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Try Oman Dive Centre, they are about 15 minutes in a car from Muscat City Centre, have daily boat dives. Oman Dive Center - The official site - You can call in advance and ask about viz and biggies.
I did 3 dives with them in December. Didn't see any of the big stuff but still plenty to see. Saw a huge number of brightly coloured morays at one site. Vis was 4-5m on a couple of dives and less than 2m on the other. but I think vis in June will be a lot better.
Hey guys. Just felt like chiming in to say that I will be studying in Muscat from august-mid december. I am hoping to get some time off to go diving. If I do, I will definitely have some questions to ask here!
Can anyone share some common costs of Oman in Rials or USD? I'm thinking of a visit to Oman and am trying to figure out how much pocket money to take
How much for a 2-3 star hotel room, doesn't have to be a fancy resort, 2 tank dives, How much do you local guys typically tip a dive guide?
What does a small rental car cost per day roughly? When you go out for lunch or dinner, how much for an "average" resteraunt meal, how much for a beer or drink in the hotel, and what is the average tip in % or in Rials or USD? I like to help out the local people and tend to tip on their wages of they earn, not what my meal cost. Most people aren't getting rich being a waiter in a resteraunt or as a dive guide. What a minimum wage salary is or common worker salary in Oman?
If I were to take over gifts for the locals, dive guides or hotel staff, what are some hard to get items over there that I can take for them? Sometimes simply things I take for granted like sunglasses, quality t-shirts or sandals, chewing gum, balloons for the kids, coloring books, are hard to get for working class people.
I'm just trying to get a feel of the economy and costs for a trip over there. I've dove all over the world, but not in that area and am uninformed of Arabic culture so I appreciate your suggestion and info......thank you!
oki....The Omani Riyal is tied to the dollar...RO 1 = US$ 2.6 ...
costs...well...Muscat is usually more expensive than the rest of the country...rental car..starts at about OR15 so about US$37...from now on all prices will be in OR...
diving (w/o eq), 2 tanks and weights - about OR30...
hotels..well..check Lonely Planet's website...if you want something cheap, clean and pretty good location, we use the Al Naseem Hotel in Muttrah (they definitely don't have a website)...(c8
hotels...2-3stars won't serve alcohol, you would have to use at least 4stars for that - they are the ones with permits...prices differ a lot..from RO1 and up...
meals...starts at Bz500 (half a Riyal) up to..however much you want to pay...wraps can be bought anywhere and most coffeeshops serve food in one way or another..
People don't really tip here in Oman, usually a dive center would have a tipping box in the reception but individual tipping..not really...same with restaurants...but if you want to...10% at restaurants is generous...
You can basically get anything you want here...I wouldn't bring any 'gifts' at all..
I just did a 1 day (2 dives) in Sewadi, I stayed at Sewadi resort, not sure how many stars but I realy liked it specialy with the summer offer they are having right now, they have a very good dive centre and freindly local poeple working there and yes some tipping can help, paid 32 OR for 2 tanks and wts using my own gears. I have some pictures from that trip in my gallery.
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