks, big rays, octopus, giant groupers, leopard sharks, milk fish, schools of dolphins and beautiful colorful reef fish in the thousands as well as Humpback whales.
Visibility: 39 – 130 feet / 12 - 40 m
Depth: 92 feet / 28 m
Water Temperature: 73 – 77 F / 23 - 25 C (thermoclines)
Current: strong
Best of Oman - Explorer-Adventure Trip (10 nights)
Daymaniyat Islands - Bandar Khayran - Fahal Island - Hallaniyat Islands
Sailing from Bandar Khayran to Hallaniyat Islands you will discover new dive sites with pristine corals, healthy marine life and wrecks in a nearly undiscovered diving region. Here you can expect everything!
All Oman Aggressor photos & most Oman texts are © Copyright Aggressor Fleet & WayneWorks Marine, LLC, our friends & dive travel partners for 25+ years.