Go Drift Diving in Musandam

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”- Jacques Cousteau 

The opportunity to explore the underwater world is a blessing worth being grateful for. Diving opens the door to this incredible realm. The ocean is like a kaleidoscope with a plethora of fish in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Aside from different fish species, the ocean is home to many fascinating marine creatures.

If you’re scuba diving Oman, you can check out the great dive sites in Musandam. Join Nemo Diving Center in an exciting overnight dive in Musandam. We’ll meet you and your diving buddies at the border of Musandam and we will take you on a cruise on a traditional Omani boat. Divers with Open Water Diver certification or higher are welcome to join our Musandam overnight expedition. You can also check out our other scuba diving packages.

Musandam’s natural beauty

The Musandam peninsula projects into the Strait of Hormuz, the slim access into the Persian Gulf, from the Arabian Peninsula. This unique and beautiful region is detached from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates.

Musandam’s gorgeous landscapes are one of the best in the world, with the northern Hajjar mountain range descending into the sea. Known for its jagged “Fjord-like” coastline, Musandam has a string of obscure coastal villages. It is the home of many master dhow builders.

Drift diving in Musandam

Musandam is known for its exhilarating drift diving. This type of diving lets you go with the current instead of fighting it. You let the current take you along which makes it a relaxing kind of diving.  Your dive plan relies on entering the water in one area and making an exit at another.

What is drift diving?  

Unlike typical reef diving where you begin at one point and return there, drift diving holds an element of surprise. The current dictates where you go and you just ride along with it. Some refer to it as “lazy diving” because you just need minimum effort. This makes drift diving an effortless and relaxing diving experience.

It’s still important to be mindful of your surroundings to avoid hitting marine structures. You might need to fin kick occasionally to avoid obstacles along the way. 

Do you remember the animated movie, “Finding Nemo”? There’s a scene where Marlin (Nemo’s dad) and Dory ride the EAC (East Australian Current) to get to Sydney Harbour to rescue Nemo. Drift diving is just like that where you let the current take you on a fun ride. 

Advantages of drift diving

For starters, drift diving requires less effort and energy. Thus, it is less physically demanding than swimming against the current. Drifting in the water usually involves less air consumption which enables drift divers to stay longer underwater. 

Drift diving also lets you cover a larger area in a single dive. The wider the coverage, the more opportunities to encounter different types of marine life. 

The unique drop-offs in Musandam, as well as its cool water upwelling, make it a favorite playground of many marine creatures including pelagic species. The bountiful plankton in these waters serves as an open invitation to marine dwellers. Quick to RSVP, small reef fish up to giant species such as whale sharks take part in the sumptuous feast. The astounding marine life in the Musandam peninsula which includes 900 species of fish delight in the plankton smorgasbord. Some common encounters are triggerfish, lionfish, parrotfish, fusiliers, snappers, and barracuda. You might also come across some pelagic species like yellowfin tuna, marlin, big trevally, and kingfish. It’s always a treat to see turtles and rays gliding effortlessly in the water. If you’re lucky, dolphins may accompany the Omani boat as we cruise to our destination.