Diving and snorkeling places in north-east Oman around Ras al Hadd, Sur, Qalhat, Tiwi
Diving around Sur in Oman is nice but not spectacular and often shallow. Out best places are Ras al Hadd, OLNG beach, Devils point and Al Hedha. Here a describtion of our dive and snorkel sites:
General remark except for Ras al Hadd bay, OLNG beach and white sand beach, in general the coral does not grow in the shallow water near the coast, propably due to the waves and temperature variations. Near the coast a snorkeler can see fish, sand and rocks. To see soft coral, a diver has to go away from the coast to a depth of 6-8 meter minimum. Soft coral can be found up to about 15 meter.
From East to West:
Woking wreck near Raz al Jinz: 22.446336 N, 59.83545 E
Describtion: The GPS co-ordinates are N22deg 26.782' E59deg 50.127'. The Woking is about 80 meters long. Since the Gonu cyclone the wreck is in a poor condition. The main structure is disintegrated and the cement bags are are lying on the sea bed.
Accessibility: By boat, be careful for strong currents
Pictures: Woking1.jpg, Woking2.jpg
Ras al Hadd bay beach: 22.530594 N, 59.754338 E
Describtion: Go to the Turtle-Beach resort at the west side of the Ras Al Hadd bay and pay a small entrance fee. Swim from the resort in direction of the bay entrance. Stay about 20 meters from the rock wall on the left. After 100 to 200 meter several isolated underwater rock formations with hard and soft coral. In the turtle beach resort there are toilets and is on most days food available.
Accessibility: Saloon car
Beach: Fine sand
Depth: Up to 6 meter
Bottom: mainly mud/sand except for some rocky ares where numerously corals are growing or the rocks at a few meters depth. Nice for snorkelers
Fish: Plenty
Ranking: Very good for north-east Oman
Picture: RasAlHaddBay.jpg
Describtion: Go to the Turtle-Beach resort at the west side of the Ras Al Hadd bay. Enter water inside the bay at a small beach near bay entrance and swim outside the bay or if your very brave, try the very difficult entry at sea side. Wet suit and gloves are then for protection recommended. Enter water close to high or low tide to avoid strong current.
Accessibility: Saloon car
Beach: Rocky
Depth: Up to 15 meter
Bottom: Full of big rocks where numerously corals are growing below a few meter up to 15 meter depth
Fish: Plenty
Ranking: Excellent for north-east Oman
Picture: RasAlHaddSea.jpg
OLNG beach near OLNG, Sur 22.676263 E, 59.388077 E
Describtion: Go from Sur to north west to the OLNG plant, leave road just past the OLNG plant near the new toll gates, drive parallel to OLNG fence Enter the water at the rock formation. At high tide look for red/dark gray rock on beach. Coral is found between the big rock. Water shoes are essential. Furthermore into the sea only sand.
Accessibility: Saloon car but bumpy
Beach: Pebbles and stones
Depth: Up to 6 meter.
Bottom: pretty large rocks on which corals growing at 2 to 3 meter depth up to 6 meter depth. Shallow, easy for snorkelers and divers. outside rocky area only sandy bottom.
Fish: Plenty
Ranking: Very good for north-east Oman
Pictures: OLNGbeach1.jpg, OLNGbeach2.jpg, OLNGbeach3.jpg
An other snorkel point is at point T4, north west of the OLNG plant at position 22.670224 N, 59.396918 E there are some rocks and a lot of fish. Al little more NW more into the sea there are some lime stone fingers with coral. Accessibility limited since it is inside the Sur industrial area.
At position 22.680025,59.385706 about 100 meter into the sea there is an other limestone finger with coral.
Between the fertilizer plant and OLNG from beach at 22.658151,59.420393 there is a coral area growing on limestone at around 5 to 8 meter deep. Pretty flat area. Accessibility limited since it is inside the Sur industrial area.
Qalhat beach: 22.70771 N, 59.361985 E
Describtion: Go from Sur to OLNG and then direction Qalhat. Note that the coastal road is under construction.
Not yet surveyed using dive gear. Note that normally coral is found between 6-15 meters
Accessibility: Saloon car but bumpy
Beach: Pebbles and stones
Depth: ??.
Rock: Yes near coast
Coral: None seen at snorkeling depth, below ??
Fish: Few
Ranking:
Picture: QalhatBeach.jpg
Crown peninsula: Google Maps: 22.737750,+59.342131
Leave main road where overheadline on costal side starts. A rough drive through to coastal area will bring to a tiny peninsula with a rock in the shape of a crown. The pebble /sandy beach will allow you to enter the water. The sea is very shallow so it will take some time to reach deaper areas. Snorkel as soon as possible to avoid sea urchins. Snorkel into the sea until the depth is about 6 meters and you will see the first corals on the bottom. At 8 or 10 meter depth there is a lot marine live to see. See bottom is pretty flat with some small interesting channels.
Accessibility: 4x4 required
Beach: Pebbles and sands
Depth: starts shallow and becomes Up to 16-18 meter
Bottom: pretty flat rocky bottom, numerously corals are growing on rocks bottom below 6 meter depth.
Fish: Plenty.
Ranking: very good for north-east Oman
Pictures: Crownpeninsula2.jpg Crownpeninsula3.jpg
Devils point: 22.752814 N, 59.33469 E
A wall type reef at position N 22.752814, E 59.334691 running from west to east, 100 meter from shore. It lies about 7 km by car north-west from Qalhat close to the tiny village Al Hedha. The first part from shore to the reef is not so impressive, but then suddenly the depth plunges down from 10 to 12 meter to 14 to 16 meters. The dive site is home of a lot big fish and big rays. The several rocks are full of healthy coral including some purple types. The site is accessible from the pebble beach to the west. It lies behind the GSM telephone mast, easily seen from the main rood. A good car track is going down to the beach but the beach itself is too soft to drive. A 500 meter (6 minutes) beach walk is required carrying your kit and gear. On the east side there is a wadi which could be access/leave the water but it less accessible. Enter water around the high or low tide to avoid strong current.
