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Dive Review of Extra Divers Qantab/Shangri-La Al Waha in
Oman/Muscat

 
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Extra Divers Qantab/Shangri-La Al Waha: "Good diving in Oman", Jul, 2017,

by Graham McGregor, Kilmacolm, GB (Top Contributor Top Contributor 39 reports with 22 Helpful votes). Report 9653.

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Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments My son and I had a short dive trip to Oman. With residual concerns about security in the Red Sea, Oman is a realistic medium haul dive destination from the UK. We stayed at the Shangri-La Al Waha resort part of a 3 hotel complex, albeit a little east of Muscat. It is a comfortable resort with a variety of restaurant choices, spa, gym etc. Extra Divers have a good quality dive operation on site. We had 8 dives with them, mainly at sites close by around the surrounding coastline. They offer trips to the Daymanyiat Islands if there is enough demand (minimum 8 divers). Unfortunately they were quite quiet when we were there and did not run any trips to the Daymanyiat Islands, so we took two day trips to the Daymanyiat Islands with another dive operation Global Scuba (see separate report).

Extra Divers is a well run operation, with several boats which were roomy enough for the 3 to 7 divers on any of the trips we took. They offer two tank morning dive trips and a one tank afternoon trip. One trip was to Fahal Island, about 40 minutes away but most were at sites on the coastline close by, no more than a 10 to 20 minute boat ride. Extra Divers had good rental equipment and Nitrox is available. Most sites were on bommies on sandy bottoms or small walls. The viz was a bit variable, ranging from about 5 to 15 metres. The water temp was about 31C near the surface but there were noticeable thermoclines on most dives which dropped the temp by about 4C and reduced the viz. The diving exceeded my expectations. Plenty of schooling and other reef fish. I saw more morays than anywhere I've been, including free swimming morays on pretty much every dive. Octopus, boxfish, barracuda, clownfish. We saw several turtles and stingrays and eagle rays. Cuttlefish appeared also on several dives. Good variety and pretty relaxed diving. It was very hot (above 100F) at the surface. Only 12 litre tanks available but most dives were about an hour.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Galapagos; Palau; Sipadan; Truk; Malapascua; Komodo; Ticao Island; Maldives; Red Sea; Caribbean; Cuba; Hawaii; Florida; Cozumel; Spain, Seychelles, Mauritius, Oman
Closest Airport Muscat Getting There Straightforward from UK. Direct flights from London or easy connections at Middle East hubs

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm
Water Temp 27-32°C / 81-90°F Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 5-15 M / 16-49 Ft

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions Guided dives but pretty flexible once you demonstrated your diving experience
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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