The bustling city of Muscat can become a bit overwhelming. That’s why this day trip is perfect for you if you need a calm day out in the ocean. This trip takes you to the Daymaniyat Islands in Oman. Those islands just lay outside of Muscat in the Gulf of Oman. The nature reserve consists of nine islands with an area of 100 hectares. There, you can find coral reefs and it is a popular area for turtles.
You can not set foot on the islands from May to October. Since turtles lay eggs during this time, it is also home to migrating birds. It is strict protected nature reserve.
But this shouldn’t disturb you when visiting the area. You can still go but stay on the boat. It is a great day trip from Muscat, you can enjoy a day out in the ocean, snorkeling or swimming. It was one of my most memorable adventures in Oman.
How to reach Al Mouj by public transport
Public transportation is a bit tricky in Muscat. But I don’t want to discourage you. The tour to Daymaniyat island starts from Al Mouj marina. Al Mouj is located behind the airport. You can take the bus number 8 from the city to there. The bus has several stops in the city. You can enter from Oman Oil near the Muscat Grand Mall and the bus route starts at Al Kuhwair Park. If you are coming from Muttrah you have quite a journey because Al Mouj is at the opposite side of the city. You need to change buses twice, once in Ruwi and then depending on which line you take at the airport or before. I hope I didn’t lose you there. I wrote a whole other article about getting around in Muscat and Oman. You can also find the bus network map here to help you plan your trip. Make sure you get on the bus early, because the schedule doesn’t match the actual schedule.
The journey to Daymaniyat Island
The wonderful Daymaniyat Islands can be reached by a boat through a tour operator. The one I can recommend is Burmea Adventures. Reach out to them via facebook or instagram. You can also go by yourself if you have a boat, but you need a permit to go there.
There are, of course, tours that are bigger – up to 20 people and once that are smaller. I can recommend going with a smaller one. Many tour operators offer morning or afternoon tours. At the afternoon tour you might get a glimpse of the sun setting.
The tour starts west of Muscat at the Al Mouj marina. This is a really beautiful modern marina, very different from the traditional Oman cityscape. From there, the boat ride to the islands is about 40-50 minutes depending on the weather condition. If it is windy, you can get wet.
What to expect of a snorkeling trip to Daymaniyat Islands
The tour brings you to the main island of the groups of islands. There is an antenna and a house on the hill of one of the islands. The house belongs to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and they check tour operators for the permits. But that’s nothing you need to worry about, because it is included in the tour and your tour operator does this logistics.
The day I arrived, the ocean was incredibly clear. The turquoise water of the ocean brought me joy. Slowly driving towards the shore, I could see the bottom of the ocean through the crystal clear water. It reminded me of Zanzibar.
Keep in mind that every day and with every weather condition, the ocean looks different. You might not have such clear views. But it is worth it anyway, keep reading.
Daymaniyat Island is a protected area. It was the only area in all of Oman that I’ve seen that was without trash. Also the guides are very conscious about taking all the trash with them again.
Most of the tour operators provide snorkeling equipment and offer BBQ. In case you are vegetarian or vegan there is a nice restaurant in Al Mouj marina called Manis Café you can order and pick up a takeaway from there, so you don’t starve. They offer bowls, salads, fries, cakes, etc. Make sure you take enough water with you. Although the tour operators offer bottled water. However, it is in small plastic bottles.
If you do this day trip in a period when you can enter the island, you can enjoy a walk up a small hill for a beautiful view of the Oman Natural Reserve.
Swimming with sea turtles?
The highlight of this daytrip is to swim with sea turtles. On the island, your tour guide will show you the best spot to see turtles. Since I have learned a lot about sea turtles during my stay in Tanzania, I know how many predators sea turtles have and how precious their lives are. Therefore, it was very special to me to see them enjoy their lives.
Just a few meters off the shore of the island, you see them. At the ground of the sea on the rocks, they find seaweed to eat. You can watch them while snorkeling near the islands. It is an incredible experience that shouldn’t be missed.
If you aren’t into snorkeling that much, you can still just go for a little swim and take goggles with you. It is something special to observe.
Sunset at Al Mouj
To round the day off, you can enjoy the marina Al Mouj. The marina is a beautiful place to unwind and enjoy the atmosphere. There you can find many restaurants, various shops, parks with playgrounds, a beach, a big pedestrian zone and even a wellness facility. It is very interesting to just sit in the square and relax. At Al Mouj you can see many nationalities and walks of life. It is a very calm atmosphere that you can enjoy there.
The author of the blog
Lisi is an adventurous, mostly solo traveler from Austria. She likes to travel slowly, discover underrated countries/regions, and of course, learn about cultures. She has been traveling the world and creating travel content since 2016. With a degree in tourism management and a passion for travel and cultures, she wants to tell stories that inspire her readers and help them travel more consciously.