At high tide about 2.8 meter only access is possible from the cliff at 22.751454 N, 59.335141 E
or the at high tide from the nearby beach 22.750365,59.335527 At low tide this beach is too rocky
Accessibility: 4x4 recommended
Access point beach: 22.751825 N, 59.326504 E
Beach: Pebbles and Stones
Depth: Up to 16-18 meter
Bottom: Hilly bottom with walls, numerously growing on rocks below 6 meter depth , very healthy. The best of the Sur area.
Fish: Plenty. Seen Manta, Stringray, Cuttle fish.
Ranking: Excellent for north-east Oman
Pictures: DevilsPointBeach.jpg
Devils point wall at about 14 meter deep:
Al Hedha wall: 22.757034 N, 59.318528 E
A wall type reef at position N 22.757034 , E 59.318528 running from west to east, 50 meter from shore. It lies about 8 km noth-west from Qalhat close to the tiny village Al Hedha/.The wall previously called Tiwi wall is about 4 to 5 meter high with a lot of variation and holes The several rocks are full of healthy corals. The site is accessible from the tiny beach to the east at N 22.756074, E 59.319772 A 4x4 can reach the cliff east of the small beach and from there it is only a few meters over the rock down to the beach sand. After entering the water go to the west/left. After 50 meter you will find the reef wall. The reef starts at around 11-13m and goes down to 16-18ml. Enter water around the high or low tide to avoid strong current. If you go right from the beach you find an ever higher wall however less coral.
Accessibility: 4x4 recommended
Beach with access point: 22.756074 N, 59.319772 E
Beach: Sandy with stones
Depth: 16-18 meter
Bottom: Several rock walls and on some places coral below 6 meter depth.
Fish: Plenty, seen cuttle fish, turtle.
Ranking: Excellent for north-east Oman
Pictures: AlHehda1.jpg AlHehda2.jpg AlHehda3.jpg AlHehda4.jpg AlHedhaAccessPoint2.jpg
Picture access point:
Qalhat/Tiwi wreck: 22.755633 N, 59.314386 E
Describtion: The GPS co-ordinates are N22deg 45' 20.28" E59deg 18' 51.79". This old wreck was more then 30 meters long but lies now totally in pieces. Only the big motor with a size of a small container, small part of the bow and two vessels are left and a lot of other scrap metal. It lies about 10 meters out of the coast. The coast there has high cliffs, but it is possible (with some effort) to reach the sea through a nearby wadi and snorkel 350 meters to the wrack.
Accessibility: By boat.
Picture: WreckQalhatTiwi1.jpg
Tiwi beach : 22.70771 N, 59.361985 E
Not yet surveyed using dive gear. Note that normally coral is found between 6-15 meters
Describtion: Just north of Tiwi
Accessibility: Saloon car but bumpy
Beach: Pebbles and sand
Depth: ??
Rock: Plenty under water rocks. Holes in the overhanging rock
Coral: None seen at snorkeling depth, below ??
Fish: Plenty, seen stingray, parrot fish, barracuda
Ranking: Average for north-east Oman
Picture: TiwiBeach.jpg
White sand beach between Tiwi and Fins: 22.894807 N, 59.222274 E
Describtion: Long and very nice beach, popular for camping. Nice
sand. Enter the beach on the left (North site). Stay about 10 to 30 meter
from rocky coastal wall. Swim up to 250 meters into the sea. Coral on several
long lime stone fingers pointing south east.
Accessibility: 4x4 recommended
Beach: Mainly sand
Depth: up to 6 meter. Shallow area.
Bottom: mainly sand/mud but on the lime stone fingers healty coral at a few meters depth.
Fish: plenty, seen turtle
Ranking: good for north-east Oman
Picture: WhiteSandBeach.jpg
Small beach south of White Sand : 22.882215 N, 59.225965 E
Describtion: Small stony beach between Tiwi and Fins: Near track used for Sur to Muscat until costal road is ready. Water shoes are essential. Not yet surveyed using dive gear.
Accessibility: 4x4 recommended
Beach: Pebbles and Stones
Depth: ??
Bottom: Several big rocks and some hard and soft coral colonies at snorkeling depth just outside the bay to the left (north). No diving done yet
Fish: average
Ranking: average for north-east Oman
Picture: SmallBeachSouthOfWhiteSand.jpg
Small beach north of White Sand: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=r&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&ll=22.906519,59.221373&spn=0.007056,0.010042&z=17
Describtion: Small stony beach with some sand. Between Tiwi and Fins. Not yet surveyed using dive gear. Note that normally coral is found between 6-15 meters
Accessibility: 4x4 recommended
Beach: Pebbles and Stones and some sand.
Depth: ??
Bottom: pretty flat with some rocks.
Fish: Average
Ranking: Average for north-east Oman
Picture: SmallBeachNorthOfWhiteSand.jpg
An finally an old but excellent dive and snorkel describtion around Sur, author unknown: DiveSur.pdf
Last update: 2008-6-19,
Some interesting links:
http://www.bishopmuseum.org/research/pbs/Oman-coral-book/
http://www.ipieca.org/activities/biodiversity/downloads/workshops/apr_06/Barry_Jupp_3121KB.pdf