Extra Divers Zighy Bay
Zighy Bay, 800 Dibba, Oman
Explore Oman
Since Oman opened its gates to visitors in the 1970s, scuba diving here has become increasingly popular. As it’s only recently been put on the diving map, many of Oman’s dive sites are in pristine condition and mostly untouched.
Diving here is suitable for all, from easy reef diving, to caves for more advanced divers. The water is normally warm all year round, with October to May experiencing the calmest ocean conditions. Visibility ranges between 15 meters to 25 meters. Though visibility is somewhat poorer than other popular dive destinations, it does mean that large shoals of fish are often present thanks to the nutrient-heavy water.
Oman offers divers an exceptional adventure, from the Musandam Peninsula in the north, where nutrient-rich waters nourish the diverse marine life, to the south around Salalah, where the coastline boasts a number of beaches and bays.
There’s also some sensational dive spots near the capital of Muscat, situated on the Gulf of Oman between the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.
Diving options are endless, with lots of dive centers and dive resorts to choose from. Diving without a guide is common in Oman, but local guides are usually available upon request. Liveaboard fans can rejoice too, as they’re aplenty.
Power Plug Type
G
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DC, JCB, Cir, Plus
Tipping
0–10% / Restaurant Staff / Service charges are typically added to restaurant bills; additional tipping is appreciated but not expected.
Currency
OMR
Dial Code
+968
Electricity
240 V / 50 Hz
Time
UTC+4 (GST)
Dive Centers
Dive Sites
Top Wildlife Sightings in Oman
Marine life is very diverse, boasting between 1300 and 1500 species of fish, some of which are unique to Oman. The country is also home to a plethora of bigger creatures, including turtles, and pelagics, such as rays, sharks and even everyone’s favourite gentle giant - the whale shark. To see whale sharks, head to the Daymaniyat Islands, Musandam Peninsula, Fahal Island and Bander Khayran, where they assemble.
Further afield at the Hallaniyat Islands, divers can discover dolphins, manta rays, humpback whales and sperm whales.
Other majestic creatures to be encountered include reef, zebra and leopard sharks, plus vibrant coral reefs, rays, mola molas, turtles, large schools of fish and more.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
2.4k Sightings
J
125
F
201
M
208
A
230
M
182
J
79
J
108
A
125
S
170
O
343
N
394
D
209
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
1.4k Sightings
J
90
F
125
M
138
A
183
M
117
J
51
J
64
A
78
S
85
O
170
N
169
D
105
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
378 Sightings
J
32
F
26
M
41
A
63
M
42
J
20
J
22
A
18
S
23
O
29
N
40
D
22
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
320 Sightings
J
19
F
43
M
27
A
25
M
25
J
19
J
23
A
24
S
26
O
33
N
29
D
27
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
233 Sightings
J
11
F
27
M
18
A
19
M
14
J
16
J
11
A
17
S
19
O
40
N
23
D
18
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
216 Sightings
J
15
F
25
M
13
A
21
M
23
J
5
J
14
A
10
S
12
O
51
N
16
D
11
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
125 Sightings
J
14
F
10
M
16
A
16
M
7
J
10
J
11
A
4
S
8
O
13
N
8
D
8
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
1.6k Sightings
J
71
F
132
M
140
A
149
M
120
J
50
J
93
A
91
S
117
O
267
N
241
D
122
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
1.6k Sightings
J
88
F
119
M
146
A
144
M
119
J
60
J
78
A
88
S
125
O
258
N
229
D
122
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
1.3k Sightings
J
63
F
99
M
101
A
114
M
111
J
41
J
84
A
71
S
106
O
193
N
191
D
93
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
1.3k Sightings
J
55
F
98
M
135
A
131
M
115
J
40
J
73
A
65
S
110
O
217
N
133
D
83
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
1k Sightings
J
36
F
78
M
67
A
90
M
100
J
42
J
66
A
74
S
80
O
174
N
145
D
80
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
1k Sightings
J
55
F
82
M
84
A
67
M
82
J
31
J
59
A
73
S
90
