Daymaniyat Islands Oman: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting

Are you considering visiting the Daymaniyat Islands in Oman and aren’t sure if it’s worth it? Here are my honest opinions and everything you need to know!

Of all the places I visited in Oman, this was easily one of my favourites. When I first heard about Oman, I never imagined the country would be so full of natural beauty. Given that it was the Middle East, I’d anticipated deserts dunes and stunning mosques. But breathtaking tropical islands like the Daymaniyat Islands never even crossed my mind. 

So, when I saw that places like this existed in Oman, I knew immediately that I had to book it. It was the only tour we did in Oman as we hired a car and drove to everything else ourselves. But, since we didn’t have a boat (obviously!), this was a no-brainer. 

By the end of the day, I was giddy with happiness. It was my first time swimming with so much marine life and this trip made me fall in love with Oman more than I already had. 

Why You Should Visit the Daymaniyat Islands

Because it’s beautiful!

If you were to ask me this question, that would honestly be my answer. Quite simply, the islands are stunning. 

I’ve been scuba diving before in Egypt and Thailand and snorkelled through many coral reefs, but I’d never seen so much beautiful marine life so close to the surface. It took my breath away. 

Plus, I’d never seen turtles in the wild before. This was one of the reasons that I wanted to visit the Daymaniyat Islands in the first place and it definitely delivered on this front!

We saw huge groups of green turtles. At one point, I think there were about 5 or 6 of them all in one area which was just amazing to see. 

As well as under the waves, the actual islands themselves are pretty incredible. They’re a protected nature reserve and they’re so quiet and peaceful. 

The only people there were three tour groups (one of them was ours) which had about 8 people on each boat. Once we’d disembarked the boats and gone our separate ways exploring the islands, we were pretty much the only ones around.

Considering how overpopulated many beaches are in Europe, walking on a beach this beautiful that was completely empty felt unreal.

So, if you love marine life, snorkelling, and seeing beautiful empty beaches, don’t miss out on a trip to the Daymaniyat Islands in Oman.

✅ This is a tropical island experience in Oman you won’t forget!

Where Are the Daymaniyat Islands?

These stunning uninhabited islands are located about 30 minutes off the coast of Oman. 

When we booked the tour, we were given a meeting point near Seeb Port. It was quite easy to drive to the port from where we were staying in Muscat, park up, and walk to the dock. 

We got a teeny bit confused working out which boat was ours (a few boat trips were getting ready to depart) but managed to get on the right one. After a quick safety briefing, we began to head to the islands. 

The only way to get to the islands is by boat and the easiest way by far is to use a guided tour. We booked our tour online and were sent all the information we needed about where to meet and what to bring. 

I recommend booking early to ensure you can go on your preferred time slot. 

What to Expect From a Daynamiyat Islands Day Tour?

Our guide informed us that we would be doing 3 to 4 stops at different snorkelling locations before heading to the main island and getting off the boat. He said that each stop would last around an hour depending on how much there was to see. 

They also handed out bottles of water or juice, masks, snorkels, and fins for each of us. In total, there were around 8 people on our boat not including the guide, so it was quite a small group. 

When we set off, it was a smooth ride, but very windy. I was a little worried about the ride because I often get travel sick and was unsure if the boat would make me feel awful. But, it didn’t. 

Top Tip: Despite the heat of Oman, once you start moving on the boat, the wind can make it quite chilly. Especially once you’ve got in and out of the water. So it’s worth bringing a cover-up to beat the wind. 

The first stop

After about 30 minutes, we came to our first stop. Our guide informed us that there had been some earlier sightings of turtles in this area and pointed out where we could find them. He said that we’d have around an hour at this stop.

I could tell that our guide was really passionate about what he did and keeping the area protected and was also really knowledgeable.

We were able to ask a lot of questions about the turtles, the other types of marine life in the area, and the islands in general, which I thought was fantastic.

And sure enough, we’d barely been in the water 15 minutes before we could see turtles. There were a couple of them swimming around the corals and one just sitting on the coral and chilling. 

It was completely amazing. There were also lots of colourful fish and beautiful corals under the water. 

Once our time was up, we hopped back on the boat and were given a few snacks and more drinks before heading to our next stop.

✅ This is a tropical island experience in Oman you won’t forget!

The second stop

The second stop was about 10 minutes by boat from the first. Our guide told us a little bit about the area and said we were stopping again for around an hour. 

We hopped back into the water and the sight was even more incredible than the first stop.

About 5 minutes swim from the boat there was a huge crowd of turtles. There must’ve been 5 or 6 in that one space. 

I was completely over the moon. This was my first time seeing turtles in the wild and it was better than I’d imagined. They’re such graceful creatures and it was one of the highlights of my trip to Oman.

