Oman, the Sultanate's fascination with archaeology and nature diving
For the past several months, with the return to normalcy post Covid, Oman has again become an accessible destination With its golden dunes, souq [...]
For several months, with the return to normalcy post Covid, Oman is back as an accessible destination With its golden dunes, intoxicatingly colored souqs, historic sites, breathtaking landscapes, and deserts, Oman presents itself as a land lapped by the sea, with small beaches and calm waters in Mascate, Cliffs dropping sheer to the Arabian Sea in Musandam and turquoise sea with tropical beaches Salalah, in the south.
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However, the role of the sea is much more than this, in fact the Sultanate has always been an important maritime empire: already mentioned by Marco Polo in "The Million," has always been a land of travel and trade, a country with a rich colonial past of trade, bound to its traditions and at the same time open to the future.
In fact, Oman's maritime history dates back to the third millennium B.C.E., during the flourishing of commercial activity of civilizations in Mesopotamia and the Nile Valley: merchants from Mesopotamia contributed to the development of trading activities along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula. Later, during the time of the Arab kingdoms, the Omani ports continued to play their vital role in trade, across the seas.
The port of Sumhuram, founded in the first century B.C. by the Shabwa kings, was one such port. By the advent of Islam, the Omani had become well experienced in maritime navigation, and their commercial influence extended to the coasts of Persia, Basra and the Sindh country, while the Omani sphere of influence expanded to Pakistan and Iran, and from Cape Goradfur in the Horn of Africa in Mozambique to Mogadishu, Malindi, Mombasa and Zanzibar.Ships from the Omani naval fleet reached distant cities, including China, London and New York.
The Omani territory is still rich in archaeological and historical artifacts; among them large sunken ships full of objects belonging to ancient civilizations. These underwater archaeological sites and objects are an important source of historical information, as they contain evidence of human existence, and are better preserved than artifacts found on land, due to environmental factors.
La maritime tradition of the Sultanate is celebrated in the Al Balid Museum of Salalah, whose port in ancient times was an important departure point for caravans carrying incense by land and sea and also for the passage of minerals to Mesopotamia. Beginning with legends related to Sinbad the sailor, a mythical explorer and ancestor of the Omani, the museum tells the whole story of construction in shipyards from the third millennium before our era by cataloging navigation, shipboard life, and great sea routes. It is a tribute to the early Omani navigators who went from being nomads and caravan leaders to gradually becoming expert sailors.
Diving in Oman
In addition to being a source of history and home to important archaeological finds, Oman's sea lends itself well to a variety of activities: With its 3,165 km of coastline, the Sultanate is an ideal destination for sea lovers, as well as being rich in animal species such as turtles, whales and dolphins, and multiple water activities are also available.
The country is rapidly becoming the main destination for the scuba diving. The seabed of the Arabian Sea near the coast is populated by marine life that finds refuge in the reefs. Mascate is the best starting point for discovering unexplored and rich places: its surroundings offer more than 25 dive sites and are practicable year-round. The waters of this region are the natural habitat for more than 900 fish species and 85 varieties of coral, as well as numerous turtles. Among the most popular diving sites are the cave of the'Al Fahal Island, off Mascate, or southward from the latter is the bay of Bandar al Khiran; Finally, the wreck of the ship Al Munassir, at a depth of 30 meters, inhabited by a large colony of hippocampi. Near Mascate, about a 40-minute boat ride away, theDaymaniat Archipelago is home to a multitude of turtles that deposit their eggs here. The uninhabited islets of this nature reserve offer shelter to the country's most beautiful spots: the area offers a unique diversity of hard corals, and promises special encounters with eagle rays, manta rays, dolphins, sharks and whales (the latter sighted especially in February and March).
From Mascate to Musandam via the Dhofar region, Oman's allure extends to its seabed. Teeming with corals and numerous fish species, and largely unexplored, they are a continual discovery for diving enthusiasts. The best months are April and October, times when visibility is best and the water temperature pleasant. However, diving can be done throughout the year, with the exception of the Dhofar region, where sea conditions do not permit it during the khareef season (May-September) The main sites are located off the Mascate coastal strip, in the Musandam peninsula and in the stretch of sea overlooked by Salalah.
Some of the most popular diving spots include. Ras Musandam, on the peninsula of the same name, which features A backdrop covered with purple-blue corals, among which swims a dense sampling of reef fish; here an encounter with whitetip reef sharks is easy; also in Musandam, Ras Abr Al'Hindi, where striped snappers, schools of platax and groups of sizable parrotfish swim. Or, Ras Bashin whose seabed consists of sugarbread rocks and soft corals with yellow and blue colorations, easy encounters with large stingrays and moray eels; Ras Lima and Lima Rock, in the far north, famous for large seahorses, eagle rays, tuna, and sharks. In Mascate, one of the specialized diving centers is SeaOman, which organizes guided excursions, snorkeling, diving courses, catamaran trips of a day or more, and more, including various water sports.
The Musandam region is also home to numerous centers; to name a few: Al Marsa Tours Travel & Tourism (Dibba), which offers scuba diving experiences, diving with the possibility of obtaining a PADI or SSI certification. Another option is Musandam Discovery Diving (in Khasab), which offers diving courses, underwater exploration, scuba diving, rental service of necessary equipment, and fishing excursions.
Another excellent base for experiencing the Omani sea is the village of Sur, a traditional center for building dhows, the typical boats of the Sultanate. The very long local naval vocation is documented in a maritime museum, an interesting introduction to the history of the great Omani seafarers. The beach is world famous, along with nearby Ras al Jinz, for the green turtles that come by the thousands to lay their eggs there between September and November. Just a short walk from the beach is the Ras al Jinz Sea Turtle Reserve science center, where you can get information on the life cycle of sea turtles, particularly the green turtles that come to lay their eggs on these beaches. The center also has an eco-lodge with rooms and restaurant, the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve Hotel - Al Hadd, just 10 minutes from the beach.
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