Muscat Dolphin Watching Cruise

The Muscat dolphin watching cruise is a boat-based wildlife trip departing from Marina Bandar Al Rowdha on the Muscat coast in northern Oman. Boats head out into open water along the coast to look for pods of dolphins, which are regularly seen in the Gulf of Oman, and the longer three-hour version adds a snorkel stop. Morning departures around 9:30 or 10:00 are standard because the sea is calmest early in the day. Sidab Sea Tours, based in the marina main building, offers dolphin watching, combined dolphin and snorkelling trips, dhow cruises and island hopping to Bandar Al Kairan, while Qantab Tourism runs a two-hour trip from the same marina with check-in at its own office. The activity is classed as easy: no fitness or skill is required, children and older travellers can usually join, and the only prerequisite for the snorkel version is comfort in the water. Life jackets are supplied on board and snorkel gear is provided on trips that include a swim; visitors should bring a sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimwear and a towel for the snorkel version, and motion-sickness tablets if the sea is rough. Camera users benefit from a zoom lens, since dolphins surface unpredictably. Crews give a safety briefing on boarding, covering life jacket use and behaviour around the animals, and the vessels carry radios and safety equipment to contact coastguard and shore services in an emergency. Operators are expected to keep a respectful distance from the animals. Sightings are not guaranteed, although trips run year-round and success rates are generally good. The best conditions are calm mornings between October and April, when temperatures are milder; strong wind or a high swell can lead to cancellation or a less comfortable ride. Prices are about OMR 17 per person for the two-hour trip, and some listings add a permit and service tax.