Blog

How Does Scuba Diving Feel Like? Have you ever asked yourself why you should try Scuba Diving? What is this thing everyone is talking about? How does it feel like? Keep on reading. Scuba Diving will change your life, trust me. And here you will get to know why. There Isn’t Anything Like Scuba Diving Scuba diving takes you away from all the stresses of everyday life, away from your phone and the internet. It takes you into an underwater world full of discovery and peace. Divers cite the sensation of breathing underwater, feeling weightless, seeing incredible marine species and connecting with friends and family as some of the major reasons they love the sport. In short, scuba diving allows you to see and experience things that can be found in no other way! Once you’ve got over the first hurdles of learning to dive and have a little experience, for a lot of people, the essential feeling is “relaxed”. Scuba diving can give a feeling of freedom and discovery that’s tough to beat. Like an Astronaut Who Is Exploring a Whole New Planet Scuba diving certainly shares a lot of similarities with being in space. So, yes, for most of us, scuba diving is the closest feeling that we can experience to actually being in space. Scuba divers can fly up, down, left and right. You know those cool shots of astronauts floating in zero gravity in the space station? Physically, it feels just like that, except: instead of a cramped and cluttered spacelab, you’re floating suspended above a stunning reef teeming with life and colours you’ve never seen before; instead of a sterile environment, you’re diving with and through schools of fish of every conceivable hue and shape; instead of a wall two feet away, there’s the ocean! The weightlessness of scuba diving is one of the most freeing sensations in the world. Divers can move easily in three dimensions. So Scuba Diving is like being an astronaut – It is like flying! Diving Is Something You Want to Experience Again and Again Well yes, maybe the first few dives can feel a bit scary. Maybe you will constantly worry about all the things that could go wrong or all the things you should keep track of. But once you are getting used to it, you quickly realize that there are a finite number of things that can go wrong and that you’ve been trained to deal with them. After some time, you will stop worrying. And after that, diving feels exhilarating. You will discover an activity that can be relaxing, educational, and social all at the same time. When the diving bug gets you, the feeling of freedom underwater is something you’ll want to experience again and again. So what are you waiting for? Experience Scuba Diving on Oman with MolaMola Diving Center and get to know the best diving in Oman! Next Post

The most important Scuba Diving Hand Signals As you know, speaking underwater does not work. So how can we communicate with each other under water? Easy, we can use our Hands to signal our Buddy or our Dive Guide how we feel. Here are some of the most important Scuba Diving Hand Signals for you to remember:   Hand Signals to communicate underwater Are you ok? As a Scuba Diver you might know that Thumps up doesn’t mean I am ok – I am ok means when you do like the picture is showing. Your Dive Guide will ask you few times during the dive how you feel – just answer with this sign if everything is OK I have a problem with my ears   If you face a problem during a dive, stretch your hand out straight and move it back to left and right to show your buddy or Dive Guide that you have a problem. Also always show where you’re facing the problem – for example like on the picture on the right side: with your ears or with equalizing. How much air do you have This sign means, how much air do you have? To answer, see below I have 100 / 50 / 20 bar left    To show your buddy how much air you have left, use your both hands (one horizontal and the other vertical) to show you still have 100 bar. If you have 50 bars left, make a fist. If you have lets say 70 bar, show the fist for 50 bar and two fingers (each finger showing 10 bar). The current is strong This sign means, there is a strong current. Go closer to the reef / to the bottom   If the current is strong, your Dive Guide will tell you to either go closer to the bottom (picture left) or closer to the reef (picture right) Let’s go up To end the dive, your Dive Guide or your buddy will give you this sign to show you that it is time to ascend. 3 Minute Safety-Stop One of the most important sign is this one: it is time for your 3 minute safety stop at 5 meters depth. And here are some of the basic signs for the Marine life: Shark If you see a shark and you want to let your buddy or dive group know, just put your straight hand in front of your head. Lionfish If you see a Lionfish, put both hands together and lift your fingers up. Turtle If you see a turtle, put both hands together and put your thumps out. Of course, there are many more Signals which we use on a dive or especially during a Scuba Diving Course – these are just the most important and basic ones. You will learn the Signals during your Open Water Course and with the time of continuing your Scuba Diving education you will even learn more and more. Also on every dive with MolaMola Diving Center in Oman, we are reviewing the most important signals, so every diver understand what we are saying and how he or she can communicate with us. Let us know if you know any other Signals, especially of Marina life, on your next dive with us. Previous PostNext Post

