Islands of birds, turtles and coral reefs - the Daymaniyat Islands
Islands of birds, turtles and coral reefs
Text and Photographs by KhamisAli al Moharbi kmoharbi@squ.edu.om
I carried my camera; hoping to reach Dimaniyat islands before sunset. The trip to the islands requires taking a boat ride.
We started our trip from Seeb beach to the north of Muscat Governorate. At the starting, the sea tides were a bit high, but after crossing half way to the islands, it began to get moderate and appeared as a clean mirror reflecting the beautiful sky mixing its light blue colour with the sunset red colour. The view was amazing with the birds flocking around the area. I was shifting my eyes between wonderful sunset and the coral reefs oasis of the islands.
The huge spectrum of migratory birds is one of the common features of the islands here. We could see the islands from a distance reflecting on the water surface as we neared to the place. Our trip today takes us about 17 kilometres offshore to one of the unique natural treasures of Muscat Governorate. It is the Dimaniyat Islands Reserve.
Dimaniyat Islands were declared as natural reserve in 1996. It is also considered as natural heritage museum surrounded by sea water as well as must-see for regular environmental tourism, taking into account the policies and regulation to be observed visiting such places.
The reserve is located to the north of Muscat Governorate and to the west of Barka and is an archipelago of nine small islands like (Al Jabal Al Kabeer) Big Mountain, (Al Jabal Al Sagheer) Small Mountain, Al Joune, Al Hayut, Al Kharabah and Al Mumallaha. They are surrounded by rocks and shallow seas.
The islands are also rich in their coral reefs which extend for about 15 kilometres along the rocky coastline. However, the reefs provide a high potential value for Oman’s tourism industry. The islands location is set to be a preserve of importance locally and internationally for its natural heritage and the resident and migratory birds that visit the islands especially during summer. The islands are also a paradise for green and other species of turtles that come out of the sea to lay their eggs on these beautiful peaceful beaches because of no human and animals intervention that could disturb their lives.
The islands are also important for the coral reefs that cover their clean beaches and extend to several kilometres along the coastline. It is really a delight for natural life explorers who wish to discover the nature’s wondrous attraction of this place.
This reserve is considered as a national treasure that should be kept intact and ensure it is not disrupted. The authorities concerned are giving restless efforts to make these islands national, natural and tourism reserves especially nowadays when the Sultanate is witnessing a great demand in eco-tourism.
Advice to Tourists
You must get permission from the authorities concerned, like Ministry of Municipalities and Water Resources and Sultan Qaboos Port Coast Guard. Pay the fees for swimming, diving and camping near the islands which are between RO 3 to 7.
Camping is only allowed in the (Al Jabal Al Kabeer) Big Mountain and Al Joune islands and you can only use the arranged places for barbecue and do not keep the fire on after 9 pm due to security reasons. Don’t disturb the lives of birds and turtles in the area. Keep the trees and coral reefs that grow in the islands. For environmental balance in the islands, don't take cats and dogs or other plants seeds that might grow in the area. Keep the place clean and throw the waste in the waste bins.
How to reach Dimaniyat islands
The nearest place to start the trip from is Manomah beach which takes almost one hour to get to the islands as well as Seeb or Barka beaches.
Oman Observer, 30th August 2006
Text and Photographs by KhamisAli al Moharbi kmoharbi@squ.edu.om
I carried my camera; hoping to reach Dimaniyat islands before sunset. The trip to the islands requires taking a boat ride.
We started our trip from Seeb beach to the north of Muscat Governorate. At the starting, the sea tides were a bit high, but after crossing half way to the islands, it began to get moderate and appeared as a clean mirror reflecting the beautiful sky mixing its light blue colour with the sunset red colour. The view was amazing with the birds flocking around the area. I was shifting my eyes between wonderful sunset and the coral reefs oasis of the islands.
The huge spectrum of migratory birds is one of the common features of the islands here. We could see the islands from a distance reflecting on the water surface as we neared to the place. Our trip today takes us about 17 kilometres offshore to one of the unique natural treasures of Muscat Governorate. It is the Dimaniyat Islands Reserve.
Dimaniyat Islands were declared as natural reserve in 1996. It is also considered as natural heritage museum surrounded by sea water as well as must-see for regular environmental tourism, taking into account the policies and regulation to be observed visiting such places.