The third stop

Once we’d finished watching the turtles and were all back on the boat, we headed around the islands to our third stop. This was where we were able to disembark the boat and explore the islands on foot. 

We also had some food included in the tour and the guide asked if we’d rather eat now or when we got back to the boat. The general consensus was afterwards, so we jumped off the boat and went to explore the islands. 

There was no visible wildlife here, but the views were spectacular. The sun was just starting to set and the whole islands were bathed in golden light. It was absolutely beautiful and the water was really warm as well. 

We spent about 45 minutes exploring, swimming, paddling in the waves, and watching the sun go down. It was the perfect end to the day. 

After that, we boarded the boat, grabbed some food (a variety of sandwiches and snacks), and started our journey back to Muscat.

The Best Daymaniyat Islands Boat Trip

If you’re planning on booking a trip to the Dayminayat islands in Oman, I highly recommend this boat tour.

This was the tour company that we used and it was a wonderful experience. It was a small group, so it wasn’t too busy, our guide was fantastic, very helpful and knowledgeable about the area, and it was clear that he knew all of the best snorkelling spots. 

The tour departs at two different times of day: 8:15 am of 1:30 pm. We opted for the 1:30 pm slot because, to be brutally honest, I hate early mornings!

But, in hindsight, I’m glad we went for the later slot because the sunset was spectacular. 

The tour lasted about 5 hours in total and we were back in Muscat by 6pm. 

✅ This is a tropical island experience in Oman you won’t forget!

When is the best time to visit the Daymaniayat Islands in Oman?

The best time to visit the Daymaniyat Islands in Oman is between November and April. In fact, this is the only time of year when you can experience the islands to the full. 

Between May and October is turtle nesting season and visitors aren’t able to access the shore of the islands during these times. However, you can still visit by boat, but you won’t get the full experience. 

Nonetheless, the ideal time to see whale sharks in the area is between July and September. So, if you’re purely after the diving, want to visit during whale shark season, and aren’t fussed about actually going on the beach, you could consider going between these times. 

Personally, I visited the Daymaniyat islands in December and it was perfect. The weather was warm, it wasn’t too crowded, and I saw lots of turtles and other marine life.

What to Bring to the Daymaniyat Islands

There’s not a huge amount that you’ll need to bring with you to the Daymaniyat Islands. Here are a few essentials that I recommend packing:

• Towel
• Flip-flops for when the beach
• Water shoes for wearing with fins
• Snorkelling gear – you can bring your own if you don’t want to use the gear the guides will provide
• A waterproof phone case / waterproof camera
• Sun protection
• A beach cover-up – you’ll want it for the boat ride back.

FAQs for Visiting the Daymaniyat Islands in Oman

Have I convinced you to visit the Daymaniyat islands yet? Here are a few of the most popular questions you might have about the trip.

What to Wear to the Daymaniyat Islands

Since Oman is a Muslim country, you generally need to dress more modestly, covering your shoulders and knees. So, you might be wondering what type of swimwear you’ll need for this tour. 

In general, a regular swimming costume is completely fine. I wore a standard one-piece, but other girls on the tour group were wearing bikinis. 

When I wasn’t swimming in the water, I did cover up with my beach shirt and I changed back into my long dress before we got back to Muscat.

But while I was on the islands, wearing a swimsuit was completely acceptable.

How long is the Daymaniyat Islands tour?

This tour lasted around 5 hours. We left the Seeb Port at just after 13:30 and returned to Muscat by 6pm. You can also get full-day tours, but these tend to be private trips. 

✅ This is a tropical island experience in Oman you won’t forget!

What is There to Do on the Daymaniyat Islands?

The islands are primarily a snorkelling and beach destination. You can spend your day exploring the marine life beneath the waves, relaxing on the boat, exploring the islands on foot, or sunbathing on the beach. 

Some private tours will also organise a BBQ on the beach, which is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

What marine life can you see on the Daymaniyat Islands?

One of the main draws to the islands is its rich marine life. You can see lots of different species on the island including:

• Green sea turtles
• Hawksbill turtles
• Bottlenose dolphins
• Whale sharks
• Zebra sharks
• Humpback whales
• Sting rays
• Red sea clownfish
• Arabian butterflyfish
• Arabian Picasso triggerfish
• Arabian angelfish
• Moray eel

And much more!

Is visiting the Daymaniyat Islands worth it?

Yes! Yes, and 100% yes! Visiting the Daymaniyat islands is so worth it. It was one of the best things I did in Oman (did I mention that?), and it was such an amazing experience. 

Plus it’s the ideal contrast from many of Oman’s other top attractions such as desert camps, wadis, and incredible forts.

✅ This is a tropical island experience in Oman you won’t forget!