Muscat
Oman · Indian Ocean
Oman's capital coastline delivers year-round subtropical diving anchored by whale sharks, schooling barracuda, and healthy coral gardens — October through May brings the clearest water and calmest seas.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live coral covers 19% of this reef.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · MERMAID and the survey teams · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across 3 survey years from 2024 to 2026, live coral cover here has fallen from 60% to 19%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 60% |
| 2025 | 30% |
| 2026 | 19% |
What you will see
17 species across the dive sites here
Purple Sunbird
Seen 1 month ago
at Muscat Offshore Seamount
Least concern
White-Eared Bulbul
Seen 1 month ago
at Muscat Offshore Seamount
Least concern
Red-Wattled Lapwing
Seen 2 months ago
at Bandar Khayran
Least concern
House Crow
Seen 2 months ago
at Bandar Khayran
Least concern
Blue-spotted Ribbontail Ray
Seen 4 months ago
at Bandar Khayran
Least concern
Green Sea Turtle
Seen 4 months ago
at Bandar Khayran
Least concern
Painted Spiny Lobster
Seen 5 months ago
at Bandar Khayran
Least concern
Pharaoh Cuttlefish
Seen Jun 2025
at Bandar Khayran
Arabian Angelfish
Seen year round
at Bandar Khayran
Least concern
Chevron Barracuda
Seen year round
at Fahal Island
Least concern
Giant Trevally
Seen year round
at Fahal Island
Least concern
Silky Shark
Seen year round
at Muscat Offshore Seamount
Vulnerable
Spotted Eagle Ray
Seen year round
at Fahal Island
Endangered
Oceanic Manta Ray
Seasonal visitor
at Muscat Offshore Seamount
Endangered
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Muscat Offshore Seamount
Critically endangered
Wahoo
Seasonal visitor
at Muscat Offshore Seamount
Least concern
Whale Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Fahal Island
Endangered
