Kategorie: News
Off to sea with “The Vision”
I’ve just reached the border with Oman in Dibba. My transfer from Dubai Airport went smoothly. The border official stamps my passport, clearing the final hurdle before my liveaboard.
Ten minutes later, “The Vision,” a luxurious 29-meter-long liveaboard, appears before me in the port of Dibba al-Bayà (Oman). In my search for a diving destination far from mass tourism and a boat with few divers, I came across “The Vision”; built in 2025, the boat accommodates 12 divers. It operates in Oman in the Musandam area.
I am the last missing safari participant and am already expected on board. After a warm welcome from Alaa and Ahmed, I receive a thorough personal briefing on the boat and safety procedures from Alaa. Finally, I get to know my buddies, with whom I will be spending the following week. The boat is only half full on this safari, so we can really spread out.
Norway of the Middle East
The boat’s engines are now making themselves heard, and our several-hour journey to the Strait of Hormuz begins. The route takes us past the steep cliffs of the Hajar Mountains. These rugged cliffs are dominated by shades of red and beige. Small bays with scattered houses bear witness to human presence in this landscape. The Musandam Peninsula is home to approximately 30,000 people, who make their living primarily from fishing, trade, agriculture, and crafts. The fjord landscape earned it the nickname “Norway of the Middle East.”
We enjoy the view over lunch in the sunshine, at a tastefully set table where even cloth napkins are provided! A buffet of Arabic delicacies is served, featuring meat, fish, vegetarian options, and salads. Even my request for lactose-free products is accommodated.
The day of arrival is dive-free, so I can settle into my cabin at my own pace. It’s carpeted and features some cool lighting effects. As nice touches, slippers, sleep masks, and a schedule for the safari are provided. For the rest of the day, I’ve planned to relax and recover from the journey!
The next morning, Wian conducts the briefing for the first dive. We board the speedboat from which the daily dives are conducted. I assemble my gear and squeeze into my wetsuit. The speedboat sets off immediately, taking us to our first dive site, Al Khail.
Against the backdrop of a cliff face plunging steeply into the water, I dive into the Gulf with a backward roll. At first, the color of the water confuses me: the sea, which usually shimmers from light blue to dark blue, appears green here. This is due to chlorophyll, the green pigment in phytoplankton, which is present in massive quantities on the water’s surface. With visibility around 10 meters, I feel like I’m diving in a local lake with excellent visibility—were it not for the ocean currents and the many colorful fish. I encounter schools of blue triggerfish, small star snails, and a Spanish dancer during the day, and realize that Oman is paradise for me as a moray eel enthusiast.
From gray morays and yellow-mouthed morays to reticulated morays, everything is abundant here.
Cuttlefish, lobsters, and plenty of morays
Other dive sites for today are Al Rashid and Fanakua, with the latter holding a little surprise for us: At the end of the dive, our group is swept away from the reef by the current. After the safety stop, I venture a glance out of the water and notice that our speedboat has company. Shortly before the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel–Iran war, the Omani military takes an interest in our vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. After a check of the boat’s papers, we are then allowed to continue the safari.
From the upper deck of the “Vision,” I observe a variety of tankers and container ships. We are now passing through the narrowest part of the Strait of Hormuz. About 50 kilometers away, I can make out the coast of Iran as a narrow strip on the horizon. We had actually planned to do the next dives in the Gulf of Oman, but the wind is now picking up and the sea is getting rougher. The crew therefore decides to enter the Khor Kajid fjord. Here, “The Vision” moors in a sheltered bay near Khor Najd. During dinner on the sun deck, the setting sun bathes the fjord landscape in a reddish glow; the mountains and small boats in the bays, backlit by the sun, now appear black!
The next morning, after breakfast, I take a ten-minute speedboat ride to dive sites such as Ras Pillah, Ras Sarkan, and Ras Alamaqta. Visibility here is about 15 meters, and the marine life is every bit as impressive as outside the fjord. Almost every dive brings me cuttlefish, lobsters, and plenty of moray eels. But what about other divers? None to be found! Throughout the entire safari, I can enjoy every dive site undisturbed with my buddies.
After a variety of dives, the wind improves and we continue our journey toward Dibba.
The reefs and underwater world in Musandam are incredibly diverse. From steep walls to gently sloping reefs with coral boulders and shallow bays with sandy bottoms and hard corals for night dives, everything is here. At some spots, there’s even a chance of leopard shark sightings. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any luck on this tour!
“The Vision” slowly makes its way past Red Island, Ras Arous, Ras Marovie, and Octopus Rock toward Zighy Bay near Dibba; the final stop on our safari.
The gear is already disassembled and drying on the upper deck; here and there, logbooks are being filled out, and the remaining alcohol ordered before the safari is being consumed. Every diver knows that the safari is now over and no further highlights are to be expected. However, Ahmed has an exclusive offer: for an additional fee and with prior booking, a beach barbecue at the 6th Sense luxury hotel is possible, which I definitely don’t want to miss.
I’m picked up from the ship and driven through the small village to the 6th Sense Hotel. Not far from the moonlit sea, a lavishly set table awaits me next to the grill, where I can get a first look at the dishes on offer. Here, no culinary wish goes unfulfilled. From local appetizers to grilled shrimp, variations of meat skewers, lamb chops, and dessert, the dishes are served in a stylish setting.
For me, this was the perfect ending to a successful safari.
Note on the current situation: The safari will take place as usual despite the ongoing war in the Gulf. We contacted the owner and received the following detailed response:
"Since the situation started, we honestly haven’t faced any issues, and we’ve been operating our trips as normal. The only change is that we are no longer visiting Kumzar at this time. Instead, we are taking alternate routes that offer exciting dive sites.
One minor adjustment we’ve made is that we’re not going as far north towards Kumzar at the moment. Instead, we’re following our other regular Musandam routes, which still offer excellent diving and guest experience.
We’re also still picking up our guests from Dubai Airport without any problems.
Of course, we’re monitoring everything closely, and if anything changes, we’ll adjust immediately, but at the moment everything is running normally."
The Ship
https://thevision.om/
https://taucher.net/liveaboard-the_vision-baz17560