Dhofar– Khuriya Muriya Islands
The governorate of Dhofar is located in southern Oman and is famed for its lush green scenery and dramatic foggy weather, especially during the monsoon season (called locally as 'Khareef'). When it comes to diving in Oman, most tourists overlook the Dhofar region because diving in Dhofar is rather uncommon, with only a few dive firms operating excursions around the region. The Khuriya Muriya Islands (also known as Al Hallaniyat Islands) are a group of five small islands off the coast of Salalah (Dhofar Governorate's capital city) in the province of Shalim. The occurrence of hard coral and kelp forest growing together due to fluctuations in water temperatures during summer is the main attraction of Khuriya Muriya Island, which is only found in a few places around the world.
Every year, during the summer months, a kelp forest up to 10 meters long grows, eventually drying out by September. Huge moray eels, parrotfish, and turtles are among the abundant marine life. Another highlight of the dive is a wreck of a British ship that was sunk by the Germans during World War I.
The Khuriya Muriya Islands are an untouched beauty and one of Oman's best scuba diving destinations, with miles of isolated pristine beaches still waiting to be discovered. They should be on your list of places to dive in Oman.
Location: 40km of the southeastern coast of Oman (can be accessed through boat rides from the cities of Mirbat and Sadah)
