Snorkeling in the Gulf of Oman

Another fun excursion we have had in the last week was a boat ride out on the Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea. Some friends (same ones we spent Thanksgiving with!) had rented a boat for a few hours while friends of theirs were visiting from another Middle East country and they invited us along for the ride. And what a ride it was! We pulled out of the harbor--see below--and then the spectacular scenery along the coastline just made the trip!

Don, enjoying the ride

Friends that we went with

The goal for the afternoon was to enjoy the coastal scenery and then go to a cove for some snorkeling. Here are some fantastic coastal views.

Traditional dhow boat off the shore

Old fortresses mixed in with newer construction

We were at low tide; you can see how far up the mountain the water would come underneath the fort.

This is a park area nestled into some flat land in
front of the striking rocky coastline

The water is a beautiful clear blue, and again--what can I say? The pictures speak for themselves in all their majesty and beauty! On to snorkeling.....

We arrived at the cove, found a quiet spot and put down the anchor only to find it full of jelly fish. Here's a good picture of just one of the many that surrounded our boat:

Yes, the water was really this color in spots around the cove!
The jellyfish were a bright blue to purple while in the water.

We were questioning our guide as to whether they were dangerous or not. He said no, they weren't poisonous, and to prove his point, he picked one up! We took a quick picture then released it back into the water, where it swam away. They aren't as vibrant-colored out of the water as in.

                                                                                                                                                                                       

Up-close jelly fish. Must not be the same kind we have in the Gulf of Mexico!

And now, for the pics you have been waiting for: Don snorkeling and swimming in the cove!

If you can see his face, you will know that the water was a little bit on the cold side!
See how the water changes color? There was varying depth as well as a
small coral reef in the area. We observed lots of zebra fish in this location.

After getting over the initial shock of cold, Don took off to view the sights.

While we were anchored in the cove, a dhow (type of traditional Omani boat) was also anchored there, with passengers who were also enjoying the snorkeling.

Dhow

As we were leaving the cove area, we came upon this beautiful
arch in the rock formation surrounding the area.

This is the royal palace in Muscat. The Sultan does not live here, but receives
foreign dignitaries in this complex. I believe the building in the middle that is
turquoise and yellow is the actual reception building.

I'll leave you with this one last look at the cove. The rocks you see behind the beach area actually form an island. The mainland coast is behind us in this picture. Because of the island, there is a nice peaceful feel to this cove, as well as natural beauty.

Hope you enjoyed the boat trip!