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The Turtles of Oman Are you into Turtles? If yes, Oman is your place to be. There are seven different types of sea turles around the world – and Omani waters are home to five of them. Keep on reading to get to know the different kind of turtles to see around Muscat while Scuba Diving in Oman. Many, Many Green Turtles The following sea turtles are the ones you find in our waters: The Leatherback Sea Turtles: She is not only the largest of all sea turtles with a size ranging from 1.2 up to 2.4 meters but also the oldest of all of them. They survived the extinction of the dinosaurs! But the Leatherback Turtle doesn’t come ashore in Oman – so they can only be seen during Snorkeling or Scuba Diving in Oman. Green Turtle: This turtle gets its name from the green fat found underneath its carapace. She is the one Sea Turtle we see most on our dives or while Snorkeling. Olive Ridley Turtle: This turtle is the second smallest in the world but the most abundant of all sea turtles. These turtles are known for their mass nesting and breeding. Thousands of females travel together and lay their eggs on the same beach. Hawksbill Turtle: The hawksbill sea turtle is unfortunately, a critically endangered species. Their appearance can be easily recognized by their sharp, curving beak and their saw-like shell margins. Loggerhead Turtle: The loggerhead sea turtle comes ashore to lay eggs less frequently than other types of turtle spotting. One is a real treat. The females nest every 2 to 4 years. Where to See Sea Turtles To see turtles – especially the Green Turtle – on shore, its totally worth a trip to the beautiful beaches in Ras al Hadd or Ras Al Jinz. But to see them while Scuba Diving in Oman, we can totally recommend the Daymaniyat Island for you. The tiny archipelago of rocky islands and the first marine reserve created in Oman is located north of Muscat within a 40-minute boat ride from Al Mouj Marina where MolaMola Diving Center is located The coral reefs surrounding the island are an important area for nesting sea turtles – and that is especially why the beaches at Daymaniyat Island are closed to enter during the months from May to October. Every year, an abundance of turtles migrate to the beaches and shorelines of the Arab Peninsula to dig a hole and lay their eggs. In Oman, which is one of the hot spots for turtle-hatching, the best time to see them is between May and August every year. During these months, around 20,000 turtles come to Oman’s beaches, especially on the Eastern side. These turtles lay 50,000 to 60,000 eggs during this period and are buried under the sand, just to protect them. After the eggs are laid, around 55 days later the eggs hatch and the babies begin their lives. The good news? Snorkeling or Scuba Diving with Turtles in Oman is possible year-round. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling with Turtles We think what most people love most while snorkeling or Scuba Diving, is to see a turtle underwater. They are so graceful as if flying underwater and very peaceful as well. On our dives either at Daymaniyat Island or Fahal Island, we spot a turtle almost every time. So what are you waiting for? Book the best Scuba Diving in Oman with MolaMola Diving Center right now. Previous PostNext Post

What’s the Best Time for Diving in Oman? Are you curious when you should visit us to enjoy Oman’s Best Diving Experience? Honestly, we are accessible year-around!  However, check out below to see what Oman has to offer and which month is best for Whale Sharks and when the best visibility at Daymaniyat Islands is too! Diving in Oman Oman and the diving around Muscat is the perfect place for beginners. The diving is simple and calm, the water is warm and the marine life is full of life and colors. We have many colorful tropical fish and hard and soft corals to gaze at. If you are into Makro, there are many nudibranchs and reef fish in our area – but if you are into bigger fish, don’t worry, we got you covered with many turtles, Zebra and Black Reef Shark and during the right season even Whale Sharks. The water temperature ranges from 19 degrees Celcisus in winter up to 28 degrees in summer. Visibility is best when the water is a bit colder and can range between 15 to 30 meters. Our depths range from 5 down to 28 meters. There are deeper dive sites of course but the best views are usually between 10 to 20 meters. Whale Shark Season Are you ready to snorkel with up to 20 Whale Sharks at the same time? The Whale Shark is the largest known fish species alive today. They are very graceful, slowly-moving and stunning to observe. We see them on our way to Daymaniyat island usually during summer, with July to September being the best time to encounter them. We stop the boat so you can jump in the water and snorkel with them. If you are lucky enough, you can even see one or two on a dive. Trust us, this will be an experience you treasure forever.. Visibility at Its Best As we said before, visibility is at its best during the winter months. Anytime from October up to May we can promise you visibility up to 30 meters. Just wear a 5mm wetsuit during the winter months (November to January) as the water is a bit colder and the air as well. Come Join Us! Are you ready for the best diving in Oman? With MolaMola Diving Center, a PADI Dive Center, we take you diving year-round with April to May and September to October to be the best combination of surface and sea temperatures and with July to September the best months for Whale Shark encounters. Next Post

