The jewel in the Gulf of Oman
The Dimaniyat Islands are a chain of 9 small islands about 22 kilometres long off the coast of Seeb- Muscat. The distance to the coast varies between 14 and 18 kilometres. This makes them very easy to reach, depending on the harbour of departure. The marina of the village of Seeb, west of Muscat, is particularly favourable, from where the boat trip only takes about 35 minutes.
The Dimaniyat Islands are a strictly protected nature reserve. It was established in 1996 and added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. This honour was awarded because the islands provide a unique and valuable habitat for numerous marine species and are an important site for the protection of marine biodiversity in the Gulf of Oman. The UNESCO World Heritage status aims to preserve the natural environment of the islands and support conservation and research efforts of this valuable ecosystem. To this end, certain rules and regulations have been put in place to preserve the environmental integrity of the islands and restrict activities that could jeopardise the ecosystem. For example, only registered boats with pre-registered guests are allowed to visit the islands. This is strictly monitored by the staff of the police station, the only building on the islands. The approaching diving and snorkeling boats are checked from time to time. An entrance fee/person has to be paid which is done by the boat company and included in their rate.
This procedure serves to protect this valuable area, which is home to numerous nesting seabirds (including ospreys) and colonies of various species of turtle (green turtle, hawksbill turtle), which lay their eggs here in summer.
Vegetation is sparse. There is no natural freshwater source. If you are planning to visit the islands in the winter season from November to the end of April, you are well advised to bring your own sun protection and sufficient drinking water. Most visitors come to experience the colorful underwater world while snorkeling or diving. Magnificently developed coral reefs are home to large numbers of colorful fish, schooling fish such as barracuda, fusiliers, damselfish and large fish such as leopard sharks, stingrays, giant moray eels, blacktip sharks and whale sharks. You can be sure to encounter some of them at 26 different named dive sites, such as Turtle City or Blacktip Shark Bay. Especially the great chance to meet turtles in large numbers motivates many tourists to make a day trip to the Dimaniyat Islands. Also as a snorkeler you will be amazed by the rich underwater world.
Camping on the islands from November to the end of April is a special experience. Some boat
companies offer this and provide all the necessary equipment, e.g. Pearl Dimaniyat, which sets off from Seeb with its boats.
If you want, you can also get your diving license here on the islands. Perhaps a single try dive will spark so much enthusiasm that you will want to turn it into a hobby. If so, you should take a course to learn the first important skills. This is possible in a few days.
As a landlubber, you can also discover a lot on the islands. They consist of limestone rocks and
ancient coral reefs that have been uplifted by geological faults and are now metres above sea level. Attentive visitors will not be able to miss the marine fossils. You can also get a close-up view of the nests of the ospreys that breed in winter if you climb up in the right place and spot a nest between the rocks despite being well camouflaged. …and you will be rewarded with a marvelous view of the islands and the white sandy beaches.