The reserve is located to the north of Muscat Governorate and to the west of Barka and is an archipelago of nine small islands like (Al Jabal Al Kabeer) Big Mountain, (Al Jabal Al Sagheer) Small Mountain, Al Joune, Al Hayut, Al Kharabah and Al Mumallaha. They are surrounded by rocks and shallow seas.
The islands are also rich in their coral reefs which extend for about 15 kilometres along the rocky coastline. However, the reefs provide a high potential value for Oman’s tourism industry. The islands location is set to be a preserve of importance locally and internationally for its natural heritage and the resident and migratory birds that visit the islands especially during summer. The islands are also a paradise for green and other species of turtles that come out of the sea to lay their eggs on these beautiful peaceful beaches because of no human and animals intervention that could disturb their lives.
The islands are also important for the coral reefs that cover their clean beaches and extend to several kilometres along the coastline. It is really a delight for natural life explorers who wish to discover the nature’s wondrous attraction of this place.
This reserve is considered as a national treasure that should be kept intact and ensure it is not disrupted. The authorities concerned are giving restless efforts to make these islands national, natural and tourism reserves especially nowadays when the Sultanate is witnessing a great demand in eco-tourism.
Advice to Tourists
You must get permission from the authorities concerned, like Ministry of Municipalities and Water Resources and Sultan Qaboos Port Coast Guard. Pay the fees for swimming, diving and camping near the islands which are between RO 3 to 7.
Camping is only allowed in the (Al Jabal Al Kabeer) Big Mountain and Al Joune islands and you can only use the arranged places for barbecue and do not keep the fire on after 9 pm due to security reasons. Don’t disturb the lives of birds and turtles in the area. Keep the trees and coral reefs that grow in the islands. For environmental balance in the islands, don't take cats and dogs or other plants seeds that might grow in the area. Keep the place clean and throw the waste in the waste bins.
How to reach Dimaniyat islands
The nearest place to start the trip from is Manomah beach which takes almost one hour to get to the islands as well as Seeb or Barka beaches.
Oman Observer, 30th August 2006
Books on Oman
There are thousands of titles in several languages focusing on Oman and different aspects of the country
By Viju James
From time to time one comes across a comment that there are inadequate information resources on Oman. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are thousands of titles in several languages focusing on Oman and different aspects of the country. Some of these are outstandingly excellent and will always serve as a reference point for anyone pouring through the pages.
It is difficult to quantify the number of published books on Oman in different languages. A simple keyword search of the catalogue of the Library of Congress in Washington throws up hundreds of titles in several languages. To this one then has to add titles that can be found in the British Library, the libraries of the Asiatic Society in India and several of the libraries in Europe in each of the European language centres. Without duplication, the end results are impressive.
Most of the books in English on Oman have appeared in the 20th century and a large percentage of these after 1970. This is understandable because the environment for scientific study, research and recording where largely absent in the early decades of the century. Among the earliest books on Oman is the 1871 work of Salilibn-Razik titled: History of the Imams & Seyyids of Oman and Annals of Oman- Keshful-ghummeh by Sirhan Ibn Said published in 1874. Razik’s book originally written in Arabic is now available in English as well.
By Viju James
From time to time one comes across a comment that there are inadequate information resources on Oman. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are thousands of titles in several languages focusing on Oman and different aspects of the country. Some of these are outstandingly excellent and will always serve as a reference point for anyone pouring through the pages.
It is difficult to quantify the number of published books on Oman in different languages. A simple keyword search of the catalogue of the Library of Congress in Washington throws up hundreds of titles in several languages. To this one then has to add titles that can be found in the British Library, the libraries of the Asiatic Society in India and several of the libraries in Europe in each of the European language centres. Without duplication, the end results are impressive.
Most of the books in English on Oman have appeared in the 20th century and a large percentage of these after 1970. This is understandable because the environment for scientific study, research and recording where largely absent in the early decades of the century. Among the earliest books on Oman is the 1871 work of Salilibn-Razik titled: History of the Imams & Seyyids of Oman and Annals of Oman- Keshful-ghummeh by Sirhan Ibn Said published in 1874. Razik’s book originally written in Arabic is now available in English as well.