Zebra Shark or Leopard Shark? This is a prime example of how ‘common names’ for animals are not always universal: what some call the leopard shark, others call the zebra shark and vice versa. This can lead to extreme confusion for divers that want to share their love of these sharks with fellow divers in different parts of the world. Marine Biologists use two-part scientific names (often in Latin or Greek) for identifying ocean animals, which provides an important level of specificity when referring to a particular species. Today we are talking about what we call the Zebra shark, the Stegostoma fasciatum. The Zebra Shark has its name because it’ss born with “zebra lines” which change into leopard-like-spots when they reach adulthood. Calmly Resting on the Sea Floor during the Day; Feeding at Night The Zebra shark is a species of carpet shark found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, from South Africa to the Red Sea, to India and Southeast Asia. They are covered in small dark spots, have distinctive ridges running down their bodies, and a tail fin nearly half their total length. Adults typically reach an average length of about 2.4 meters. As nocturnal bottom-feeders, they are usually seen resting on the sea floor or calmly cruising over sand flats and tropical coral reefs during the day. The Zebra Shark is known for its foraging habits; it feeds and moves mostly at night, foraging for crabs, sea urchins, small fish, snails, and other invertebrates hiding in holes and crevices. Sadly the Zebra Shark Is Considered “Endangered” Due to their shallow habitat and relatively low reproductive rate, Stegostoma fasciatum are highly susceptible to population depletion from overfishing. Zebra sharks are caught for their meat, which is eaten fresh or dried and salted like jerky. Its fins are used for shark fin soup or in traditional Chinese medicines. Also caught as bycatch from trawl fisheries, they are considered ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN. We luckily still have quite a few Zebra sharks at Daymaniyat Islands. Lets go see some together while Diving in Oman with us. Next Post

Can I dive on my period? You planned your vacation. You booked the flights. And your dives with MolaMola Diving Center are all set. And then, there is this time of the month where you will be getting your period. And it turns out to be exactly on the same dates as your planned dives… It happens. Probably almost every female diver has asked herself: Is it safe to dive while I am on my period? Be it shark attack, weakness, visual or hygienic issues. Keep on reading to find out everything you need to know about diving on your period.   Is there a chance of shark attack if I dive on my period? Some people worry that they’ll be more prone to a shark attack if they go in the water during their period. The good news: There is no evidence that correlates sharks attack and menstruation, nor are there any reported cases of shark attacks on women who are on their period.  Thankfully, sharks are not going to smell your blood and come pursuing you because you’re menstruating. The warning that a shark can smell blood from five kilometers away is taken as fact, but this does not mean the smell makes the shark any more interested in you as it would be a floating log. Studies have been carried out to watch the shark’s reaction to human blood. Sharks seem inquisitive, however not forceful when human blood is in the water. The conclusion is a relief as it turns out, sharks are most attracted to fish gastric juices (not even fish blood) which bodes well for the shark as a fish that is releasing gastric juices is certainly handicapped and easy prey. So, don’t worry about the sharks. You should actually be paying more attention to preventing a sunburn, or dehydration while on a dive trip! Stay well hydrated to prevent DCS and a sunburn Diving on your period is generally okay. Nonetheless, studies have demonstrated that scuba diving while bleeding may add to a diver’s danger of decompression sickness. One study recorded, that women were twice as liable to experience decompression sickness throughout the first week of their menstrual cycle. So please make sure to ascend conservatively and stay hydrated when diving on your period, not only to prevent DCS but also a sunburn and dehydration. Diving on our period? We feel no difference For us female Divers at MolaMola Diving Center, we feel no difference with Diving on our period. We love Diving in Oman and are enjoying it on every day of the month. However, as we know, each body is different. During their time of the month, some women may have stronger pain than others, experiencing severe and possibly debilitating cramps. In that case, the advice is the same as taught from the PADI Open Water course: safety is always the most important thing. Dive only if you feel good and comfortable to do so. Feel free to reach out to us on our Instagram if we wish to know more to clear your doubts. See you on the boat! Previous PostNext Post