On my recent trip to Muscat, we decided to take a boat trip to the beautiful Daymaniyat Islands – and what a good decision it was!
A hidden gem in the Gulf of Oman, the Daymaniyat Islands are a haven of tranquillity and a hub of marine life.
What I loved about the islands is that they’re not too overrun with tourists, so you can actually enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings without the crowds.
At the Daymaniyat Islands you’ll find turquoise water, white sand and plenty of marine life to discover. And yet it’s only a stone’s throw from Muscat, making it the perfect day trip.
This was also the first time I got to snorkel with sea turtles and I was very excited about it!
In my guide to visiting the Daymaniyat Islands, I explain the logistics of how to get there, when to visit and a few top tips.
Author Bio: Jessie Moore
Jessie Moore is a luxury travel expert with years of experience travelling the world to find the best destinations, hotels and adventures.
This post contains affiliate links.
Where are the Daymaniyat Islands?
The Daymaniyat Islands can be found around 18 kilometres off the coast of Oman, not far from the city of Muscat.
Part of the Al Batinah region, the archipelago comprises nine islands in the Gulf of Oman.
The majority of trips to the Daymaniyat Islands depart from Al Mouj Marina in Muscat. It takes around 45 minutes by boat – and the boat trip itself is definitely part of the fun!
Given the close proximity to the Omani capital, I consider a visit to the Daymaniyat Islands one of the best things to do in Muscat.
Best time to visit the Daymaniyat Islands
Crucially, you can only get the full experience of visiting the Daymaniyat Islands from November to April.
Between May and October is turtle nesting season, and it’s therefore forbidden to access the islands in order to preserve the nesting sites.
While you may be able to visit by boat during these months, you won’t be able to step onto the islands themselves.
That said, the best time to see whale sharks is from July to September. So if that’s your main goal then you could just opt for a boating and diving trip without stepping foot on the islands.
Personally, I visited the Daymaniyat Islands in February and it felt like a great time to be there.
The water was warm, the weather was sunny and I saw a lot of different marine life.
How to get to the Daymaniyat Islands
To reach the Daymaniyat Islands you’ll need to book a tour and there are a few on offer. I’ve listed a few of my top picks below:
- Daymaniat Islands Snorkeling Tour with Refreshments (via GetYourGuide)
- Daymaniat Islands Scuba Diving for Beginners (via GetYourGuide)
- Cruises to Daymaniyat & Snorkeling (via Viator)
- Daymaniyat Islands Snorkeling Sharing Trip (via Viator)
Our hotel, The Chedi Muscat, organised our tour for us, so it’s also worth enquiring with your hotel.
As mentioned above, the majority of trips depart from Al Mouj Marina and it usually takes around 45 minutes to reach the islands.
Snorkelling at the Daymaniyat Islands
The highlight and main draw of visiting the Daymaniyat Islands is snorkelling, as its clear blue water lends itself perfectly to diving.
You’ll likely make two to three different stops around the Daymaniyat Islands with the chance to go snorkelling in each.
To be honest, I only went snorkelling in the first place because I was so excited that I completely exhausted myself!
Snorkelling at the Daymaniyat Islands allows you to see the coral reefs up close and spot the various different marine life.
Marine life at the Daymaniyat Islands
The waters around the Daymaniyat Islands are teeming with tropical fish in a rainbow of different colours.
But the real highlight for me was seeing and swimming with the sea turtles. Turns out getting a selfie with a sea turtle is quite the challenge, but I managed to get something close enough!
If you’re really lucky, you may also see the endangered whale sharks.
They are the largest shark and the largest fish in the sea – but don’t worry, they aren’t aggressive! More like gentle giants.
Other things to do on the Daymaniyat Islands
While snorkelling and scuba diving are the main attractions, there are a couple of other things to do on the Daymaniyat Islands.
The first is simply to enjoy a spot of sunbathing and relaxation in the beautiful surroundings.
I can’t think of many better places to chill out than on the white sands of the Daymaniyat Islands, with the sound of the lapping waves in the background.
As part of our tour, our guides also set up a barbecue on the beach for us, which was such a lovely touch.
Complete with a gorgeous rug, comfy cushions and gazebo to shelter us from the hot sun, it was a wonderful way to refuel after all the excitement of snorkelling.
What to bring
It’s always good to be prepared when heading out on a boat trip. Here are my recommendations of what to pack in order to make the most of your trip:
Sun protection
It can be easy to forget to apply your sunscreen when you’re busy snorkelling but the sun can be intense in this part of the world.
Please opt for a reef-safe sunscreen where possible, in order to help protect the marine life.
I’d also recommend a hat for when you’re chilling on the sand. But you may want to take it off on the boat, as it will likely blow off your head!
Snorkelling gear
If you’ve booked a tour then your guides will provide you with a snorkel and flippers. Although you may wish to bring your own for comfort and hygiene.
I’d also really recommend wearing flippers. My first attempt at snorkelling was a total fail because I’m not a strong swimmer and just kept sinking without the flippers!
Browse and book a tour to the Daymaniyat Islands:
Beach essentials
Our hotel provided us with towels to bring, but I’d recommend packing a beach towel just in case.
Plus, I’d also advise bringing a change of clothes if you don’t want to remain in wet swimwear for the journey home.
Food and drink
Check whether your tour provider provides lunch or refreshments. If not, then you’ll definitely want to bring some snacks to fuel all that swimming and snorkelling.
If you have any specific dietary requirements then it may be worth bringing your snacks anyway, just to be safe.
Waterproof camera
If you’d like to capture some evidence of your time with the turtles then I’d definitely recommend bringing a waterproof camera.
Personally I used the GoPro Hero 10 which did the job perfectly! You can find out more about the camera equipment I use here.
Are the Daymaniyat Islands worth visiting?
Absolutely, I would whole-heartedly recommend a day trip to the Daymaniyat Islands.
I have such fond memories of our island trip, from the laughter on the boat ride to the bucket list moment of swimming with sea turtles.
Plus, being only 45 minutes away from the Omani capital, the islands are wonderfully accessible and a round trip shouldn’t take more than around five hours.
Let me know in the comments below if you’ve visited the Daymaniyat Islands and if you have any tips or questions.
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