Snorkelling Telegraph Island, Musandam: a 2026 guide from a local dive instructor

I have logged 1,400+ snorkel and dive sessions in Khor Sham over the last 12 years. About 60% of them are at Telegraph Island. This guide is everything I tell my friends and family before they come for the first time.

Telegraph Island (Jazirat al Maqlab in Arabic) is a small limestone island in the middle of Khor Sham, about 90 minutes by dhow from Khasab Port. The British built a relay station here in 1864 for the London–Karachi telegraph cable; the ruined stone walls are still visible from the water. The protected lee side of the island is one of the best snorkel reefs in the Arabian Peninsula.

What you will see in the water

The reef is a 3–8 m wall of hard and soft coral that drops to 14 m on the south side. Visibility is 10–12 m from November to April, 5–7 m in summer. Common sightings:

1. Sergeant major fish (Abudefduf vaigiensis) — by far the most common. You will see hundreds. 2. Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) — the blue-and-green ones. They are not shy. 3. Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) — the Red Sea Raccoon Butterflyfish is the local species. 4. Moray eels (Gymnothorax undulatus) — on the deeper edge, in the overhangs. Do not touch them. 5. Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) — we see them on about 30% of snorkel sessions, usually in late afternoon. 6. Whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) — at 12–14 m depth. We do not anchor snorkellers above the shark zone, but you may see one from the surface on a clear day.

When the visibility is best

The visibility at Telegraph Island depends on three things:

1. The season: February–April is the best window. Visibility is consistently 10–12 m. 2. The time of day: the first 90 minutes after sunrise are the clearest. By 14:00 the visibility drops 1–2 m as the wind picks up and stirs the surface. 3. The wind: a south-westerly wind of 15+ knots reduces visibility to 5–6 m. A north-easterly wind of less than 10 knots keeps it at 10–12 m.

For the best chance of 10+ m visibility, book a morning snorkel tour in February, March or early April.

How to dive the reef

The reef runs north–south along the south-west side of the island. The best route for snorkellers is:

1. Enter the water on the lee (sheltered) side, at the ladder the dhow has dropped. 2. Swim south along the wall, 5–10 m from the drop-off. Stay on the wall side, not the open water side. 3. After 15–20 minutes, the wall curves west. Follow it for another 5 minutes. 4. Turn back. Swim north along the wall at a slightly shallower depth (3–5 m). Look down into the overhangs for morays and the occasional turtle. 5. Exit at the ladder. Total time in the water: 35–45 minutes.

Do not attempt the north side of the island. The current is strong and the visibility is poor — it is the side that faces the open fjord.

What to bring

1. A reef-safe sunscreen. The standard tourist sunscreen contains oxybenzone, which damages coral. We provide free reef-safe sunscreen at the dive centre if you forget. 2. A rash guard or UV shirt. The surface glare is strong and you will burn on your back within 30 minutes without one. 3. A mask that fits. We provide masks, but if you have your own, bring it. A leaky mask ruins a snorkel session. 4. A weight belt is not necessary. The reef is shallow and a weight belt is for divers, not snorkellers. 5. An underwater camera. The natural light at Telegraph Island is exceptional — it is the best-lit snorkel site in Musandam.

Which tour to book

We run three tours that stop at Telegraph Island:

1. Full-day dhow cruise (6 hours). Two swim stops: Telegraph Island and Seebi Island. Omani buffet lunch. From OMR 20 / AED 250. 2. Half-day dhow cruise (3.5 hours). One swim stop: Telegraph Island. From OMR 12 / AED 150. 3. Snorkel tour (3 hours). Two snorkel sessions at Telegraph Island and Seebi Island, marine guide in the water. From OMR 15 / AED 150.

The full-day cruise is the right pick for first-time visitors. The snorkel tour is the right pick for confident snorkellers who want maximum water time. The half-day cruise is the right pick for cruise-ship passengers with a 5–7 hour Khasab stop.