Scuba diving in Khor Sham — Lima Rock and Ras Marovi, PADI
A 4-hour, 2-tank scuba dive from Khasab. PADI-certified instructor, all gear included, beginner and certified options. October–March is whale-shark season.
What you'll do
The scuba dive trip is run by our PADI-certified instructor Ahmed (12 years diving Musandam). The standard trip is a 4-hour, 2-tank dive at two of the best sites in Khor Sham — Lima Rock and Ras Marovi.
Lima Rock is a wall dive. The wall starts at 6 m and drops to 60+ m. Hard coral, soft coral, large groupers on the deeper edge, and a regular cleaning station where grey reef sharks are spotted between June and September. Maximum depth for the standard dive is 18 m.
Ras Marovi is a drift dive along a rocky point. The depth profile is more varied — 8–22 m — with swim-throughs, overhangs and a resident school of barracuda on the deeper side. The visibility here is usually 1–3 m better than Lima Rock.
Beginners (Discover Scuba): we do a 30-minute pool session in Khasab before the boat trip, then one supervised open-water dive at Lima Rock to 12 m. No certification required.
Certified divers: two dives, no pool session, max depth 18 m for AOW and 30 m for Deep.
October to March is whale-shark season in Musandam. We do not guarantee whale-shark sightings — they are wild animals — but we have seen them on about 40% of dives in that window over the last 3 years.
Tour highlights
Itinerary
Meet at dive centre, Khasab Port
Medical check, equipment fitting, dive briefing.
Beginner pool session / boat departure
Beginners: 30 minutes in the Khasab dive centre pool. Certified divers: straight to the boat.
Boat to Lima Rock
20 minutes from the port. Site briefing on the way.
Dive 1 — Lima Rock
35–45 minutes underwater. Maximum 12 m for beginners, 18 m for AOW divers.
Surface interval
30 minutes on the boat. Water, fruit, dive log chat.
Dive 2 — Ras Marovi
35–45 minutes underwater. Drift dive along the point. Certified divers only.
Return to Khasab Port
Gear rinse, dive log completion, debrief.
End of trip
Optional lunch at the harbour restaurant.
Included
- 2-tank dive (or 1 dive + pool session for beginners)
- Full scuba gear (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins)
- PADI instructor
- Boat transport to dive sites
- Dive log entry
- Bottled water and a light snack between dives
Not included
- PADI Open Water certification course (separate package, OMR 220)
- Underwater camera rental (OMR 20 deposit)
- Oman visa or 1-day border permit
- UAE exit fee
Who is this tour for?
Certified divers and beginners who want to try scuba. Anyone who wants to see the deeper Musandam reefs. Not the right pick if you have a medical condition that precludes diving, or you are not comfortable in the water.
What to bring
- Swimsuit and a towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Logbook (if you have one — we have spares)
- Cash in AED for visa and gratuity
Local tip from the team
The morning dive has the best visibility. The afternoon dive has more marine life activity (the barracuda school at Ras Marovi is more active after 14:00). If you have time, book both — they are different dives.
Frequently asked questions
I have never dived before — is this safe?
Yes. The Discover Scuba program is designed for first-timers. You do a 30-minute pool session, then one supervised open-water dive to 12 m. Most first-timers find it easier than they expect.
Will I see a whale shark?
October to March is whale-shark season. We have seen them on about 40% of dives in that window over the last 3 years. We do not guarantee sightings.
What is the max depth?
12 m for Discover Scuba divers, 18 m for Advanced Open Water, 30 m for Deep Specialty. We do not push past your certification.
Is there a medical questionnaire?
Yes — standard PADI medical. Asthma, recent surgery and some heart conditions preclude diving. If you have a question, ask us before you book.
Border crossing information
**Crossing from the UAE to Musandam in 2026 — what to bring** You will need every one of these, in original form, not photocopies. Border officers at Al Dara do not accept digital copies on phones. • Passport valid for 6+ months from your date of entry • UAE residence visa (residents) or UAE tourist entry stamp • If driving: original Mulkiya (vehicle registration); rental car requires the rental company's NOC • 50 AED in cash per person for the Oman entry visa (or 1-day border permit, also 50 AED) • 35 AED in cash per person for the UAE exit fee • If your car is not insured for Oman: ~100 AED for a 1-day policy, ~175 AED for up to 7 days (buy at the counter on the RAK side) What we do for our guests: send a one-page PDF with the exact list above, the exact cash amounts, the exact border opening hours, and a WhatsApp number to call if you are stuck at the counter. Ask for it on WhatsApp before you leave.
Tour details
- Duration
- 4 hours (08:00 – 12:00)
- Category
- water
- From
- 40 OMR
- AED equivalent
- AED 400