Muscat Things to Do

I dive around the world both for work as a saturation diver and as a keen recreational diver.

I recently when to Oman for a 10 day holiday and wanted to get some time in the water scuba diving. After asking around and looking at 2-3 of the major operators in Muscat I decided on Go Dive Oman which is a fairly new dive operation. I liked the owner a New Zealand couple both where really friendly and helpful with all aspects of diving, plus they even gave me some great advice on local places to stay and some very cool spots to see, that where not to be found in the Lonely Planet.

i was really impressed with the service and the vessel, the office was located right on the beach by the local Yacht Club. the staff where professional and had excellent knowledge of the dive location and the fish life. I went out with them for 5 days, each was a day trip and every time i was very pleased with the dives - the fish life was incredible and plentiful.

I dove on reefs , bommies and islands - they were all great dives and i was not disappointed. the visibility was a solid 20-25m so great for photos.

i dove an excellent wreck an 84 metre ship, "Al Munnassir” . The 3,000 tonne ship was sunk in 30 metres of water, The turquoise waters of Bandar Khairan close to Muscat. The wreck is home to fish and other marine life of quite a magnitude. the schools are massive and the water is thick with fish.

i have no reservations recommending the guys at Go Dive Oman, they made my trip so much better with not just great diving but also their service and the land activities they told me about.

you must call these guys if you want a great experience !

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With its bay acting as a natural port, Matrah has served as a gateway to Oman for centuries. The maritime connection encouraged important trade with India and Africa and brought wealth and prosperity to the merchant families and tribes of Matrah. Nowadays, Matrah (sometimes spelt Muttrah) is just one town in the series of communities that make up Greater Muscat and continues to serve as the main port of the capital of Oman. Matrah is also a prime site on any itinerary through the region for its scenic Corniche, charming souk and traditional old architecture.

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Located at the eastern end of the Matrah Corniche, al Riyam Park takes advantage of stunning views and the unique natural landscape. The green park is located on a small peninsula and includes two steep hills, one of which contains an ancient Portuguese watchtower. The second hill, further inland, is crowned with a white modern watchtower built to look like an incense burner. The tower draws tourists for the panoramic views extending from Matrah to Old Muscat.

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The hills and mountains surrounding the towns of Matrah and Old Muscat are dotted with 16th/17th century watchtowers. They were mostly built by the Portuguese to supplement the few fortresses in the area as an early warning system against attacks. These lone watchtowers crown the tops of numerous mountains and add to the charm and scenic beauty of this part of Oman. In fact, they have become part of the Omani architectural fabric and have been imitated repeatedly in modern architecture. Attached are photos of some of the watchtowers in Matrah.

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Sur al-Lawatiya translates to the “Wall of the Lawatis”, i.e. the walled district of the Lawati tribe. The neighbourhood is the oldest in Matrah, established three centuries ago by the Lawati tribe, who were originally from Arabia, but made it to the coast of Oman after settling in India for several centuries. Being successful merchants, they built mansions for their families and decorated them with motifs influenced by both Arab and Indian architecture. Sur al-Lawatiya has preserved a large number of these traditional merchant houses amid narrow winding alleys. The architecture in this area teams with pointed arches, colourful carved wooden and stone lattices, and open verandas. The attached photos show a few examples.

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Shatti el-Qurm is a beachside neighbourhood in Greater Muscat. It is the most expensive neighbourhood to live in and contains numerous embassies and diplomatic residences. Its villas and streets are large and perfectly maintained. The area contains some of the city's most expensive shopping as well as its luxurious resort-hotels such as the Grand Hyatt. The beaches along Shatti el-Qurm are beautiful.

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Built in 1986, the Asma bint Alawi Mosque is the main mosque in Madinat al-Ilam (Information City, sometimes spelt al-A'alam). Like other mosques in Greater Muscat, Alawi Mosque is beautiful and unique. It has an ornate golden onion-shaped dome and a clock tower for a minaret! The mosque is visible from the main motorway connecting the airport to Old Muscat. Information City is just another neighbourhood in Greater Muscat and named so because it contains the Ministry of Information and the Oman Radio and Television Studios.

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Al-Khuwayr is a modern neighbourhood of Greater Muscat located between the airport and the historic towns of Matrah and Muscat. Its physical appearance is closer to other Gulf cities, with its mostly non-descriptive buildings and flat landscape. It contains a number of businesses and commercial centres, but its most prized monument is perhaps the Zawawi Mosque (see photograph). It is considered one of the most beautiful in Muscat and provides a great photo opportunity for photographers.