Diving the Daymaniyat Island, Oman Are you looking for the best place to dive in Oman? Good news: You found it! Daymaniyat Island is also called the Maledives of Oman because of its turquoise water and stunning coral reefs. There are many places to dive – but nothing is like Daymaniyat Island During your time in Oman you may find some other places to dive like Bander Khayran or Fahal Island. But to be honest with you: The dive sites there are nothing compared to the ones in Daymaniyat Island. The Daymaniyat islands is a Nature Reserve protected by the Omani government and home to endangered sea turtles, untouched coral reefs, and exotic fish. Therefore, the islands are one of Oman’s leading dive spots! During the months of May to end of October, no one is allowed to enter the island – as they are an important nesting site for turtles as well as a wide range of migratory birds. The care from the Omani government about the Daymaniyat Island can be seen underwater as well. Despite from old fishing nets, there is almost no trash to be found. The corals are healthy and the marine life is blooming. Great visibility up to 30 meters The Daymaniyat Island offer warm water with crystal clear visibility most of the times – especially during winter months when the water is a bit colder and contains less plankton. Anytime from October up to May can promise you visibility up to 30 meters – always depending on the sea condition of course. Water temperature ranges between 23 degrees Celsius in winter and up to 32 degrees in summer.  And yes, you may have figured it out already: Diving in the Daymaniyat Island can be done year-around. Scuba Diving here in Oman is possible every month of the car with April to May and September to October being the best combination of surface and sea temperatures. Summer time is Whale Shark time During the summer months – from June till the end of August – the temperature in Oman is very hot. But what is better than going to the ocean when its too hot to stay on land? Correct – nothing. But you know what? We can even top that. From July to late September is the annual whale shark season in Oman! During summer we spot the Whale Shakrs regularly in big groups. We usually stop our boat as soon as we see the whale sharks so you can enter the water and snorkel with them. But sometimes, if you are very lucky, you can even see them during your dive. But you are still wondering what’s more to see when diving the Daymaniyat Island? Don’t worry – you won’t be disappointed. We have many colorful, tropical fish and hard and soft corals to gaze at. There are many nudibranchs and reef fish in our area – and if you are into bigger fish, we got you covered with different types of turtles, rays such as Stingrays or Cowtail ray and Zebra and Black Reef Shark.  So what are you waiting for? Book your Scuba Diving trip to Daymaniyat Island with us today.   Previous PostNext Post

Snorkeling and Diving in Muscat: Fahal Island On the southern side of Al Mouj Marina the limestone wedge of Fahal Island offers divers healthy soft and hard coral gardens, a cave swim-through, and opportunities to see various species of shark resting on the seafloor. Maybe this is the reason why Fahal Island also owns the nickname “Sharks Island”. Located 4km from the mainland Al Fahal Island is situated around 4km from the mainland and has an area of just 2.24 km2. It is composed mostly of around 55 to 35 million year old Eocene limestone and marl. This limestone was originally part of the sea floor. It is made up from the shells of marine organisms such as bivalve shellfish, coral and algae, deposited in a shallow marine environment. The island outcrop is now exposed on the surface due to uplift and change in sea levels. Even tho the Island is very close to shore, it takes us around 20 to 25 minutes to reach Fahal by boat as our boat is located a bit north from Fahal Island at Al Mouj Marina. But you will enjoy the boat ride a lot, it’s a great chance to have a look at Muscats coastline. Excellent Diving with healthy corals This small island offers excellent diving with reefs found down at 40 meters and the calm waters around Fahal Island are suitable for divers of all levels. The sea life around Fahal is varied and interesting. Schools of fish are often seen swimming in and around the corals and reefs, they are of different species, shapes and colours and are fascinating to watch. One can see schools of barracuda swimming by. Giant eagle rays will be gliding past in a distance and sharks are often lazing on the shallower sandbanks. A very lucky few have even seen whale sharks swimming by. The Muscat sea area is rich in corals and at the centre of this diversity are the Fahal Islands, next to Daymaniyat Island ( https://molamoladivingcenter.com/daymaniyat-island-more-than-just-an-island/ ). We wrote a previous Blog post about our favorite dive sites at both, Daymaniyat and Fahal island. Check it out here: https://molamoladivingcenter.com/ultimate-list-of-best-dive-sites-in-oman/ Are you ready to dive at Fahal Island soon? Book our dive with us today. Previous PostNext Post

