Considered one of the top diving spots in Oman, the Daymaniyat islands are also a great place to snorkel or just relax on the white sand beaches.
Below is my travel guide to help you discover the rocky islets and their underwater world with a snorkeling tour.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Oman:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Oman: DiscoverCars
My favorite adventure from Muscat: Dolphin and Snorkeling
My favorite excursion from Muscat: Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole
My favorite places to stay:
- Muscat, the capital – see the best rated hotels or my favorite hotel: The Chedi
- Sur, for the turtles – see the best rated hotels
- Khasab, Musandam peninsula – see the best rated hotels
- Wahiba Sands, in the desert – see the best rated hotels or my favorite camp: Desert Nights Resort
Why visit the Daymaniyat Islands in Oman?
If you are looking for a great excursion from Muscat or the North Coast of Oman, the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve is a great choice:
- 9 Rocky islets
- Stunning white sand beaches
- Turquoise waters
- A protected marine reserve with colored fish and sea turtles
- Great diving and snorkeling opportunity
Below is a short video of my boat tour to the Daymaniyat Islands, where I toured several of them and snorkeled at 3 different spots:
Check out the Daymaniyat island tours.
More photos after the planning tips.
PLANNING TIPS & Map – Daymaniyat Islands Oman
Location – Daymaniyat islands Nature Reserve – Map
- The Daymaniyat islands are off the coast and it will take you 30 min to 1 hour to reach them depending on your starting point (1hour from Muscat).
- The 9 islands are clustered into 3 distinct groups, so plan also some time to travel between them.
- Located 17 kilometers off the Oman shore
- North of Muscat, between Barka and Seeb
- They are also called Dimaniyat or Dimaaniyat or al Dimaniyyat.
- Below is a map to help you located the islands:
The islands are included in my travel guide to help you plan your itinerary:
Plan your dream trip in Oman thanks to my guide
- 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 190+ pre-selected locations
- Tips to make the most of your time
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- 100+ original photos to help you choose
Getting to the Daymaniyat Islands – Tours
- Tours depart from the Wave Marina (Almouj Marina) in Muscat or further along the coast from Al Sawadi beach resort or from the Millennium Resort Mussanah – I used SeaOman from the Wave and was satisfied with their service.
- 30 min to 1 hour with a small motor boat – depending on departure point
- See snorkeling or diving tour options on Getyourguide or the options on Viator
Visit Tips
- This is a Nature Reserve so access is regulated (permit is required if you take your own boat)
- Landing is not authorized from May to October in order to protect the ecosystem
- The best season for diving is supposed to be from April to October – scuba travel has some diving maps
- Some of the snorkeling spots are very quiet and good for less confident swimmers
- Plan one day for a trip to the reserve – some tour operator organize lunch on the beach when authorized
- You can use their equipment, or you can bring your own snorkeling gear
Where to stay in Oman?
My favorites on a road trip:
- Muscat – capital city – see best rated accommodations
- Nizwa – to explore the forts and hinterlands – see best rated accommodations
- Sur – for the turtles, beaches, wadis… – see best rated accommodations
- Wahiba Sands – for the experience of sleeping in the desert – see best rated accommodations
- Salalah – to explore the Southern lands – see best rated accommodations
- Khasab – to explore the Musandam Peninsula – see best rated accommodations
Landscapes and beaches at the Daymaniyat Islands
The islands of Daymaniyat have been protected since 1996 as a Nature Reserve.
The tiny islets are made of orange or grey rocks with some sandy area.
It looks quite strange as you approach some of them on a boat. You wonder why there are such small islands here surrounded only by water…
This is a famous spot for diving, where the various isles offer different experiences:
But it also offers a few dreamy white sand beaches with shallow turquoise water. A great place to relax!
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Daymanyiat Islands Snorkeling Tour
About Snorkeling at the Daymaniyat islands
- The islands are a great places to snorkel
- Each group of isles offer a different experience: a great variety of corals, algae and fish
- Some areas are quiet and easy, while other will require you to be a good swimmer with waves
- The Daymaniyat islands are also a nesting ground for the turtles. Being off season, I was still hopeful to spot one, like I did on my Muscat Boat tours, but sadly I did not.
- Apparently, if you dive there are also caves to explore.
Daymaniyat Snorkeling in photos
And below is a selection of photos I took while snorkeling at 3 different spots along the various islands:
Check out the Daymaniyat island tours.
And if you like snorkeling photos, I also went along the Muscat Shores and spotted a turtle!
Need to rent a car in Oman?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Choose a car with enough power for the mountain roads
- Consider their full coverage option – for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Birds at the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve
But the Daymaniyat islands are not all about water and fish, with snorkeling and diving.
The reserve is also a nesting site for several migratory birds. I was off season but still spotted few birds:
Want to see more of Oman?
- Best things to do in Oman – read article
- Best of photos from Oman – Landscapes – read article
- Where to stay in Oman – read article
- Best days trips from Muscat – read article
- Planning a road trip in Oman – read article
- Driving in Oman – read article
- Best things to do in Muscat – read article
- The impressive Wadi Shab – read article
- The Bimmah Sinkhole – read article
- The desert of Wahiba Sands – read article
- The Ras Al Jinz turtle reserves – read article
Planning a trip to Oman?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan:
Plan your dream trip in Oman thanks to my guide
- 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 190+ pre-selected locations
- Tips to make the most of your time
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- 100+ original photos to help you choose
And keep track of your own trip!
Want to see more of Oman’s beauty?
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