If you love snorkelling or scuba-diving, this is the place for you! Located out of town between Bandar Beach and Al Bustan Palace and the Shangri-La, the area is gorgeous. In fact, it’s one place that I frequently take people out to see due to the incredible views.
This a nice dive-site map found at the Dive Center giving you an idea of what the coast is like near Muscat.
Check out those cute Barasti (traditional Omani) style huts (35 available) situated on the beach at the Center. Instead of getting a hotel somewhere else and making the trip everyday for diving, I strongly suggest those coming to Oman to rent a place here if you want to get a scuba-diving license.
Check out the informative Oman Dive Center website at www.omandivecenter.com . They have info in English, German, Italian and French! (as well as other languages)
They have a restaurant (named “Odyssey”) at the center and a bar (open noon-11:30pm) which is known as the best beach bar in Muscat.
One thing to warn you about if you come out simply to hang out at the Center: they charge you for parking unless you are there for only 20 minutes or less.
Just look at the color of that water!!! Be sure to check out their website and consider the scuba-diving courses if you’re working/living here in Oman.
*Update Nov. 29, 2011*: Read this latest post about problems at the Oman Dive Center.
Andy in Oman 