O
181
N
121
D
83
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 40
iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish
900 Sightings
J
37
F
85
M
69
A
82
M
89
J
25
J
45
A
52
S
65
O
179
N
106
D
66
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 25
AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish
894 Sightings
J
31
F
78
M
53
A
75
M
90
J
36
J
54
A
47
S
78
O
168
N
122
D
62
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 85
iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish
831 Sightings
J
36
F
71
M
83
A
76
M
69
J
30
J
52
A
56
S
68
O
128
N
111
D
51
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 8
Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish
735 Sightings
J
27
F
70
M
62
A
39
M
80
J
40
J
36
A
49
S
69
O
142
N
76
D
45
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
676 Sightings
J
43
F
59
M
53
A
48
M
53
J
48
J
51
A
31
S
48
O
87
N
105
D
50
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 120
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Cuttlefish
456 Sightings
J
15
F
31
M
46
A
61
M
45
J
20
J
20
A
17
S
46
O
40
N
74
D
41
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 90
Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish
405 Sightings
J
17
F
39
M
23
A
25
M
54
J
20
J
30
A
21
S
18
O
83
N
47
D
28
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 250
iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish
365 Sightings
J
13
F
31
M
44
A
26
M
16
J
24
J
25
A
19
S
36
O
58
N
47
D
26
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 3
Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish
362 Sightings
J
18
F
28
M
17
A
21
M
37
J
19
J
17
A
33
S
28
O
77
N
43
D
24
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 20
iStock-stephankerkhofs
Porcupinefish
347 Sightings
J
6
F
21
M
37
A
44
M
40
J
15
J
21
A
14
S
16
O
49
N
53
D
31
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
341 Sightings
J
18
F
25
M
40
A
34
M
20
J
30
J
5
A
17
S
36
O
33
N
52
D
31
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 150
Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts
329 Sightings
J
13
F
32
M
21
A
28
M
40
J
13
J
17
A
18
S
32
O
64
N
25
D
26
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 250
Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets
275 Sightings
J
25
F
18
M
28
A
11
M
33
J
13
J
12
A
21
S
27
O
58
N
9
D
20
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 350
Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish
265 Sightings
J
16
F
13
M
20
A
18
M
31
J
12
J
19
A
23
S
14
O
59
N
26
D
14
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 110
iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper
263 Sightings
J
13
F
21
M
18
A
28
M
22
J
14
J
7
A
21
S
21
O
50
N
32
D
16
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 40
iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish
230 Sightings
J
5
F
24
M
18
A
8
M
37
J
9
J
14
A
12
S
19
O
51
N
16
D
17
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 60
iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish
208 Sightings
J
8
F
20
M
19
A
15
M
33
J
15
J
15
A
5
S
14
O
45
N
10
D
9
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 55
Shutterstock-RLS Photo
Lobster
176 Sightings
J
11
F
20
M
19
A
9
M
7
J
15
J
7
A
7
S
15
O
18
N
29
D
19
Alamy-Water Frame
Panther Moray Eel (Dragon Eel)
157 Sightings
J
13
F
15
M
9
A
15
M
30
J
1
J
2
A
5
S
5
O
24
N
26
D
12
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 3400
Shutterstock-Shane Gross
Shrimp
155 Sightings
J
8
F
17
M
11
A
13
M
8
J
17
J
11
A
3
S
18
O
23
N
15
D
11
AdobeStock-Magnus
Zebra Shark
141 Sightings
J
8
F
4
M
10
A
15
M
10
J
7
J
7
A
7
S
8
O
28
N
22
D
15
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 7000
iStock-Michael Zeigler
Crab
135 Sightings
J
4
F
7
M
13
A
6
M
15
J
25
J
7
A
10
S
14
O
7
N
12
D
15
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Shutterstock_DiveIvanov
Squid
134 Sightings
J
2
F
14
M
12
A
26
M
24
J
13
J
7
A
3
S
7
O
9
N
8
D
9
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 3
Shutterstock-Miroslav Halama
Cornetfish
122 Sightings
J
13
F
5
M
14
A
4
M
9
J
12
J
6
A
11
S
16
O
10
N
5
D
17