Oman Explorer
The 34-meter (111-foot) steel hulled Oman Explorer offers comfortable accommodation for up to 22 guests. Her itineraries include cruises to all of the best of Oman's dive sites.
A word from Dom: "The only liveaboard in Oman waters that I personally recommend is Oman Explorer. She's a sturdy yacht & well-designed ... with loads of comfort space for divers to spread out when not in the water. The cabins are large & well-appointed and the dive deck has ample room for 22 divers. If Oman is on your list, Explorer should be your liveaboard choice." ... Dominick Macan
ON BOARD OMAN EXPLORER
4 upper deck TWIN staterooms up to 4 dives per day accommodation & diving international & domestic airfare
2 large twin beds (adjacent) & picture windows
1 main deck DOUBLE master stateroom
queen bed, desk, mini-bar & picture windows
6 lower deck TWIN staterooms
2 large twin beds (adjacent) & port windows
All are en-suite, have individually controlled air conditioning & ample storage.
12 liter alu tanks (DIN & INT valves)
15 liter alu tanks (at extra cost)
scuba gear rental (by advance request)
nitrox
water temperature: 68 - 86F, 20 - 30C ... 3mm wetsuit recommended
meals, snacks, water, juice, tea & coffee
compressed air, tanks, weights & weight belts
last night in a 4 star hotel (certain itineraries)
airport transfers
carbonated soft drinks
scuba rental gear (by advance request)
15 liter tanks & nitrox
port fees & fuel surcharge, dive permits
no alcoholic beverages are served
(you may bring you own from Muscat airport)
DIVE & RELAX IN COMFORT
Oman Explorer offers outdoor living areas on 3 decks; a spacious outdoor lounge at the aft on the upper deck with super comfy seating, a large fly deck on top with both a shaded area and a sun bathing area ... and in front of the wheel house there is also a separate place for quiet relaxation. Between dives and in the evenings guests enjoy, on the main deck, the roomy air-conditioned lounge complete with wide screen TV & music system. This deck also houses the huge master cabin (20 sqm) which has a large double bed, a picture window with a fantastic sea-view as well as a desk and mini bar. The four upper deck cabins also have picture windows. Six more cabins are located below deck and each cabin has its own en-suite bathroom. All the cabins have 2 single beds except the master cabin.
There's a good-sized dive deck and large swim platform plus plenty of storage for your gear. Meals are all buffet-styles, plus you'll have snacks and fresh fruit between dives. On some cruises the last night of the trip is spent at the Marriott Beach Hotel, Mirbat, and half board in the luxury hotel is included in the rate for trip.
LAYOUT & SPECS
DECK PLAN
SPECIFICATIONS
length: 34 meters
beam: 9 meters
languages on board: English and German
2 Dinghies (5.5 m) each 40 hp
scuba equipment rental (by prior request)
nitrox (extra charge)
MACHINERY
Engines: 2 x 720 hp Daewoo each
Power: 2 generators, 220 V
Compressors: 2 + Nitrox
12l (15l on request)
DIN & INT adapters
NAVIGATION
radar
GPS
compass
radio
depth gauge
COMMUNICATIONS
radios
satellite phone
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
emergency kit
oxygen
defibrillator
fire extinguishers
life jackets
life rafts
ITINERARIES
A diving cruise in Oman is an adventure as the area is still relatively unknown and diving tourism is fairly new in the region. The Oman Explorer is perfect for those seeking exploration and a cruise 'off the beaten track'.
SAMPLE ITINERARY INFORMATION:
The Oman Explorer offers three distinct itineraries; a Best of Muscat cruise, a transition cruise from Muscat to Mirbat, and from November to mid-May she cruises in the south of Oman, around the Hallaniyat Islands operating from Salalah.
Best of Daymaniat Islands: During the summer and fall, Oman Explorer operates in the central area, in the capital region around Muscat. These tours start and end in Sifah and you'll spend three days at the Daymaniat Islands, one day in Fahal and one and a half days in Bandar Khayran. Numerous dive sites, for all levels of divers, are located around the 9 islands. The area is a protected nature reserve and features great masses of fish, leopard sharks, lots of turtles, and often, a whale shark or two. Fahal, a large island near Muscat, offers bays which contain many varieties of hard and soft corals and on the sandy bottom there is a chance to spot sharks and stingrays. The wreck of Al Munassir at Bandar Khayran is also on this route and it's populated with moray eels, lobsters, many nudibranchs and huge schools of fish.
Hallaniyat Islands: The Hallaniyats which are probably the most diverse diving area in Oman's waters. Lots of biodiversity and an abundance of fish. The 5 islands are located in the open ocean with huge schools of fish, a nice wreck, occasional sightings of mantas and mobulas and, with a bit of luck, you will meet the resident population of humpback whales and the huge pods of dolphins on the way back to Mirbat!
Transfer-Cruise Muscat to Mirbat: At the beginning of the cruise the dive sites of Al Munassir Wreck and Fahal Islands are explore..You'll then heads southwards along the coast: in 10 days of transit, new and exciting dive sites are often discovered. You’ll mainly encounter different species of smaller rays, leopard sharks and lots of cuttlefish, moray eels, turtles and nudibranchs. The cruise ends with diving the Hallaniyat Islands: humpback whales, pelagic mantas and huge schools of dolphins are not uncommon here. Also off the coast of Mirbat, the last stop of the crossing, there are beautiful old wrecks and masses of fish.
HALLANIYAT ISLANDS
TRAVEL & CRUISE LOGISTICS
Organize your international flights to Muscat (MCT). Daymaniyat trips leave from Sifah, near Muscat. Oman Air operates domestic flights to Salalah and Mirbat where you'll embark or disembark on cruises to the Hallaniyats or the northbound transfer trips. A driver will meet you in the arrival hall with a sign that says: M/Y Oman Explorer. TFor cruises leaving from Sifah, the drive the the port takes around one hour; from there it is a 3 min. zodiac ride to the boat.
Cruises on the Oman Explorer always take place from Saturday to Saturday. Saturday in the early evening the yacht departs. Earliest boarding time is 12 o’clock and you may board until 5 o’clock p.m. The boat departs at 6-7 o’clock p.m. Disembarkation on the final day is by 1pm. Some cruises disembark on Friday and guests spend the final night at a 4-star hotel (we'll inform you at time of booking). On Saturday morning guests are escorted back to the airport for a further stay or return flight.
Best of Daymaniyat: During the summer and fall, Oman Explorer operates in the central area around Muscat. These tours start and end in Sifah (airport Muscat - MCT)
Hallaniyat Islands: During the winter, Oman Explorer heads along the coast to the Hallaniyats from Mirbat (airport Salalah - SLL). You'll take a domestic flight from Muscat to Salalah
Transfer trip Sifah - Mirbat / Mirbat - Sifah: The transfer trip leaves either Sifa or Mirbat.
FIND AVAILABLE SPACES & BOOK YOUR OMAN EXPLORER TRIP
DIVE & TRAVEL
INSURANCE
Comprehensive dive insurance
Full travel insurance plans
Pays directly to service providers
24/7 medical hotlines
Now offering upgrades to
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage!
Customized, Personalized Dive Odysseys