Booking & payment
How do I book a trip?
Book online: pick your trip, date and number of adults and children, and your booking is confirmed straight away. Overnight Island Camping is booked on WhatsApp. Prefer to talk first, or planning a private group? Message us on WhatsApp and we usually reply within the hour. We meet at Al Mouj Marina, Muscat; we don't offer hotel pickup, but it's a short taxi from most Muscat hotels and we're happy to advise on transfers.
How much does it cost?
Shared half-day snorkeling is OMR 30 per adult and OMR 17 per child (under 16). Private charters start from OMR 300 for the whole boat (half-day, up to 12 guests), or OMR 400 for a full day, plus reserve permits per person. A private sunset cruise is OMR 90 per boat, and Overnight Island Camping is OMR 90 per adult and OMR 60 per child.
How do I pay?
All trips are paid in full in advance. Online bookings are paid by card at checkout. For WhatsApp or email bookings, you can pay by local bank transfer or by card through a secure payment link. We don't take deposits or payment on the day.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
You can cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before a shared tour, or up to 72 hours before a private charter, sunset cruise or overnight camping trip, and we'll give you a full refund or move you to another date. If we ever cancel because of weather, sea conditions or other circumstances beyond our control, you get a full refund or a new date, whichever you prefer.
On the day
Where do we depart from?
All trips leave from Al Mouj Marina in Muscat. Once your booking is confirmed we send the exact pontoon location and a map pin, plus parking tips.
What time do trips leave?
Morning snorkeling trips usually depart between 8 and 9am, when the water is calmest and the light is best. Sunset cruises leave in the late afternoon. We'll give you an exact time when you book.
How long is a trip?
A shared half-day snorkeling trip is around 5 hours door to door. Private full-day charters run longer, and sunset cruises are about 2 hours. Time in the water depends on conditions and the group.
What should I bring?
Just swimwear under your clothes, a towel, a hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen. We provide all the snorkeling gear, life jackets, drinking water and snacks.
Gear, safety & who can come
Is snorkeling gear included?
Yes. Masks, snorkels, fins and life jackets are all included and sanitized between trips. Just bring swimwear, a towel and reef-safe sunscreen. You're welcome to bring your own gear if you prefer your own fit.
I'm a beginner, can I still come?
Absolutely. Most of our guests are first-timers. Everyone gets a life jacket, a crew member stays in the water with the group, and we choose calm, sheltered spots so you can take your time.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
No. With a life jacket you can float comfortably and watch the reef below without swimming hard. Tell us if anyone in your group is nervous in the water and we'll keep an extra eye out.
Can children come?
Yes, families are very welcome and children love it. Child prices apply to guests under 16. We carry child-sized life jackets and masks, and our crew is used to looking after younger snorkelers.
Seasons & wildlife
When is the best time to visit?
You can snorkel the Daymaniyat Islands year-round. The water is calmest and clearest from November to April. Whale shark season runs roughly July to October, with August and September the peak.
Will I see turtles?
Green and hawksbill turtles live around the islands all year, so sightings are very common, though they're wild animals and we can never promise a specific encounter. We keep a respectful distance and let the turtles set the pace, which keeps the experience safe for you and the wildlife.
Can I swim with whale sharks?
In season (roughly July to October) we often encounter whale sharks feeding near the islands. They're wild and migratory, so sightings are never guaranteed, but it's one of the most magical things you can see here.
Can I see bioluminescence (the glowing water) on a trip?
Sometimes, and it's unforgettable when it happens. Bioluminescence (often called phosphorescence) is caused by tiny plankton that flash blue-green when the water moves. It appears only when conditions line up: a plankton bloom, a dark night, calm seas. It's most likely on our night-time trips like Overnight Island Camping, but it's a natural event we can never guarantee. Follow us on Instagram. We post when the water is glowing.
Permits & responsible travel
Do I need a permit for the islands?
The Daymaniyat Islands are a protected nature reserve and require an entry permit. We arrange it for every trip. On the shared tour and overnight camping, the permit is included in your price. On private charters, the permit is added per person on top of the boat price.
How do you protect the reef?
We run plastic-free trips, encourage reef-safe sunscreen, never anchor on coral, and we don't touch or feed wildlife. Helping keep the reserve healthy is the whole point.
Do you offer private charters?
Yes. You can book the whole boat for your family or group: great for birthdays, friends, photographers and anyone who wants their own pace.