Diving and snorkeling sites 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 sites 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 only, 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. Alternatively you can drive up the cliff and enter the bay at 22.53161,59.756082 saving a 150 meter swim.

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

Ras al Hadd sea side, Rocky beach : 22.532641,59.750288

Describtion: There is a rocky beach behind the turtle beach resort allowing easy access to the sea. Water shoes are essential. From the beach it gets slowly deeper and numerous rock are lying around. The coral grow start at around 5 meter deep. Between 7 to 12 meters there is an impressive coral grow on the rocks and numerous fish are swimming around. East of the beach there are some small walls about 2 to 3 meters high which are home of numerous shoal of fish. Regularly turtles can be observed.

Accessibility: Saloon car.

Depth: Up to 15 meter

Fish: Plenty

Ranking: Excellent for north-east Oman

OLNG beach near OLNG, Sur 22.676263 N, 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. Beyond 6 meter depth there is 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  

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 overhead line on coastal 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 deeper 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

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, Stingray, Cuttle fish.

Ranking: Excellent for north-east Oman

<=Access point beach

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, about 50 meters from shore. It lies about 8 km north-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 west/left. After 50 meters you will find the reef wall. The reef starts at around 11-13m  and goes down to 16-18m. Enter water around the high or low tide to avoid strong current.  If you go right from the entry point you can find an ever higher wall however with less coral growth.

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

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 water on the left (north) side of  the beach.. Stay about 30 meter from rocky coastal wall on the left and swim up to 250 meters into the sea. From their on several long lime stone fingers pointing south east coral can be found.

Accessibility: 4x4 recommended

Beach: Mainly sand

Depth: up to 6 meter. Shallow area.

Bottom: mainly sand/mud but on the lime stone fingers healthy 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 coastal 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: 22.906519 N, 59.221373 E

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

Quariyat Wreck, MS Mimoona

N 23°16.604 / E 58°56.033, depth 25 or  8-16m?. Not yet visited. 23.27673333 N, 58.93388333 E

Island near Quariyat (Ras Abu Da'ud/Al Hedaph?): 23.322001 N,58.917446 E

Describtion: South of the island at around 6 to 15 meter deep there is nice coral growing on the rocks. Group of small sharks visit regularly the area. East of the island there is a very impressive steep stone wall stretching more then 100 meters from west-east. It lies just below below the surface and goes almost vertical down to about 20 to 25 meters deep. Big groups of parrot fish and other fish can be observed here.

Accessibility: Boat only

Picture:

An finally an old but excellent dive and snorkel describtion around Sur, author unknown: DiveSur.pdf

Last update: 2008-10-31,

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

http://wsmith.net/divesites.htm