“Diving is an investment of time and money but the rewards can be life-changing, literally.”—Andi Cummings
I am an adventure-lover type of traveller. My bucket list includes “Doing all adventure activities” at the top. In 2018, after scuba diving on Havelock Island (India) for the first time in my life, I felt a deep connection with the ocean. It had casted its spell, and to date, it is holding me in its net of wonder. Life under the water is magical, and I have decided to explore it as much as possible. While preparing for my vacation in the Middle East, it was obvious for me to include Oman because of Daymaniyat Islands, which are popular for their rich marine life. Scuba diving there was the highlight of my trip.
There are several dive shops available in Muscat that offer scuba diving, but you should book your slot with someone completely reliable. That’s why, I trusted MolaMola Diving Center, which is a 5-star PADI Dive Center based in the capital city. It offers snorkelling and scuba diving trips along with many PADI courses.
Dive Site- Daymaniyat Islands
Cost- OMR 59 including photos (around ₹12,600)
Things to carry- Towel, swimwear, and sunscreen lotion
The dive center is located in Al Mouj Muscat Marina and the boat took nearly 1.5 hours to reach the dive site. Indulging myself in the serene beauty of the surroundings while I was on my way to do my 8th dive was a delightful experience. I was excited but a little nervous as well.
1, 2, 3… and Big Step
After wearing my mask, fins, scuba tank, regulator, weights, and buoyancy compensator, I stood at the edge of the boat, ready to take a leap of faith. At that moment, not only butterflies but the entire jungle was dancing inside my stomach! Full of enthusiasm, at the count of 3, I jumped into the water. And within a few minutes, I was teleported to another world as soon as I started to descend.
I almost gave up!
It has never happened ever in my (limited) diving experience, but that was the day when my weights fell to the bottom the moment I jumped from the boat. Moreover, I was not able to keep my body in the vertical position while descending because of which I already got so worked up. But I am so grateful to my instructor, Mido, who was extremely helpful throughout the dive. I was getting restless and thought that diving today is not on the cards. But he worked with me to ensure that I have an incredible experience :)
Bottomless Blue World
I started going down and the way I felt during those moments, with fish swimming around me, is inexplicable! It was simply miraculous. Swimming further down strengthen my belief that the ocean is everything that I aspire to be—powerful, mysterious, wild, and free. I was in a state of ecstasy with the endless blue world beneath my feet.
What a feeling!!!
When I was underwater, nothing else mattered at all. I experienced the ultimate calmness. I felt like an astronaut who is exploring a whole new planet. Everything was in slow motion, including my fins and heartbeat. All my worries and problems were left behind on the surface. I was simply breathing and enjoying whatever my eyes were witnessing. Fish came closer to me out of their curiosity. I was an alien in their world. I was reliving my pleasant childhood memory of wanting to be a mermaid just like Ariel, Disney’s red-haired brave little mermaid! My favourite thing to do was to look up at the surface of the water to see how deep I am. Also, I realised why my favourite thing to do on this planet is scuba diving. I have set my heart on exploring the aquatic realm and making memories as much as I can!
Rich Marine Life
To a great extent, what you will see underwater depends on your luck. The marine life of the Daymaniyat Islands is pretty awesome. It is the nature reserve for turtles. Zebra sharks, huge rays, and big moray eels can also be spotted here. The island is home to healthy soft and hard corals. And if you are lucky enough, then you can also see whale sharks during summertime.
If you ever get the wonderful opportunity to experience all of this, then grab it with both hands. It is going to be a great addition to your life. And yes, you will never forget the first breath you will take under the water!
Happy diving!
If this hasn’t inspired you enough, then you should check out my Instagram page strolling_shoes and follow my adventures around the world!
