Musandam Dhow Adventure and Marine Life Encounters

Musandam brings together the majestic mountains and emerald green waters. The Hajar Mountains that cradle the Strait of Hormuz make an amazing backdrop. Its coastline is a string of bays, fjords, and islands. The breathtaking panoramic view welcomes you as our dhow arrives at the diving site.

Dhow ride

Riding the traditional dhow is a fun experience. Back in the old days, dhows were used to travel across the Indian Ocean in pearl trading, fishing, and other means of livelihood. In modern times, dhows still tread the ocean carrying locals and tourists who want to witness the stunning landscape of Oman. It’s the perfect ride for enthusiastic divers who want to go on an overnight trip to Musandam. Imagine sailing through the fjords and immersing yourself in the beauty of the Musandam Peninsula.

Interesting marine life encounters

If you find the Musandam landscape beautiful, wait until you visit its underwater world. Its waters are noted for their amazing corals, rich marine life, and incredible drop-offs. Get in touch with our dive shop Dubai to know our scuba diving Dubai prices, Fujairah scuba diving prices, and Musandam diving prices.

You’ll find a wide variety of hard and soft corals including brain corals, purple whip corals, Acropora, raspberry corals, and more. Brain corals thrive in the warm waters of Musandam. They are stony corals with groove surfaces that resemble the appearance of a brain. They feed on small organisms that drift through the water. The cerebral-looking organisms can grow six feet tall and can live for 900 years. Raspberry corals and purple whip corals are noted for their striking colors. You’ll also find Acropora in Musandam waters. This type of coral suffered a catastrophic loss in the reefs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi due to high temperatures between 1996 and 1998. In 2007, cyclone Gonu and a prolonged algal bloom also damaged the Acropora on the Eastern Coast.

Rays

Spotted eagle rays are easily distinguished from other rays by their distinctive spots that cover the backs of their bodies. They can grow up to 16ft and develop wingspan of up to 10ft. It’s captivating to watch eagle rays gracefully slide in the water. Sadly, these beautiful rays are near threatened and have been included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Fishing of spotted eagle rays is banned in the UAE to help protect this remarkable species.

You can also come across cownose rays which have unique foreheads that resemble the nose of a cow. They can grow up to 3ft in length. These migratory species are generally docile creatures that travel in large groups; sometimes up to thousands. They feed on crabs, lobsters, shellfish, and fish. Cownose rays use their plate-like teeth to crush the hard shells.

Green turtles

Green turtles are one of the largest sea turtles that enjoy gliding in the warm waters of Musandam. They are named after the greenish color of their cartilage and fat but the color of their shells may be brown or olive. Like other sea turtles, Green turtles travel long distances between feeding spots. They have a plant-based diet of seagrass and seaweed.

When you encounter any sea turtle during your dive, avoid splashing and making loud noises to prevent spooking the creature. Always keep a good distance of at least 10-20ft from sea turtles unless they approach you. In case the sea turtle swims towards you, stay still and allow it to pass. Do not chase after a turtle if it swims away from you because it can cause stress to the creature.

Green turtles are threatened due to hunting, overharvesting of their eggs, loss of nesting sites, and bycatch. All sea turtles are protected by UAE Federal Law No. 23 and 24 of 1999.

Fish species and macro life

Some common fish encounters are parrotfish, kingfish, triggerfish, lionfish, and fusiliers. You may also come across barracuda, big trevally, yellowfin tuna, and some pelagic species.

Macro life can be a fascinating subject for underwater photographers. Nudibranchs come in different colors, shapes, and incredible patterns. You can also encounter seahorses, cleaner shrimps, box shrimps, and thor shrimps.

Join our overnight trip

Sign up for our next overnight trip for a chance to encounter these amazing marine creatures. Our overnight dive trip includes breakfast, lunch, and a BBQ bonfire. Contact us to know about our other scuba diving Dubai deals.