Snorkelling tour in Khor Sham — Telegraph Island and Seebi Island
A 3-hour snorkelling tour with two reef stops in Khor Sham. All gear included, marine guide on board, 8–12 m visibility from November to April.
What you'll do
The snorkelling tour is the trip we recommend for guests who want to spend the maximum time in the water and the minimum time on the boat. The dhow Al-Marwa (18 guests) takes us to two of the best reef sites in Khor Sham in three hours, with a marine guide in the water at every stop.
The first stop is Telegraph Island. The reef on the lee side is a 3–8 m wall of hard and soft coral that drops to 14 m. Visibility is 8–12 m from November to April, 5–7 m in summer. Common sightings: sergeant majors, parrotfish, butterflyfish, moray eels on the deeper edge, the occasional green sea turtle and, less commonly, a whitetip reef shark at 12–14 m.
The second stop is the Seebi Island reef. This is the deeper, more dramatic of the two — a 4–12 m wall with overhangs and small swim-throughs. We do not take beginners here; the marine guide assesses the group at the first stop and sends non-confident swimmers back to the dhow for the second stop.
All gear is included — mask, snorkel, fins, in adult and child sizes. We do not provide wetsuits as standard, but we have shorties available in winter for OMR 5. The dhow has a freshwater rinse tank on board.
The 3-hour tour is the right pick for guests who want maximum water time. If you want a longer day with lunch, book the full-day dhow cruise instead.
Tour highlights
Itinerary
Meet at Khasab Port
Safety briefing, gear fitting (mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit if needed).
Depart into Khor Sham
20 minutes to Telegraph Island. The marine guide briefs the group on the reef layout and the safety plan.
Snorkel stop 1 — Telegraph Island
45 minutes in the water. Marine guide stays in the water with the group. The reef drops to 14 m; the route follows the wall.
Move to Seebi Island
15 minutes between stops. Fresh fruit and water on board.
Snorkel stop 2 — Seebi Island
45 minutes in the water. The deeper wall — for confident swimmers only. The marine guide assesses the group at the first stop.
Cruise back to Khasab
30 minutes back to the harbour. Freshwater rinse on board.
Arrive Khasab Port
Transfer back to your hotel, the port or the border pickup point.
Included
- 3 hours on the dhow
- Two guided snorkel sessions
- Snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins)
- Life jackets (compulsory for non-swimmers)
- Marine guide in the water
- Freshwater rinse
- Bottled water and fresh fruit
Not included
- Oman visa or 1-day border permit
- UAE exit fee
- Wetsuit rental (OMR 5 for a shortie in winter)
- Underwater camera (available for OMR 20 deposit)
- Lunch (the 3-hour tour does not include lunch)
Who is this tour for?
Confident swimmers who want maximum water time. Snorkellers of all levels — the first stop works for beginners, the second stop is for confident swimmers. Families with kids over 8 who can swim. Not the right pick if you cannot swim at all (book a dhow cruise with a swim stop instead).
What to bring
- Swimsuit under your clothes
- Reef-safe sunscreen — we apply regular sunscreen at the briefing if you forget
- A rash guard or UV shirt if you burn easily
- Phone in a waterproof pouch, or a GoPro
- Towel
Local tip from the team
Get in the water first at every stop — the visibility is best in the first 20 minutes. We rotate the group in pairs, so the people in the water first get the clearest reef.
Frequently asked questions
I cannot swim — can I still come?
You can, but the snorkel tour is not the right pick. Book a dhow cruise instead — the swim stops are in shallow, calm water and we have life jackets.
Will I see a sea turtle?
You might. We see turtles on about 30% of snorkel tours, mostly at the deeper wall on Seebi Island. Do not touch them if you do — they are protected under Omani law.
Is the reef healthy?
Reasonably. The Telegraph Island reef has recovered well since the early 2000s — hard coral cover is back up to about 40%. We enforce a strict no-touch, no-stand rule.
Do I need to know how to snorkel?
It helps, but the marine guide does a 10-minute briefing on the boat for first-timers. The first stop (Telegraph Island) is in 1–3 m of water and is suitable for first-time snorkellers.
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
- 3 hours (09:00 – 12:00 or 13:30 – 16:30)
- Category
- water
- From
- 15 OMR
- AED equivalent
- AED 150