scuba diving oman

Don’t do this after a Dive! s divers, we usually focus a lot on the time before and during the dive. We check our equipment, we make sure our insurance is in order and we have our certification cards and logbook ready to go. On the trip we listen to briefings, follow the rules and make sure to dive safely within the limits of our training and experience. But what about after the dive? At MolaMola Diving Center we operate to the highest PADI Diving Standards and we are happy to advise you on how to dive safe around Muscat, Oman. Therefore we don’t recommend you to do these 7 things after a dive: FlyFlying after scuba diving is one of the more widely known risks to divers. The pressure in a plane’s cabin is comparable to a fast ascension while diving. This increases the chance of decompression sickness. The general rule is to wait 24 hours to fly after diving. Read here more about this topic   Travel to AltitudeYou may be surprised to discover that driving or hiking to high mountains puts you at the same risk for Decompression Sickness (DCS) as flying in an airplane. Mountain climbing should be avoided in the first 24 hours after a dive. If you are planning to also go mountain climbing and scuba diving, go mountain climbing first to avoid any potential DCS risk. It is perfectly safe to go climbing before a dive and this is an easy solution to stay safe.   ExerciseCurrently, no study has established any links between exercising after diving and an increased risk of decompression sickness. However the general recommendation is to avoid strenuous exercise immediately after diving regardless.   Take a hot bathIt is recommended to stay away from hot tubbing for at least 12 hours after scuba diving. As the body warms up and circulation improves, there is an increased chance of bubble formation.   Drink AlcoholThere might be nothing better than an ice-cold beer after diving, but drinking alcohol after diving is not recommended. Alcohol may affect the way the body eliminates excess nitrogen in the blood. Dehydration is also one of the main causes of decompression sickness, and we all know alcohol is the best way to get dehydrated fast. Try to wait at least a few hours after diving to have a drink, and save your heavy drinking for a time when you’re not diving.   Freediving after Scuba DivingThere is still nitrogen in your body from the scuba dive and going to depth again and ascending quickly could affect the off-gassing and trigger DCS. As a general rule it is recommended to wait 24 hours before freediving after doing any type of diving. This rule covers all types of dives and adds extra time as a safeguard for peace of mind.   Not to rinse your gearAs tempting as it may be to leave your equipment care until later, don’t do it! Even if you forget for a minute how much of your hard earned cash you invested in your beloved gear, if left without rinsing, salt water can cause crystal build up on vital pieces of gear and potentially can affect its safe operation. Just 5 minutes of after care can extend the life of your gear as well as reducing the frequency of equipment servicing you need.   But hey, don’t worry – there are plenty of things that you can still do after a dive. Have your logbook signed, talk about what you saw during the dive, interact with the locals and get to know the Omani culture and lifestyle. Go to explore Muscat or just enjoy a nice dinner after the dive to share your experiences with family and friends. Previous PostNext Post

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