Diving in Oman: Ultimate List of the best Diving Sites You are travelling to Oman and you’re keen to go diving? Go for it! Oman is still relatively undiscovered for diving – but offers healthy marine life, warm waters and amazing dive sites. Keep on reading to discover the best places to dive and the best dive sites! Go for Daymaniyat Island There is no better place to dive around Muscat than Daymaniyat Island. The nature Reserve protected by the Omani government offers everything you are looking for: Whalesharks during the summer months, lots of turtles, rays and Zebra sharks all year around. Colorful hard and soft corals, lots of Lion- and pufferfishes and huge moray eels. The islands are about 40 to 50 minutes away by boat from Al Mouj Marina, where MolaMola Diving Center is located and the ride to the island is a joy for itself. Surrounded by the blue ocean, getting a little ocean breeze before arriving at the place who is also called “the Maledives of the Middle east”. We have more than 20 dives sites at Daymaniyat island, but here are some of our favorite ones: Aquarium: One of our favorite dive sites is located 15 minutes before Daymaniyat Islands. This is an underwater rock and you start your dive at about 7m down and then either swim south or north along the wall, depending on the current. To the north your dive brings you over a sand chute and then along the wall to a small plateau down about 22-24 meters. Turning south you swim along a wall and then over an area of sand and coral blocks. All the walls as well as the whole plateau is loosely covered with blue coral bushes, some soft corals and small sponges. Look down to the sand, sometimes there are leopard sharks, lemon sharks or rays. Blacktip reef: This dive site impresses with the huge coral blocks at the very beginning. You continue the dive to a wall with a large plateau on about 18 meters covered with coral bushes at the end. Keep an eye out as you might always see Rays, Black Tip Sharks and also Moray Eels hidden in the caves below the rocks. Three sisters: This dive site lies on the eastern side of the bay. You dive along a wall with lots of large rocks nicely covered with hard and soft corals. On the flatter parts you will find coral gardens with table corals and lots of small reef fish. Don’t miss the large cave which reveals itself about 10m down with lots of Sweepers in it. Fahal Island is good for diving as well Next to Daymaniyat Island we do visit Fahal Island as well from time to time. We do prefer to dive at Daymaniyat Islands – but Fahal offers healthy corals and lots of huge Honeycomb moray eels that are worth a visit. We did spot a Zebra shark at Fahal as well, and lots of big Cowtail stingrays. Next to Fahal you can also dive in Bander Khairan – but to be honest with you: if you have the choice between Bander Khairan, Fahal or Daymaniyat Islands: go for Daymaniyat. You won’t regret it. Previous PostNext Post

Oman’s Underwater Charm: Snorkeling in Oman Today we saw the Jackson family – 5 turtles in one single spot. But that’s not it: we saw many turtles more, some parrotfishes, some cute little moray eels, some trumpetfishes, some pufferfishes, some butterflyfishes and of course some angelfishes. Their color ranges from blue to yellow, from orange to black, from green to red – its truly magical. But this is just a little part of Oman’s underwater charm – keep on reading to discover more. Swim with the Whalesharks Snorkeling in Oman offers you beautiful, colorful tropical fish and healthy corals. You can lots, lots, lots of turtles and if you are lucky, you might even be able to spot rays or Black tip sharks. Did you know that we even have a season for the Whalesharks here in Oman?From July to late September is the annual whale shark season in Oman. During this period, we spot them regularly in big groups. So, if you plan to join us on a trip during summertime, there is a high chance of spotting whale sharks on our way to the dive site in Daymaniyat island! And what’s better to do during the hot Omani summer than a swim in the water with these gentle giants? You Want to Go Deeper? Try Diving! And if you feel like going deeper after all your Snorkeling on the surface – don’t worry, we got you covered. You can even try Diving with us!If you feel comfortable enough during the Snorkeling, we will give you a little briefing about Scuba Diving, put you in the gear and we will take you down to about 7meters depths so you can go closer to your favorite marine life and enjoy breathing underwater for the first time. What do you think? Are you ready for Snorkeling in Oman with MolaMola Diving Center? Just write us a message today and we will make sure you will have the best day ever! Next Post

Snorkeling and Boat Trips to the Turtle Bay Oman Have you visited Ras al Jinz / Ras al Hadd during your vacation here in Oman to see the turtles nesting? Yeah? Well done, it is such a beautiful place. And now you are looking to swim with some of the turtles? Even better! You found the right place to do so. We will take you to Daymaniyat Island – the best place for Snorkeling in Oman and the place where you can meet the Jackson family. A group of 5 turtles living at the Turtle Bay. Five from 7 Different Types of Sea Turtles Are in Oman There are seven different types of sea turles around the world – and Omani waters are home to five of them. Every year an abundance of turtles migrate to the beaches and shorelines of the Arab Peninsula to dig a hole and lay their eggs. During these months, around 20,000 turtles come to Oman’s beaches. What a big number, right? All of these turtles live inside our Omani Ocean – and they LOVE Daymaniyat Island. The Jackson Family at Turtle Bay Turtle Bay is the best site to snorkel at Daymaniyat Island if you want to see the turtles. Sometimes we can see more than 8 turtles at the same spot, and there are more all around us. We usually can also find the Jackson family, 5 turtles living together. It’s truly a magical sight: swimming in crystal clear, warm water, watching turtles swimming, eating and playing with each other. What are you waiting for? The turtles are here all year around. You can just book your Snorkeling trip with us and we will make sure you can see them! Next Post