Kategorie: News
No Oil Slick at the Dive Sites Currently Used by the Operators Surveyed
For months, tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have been caught in the crossfire of the war between the U.S. and Iran—attacks on ships as well as drone and missile strikes against traffic passing through the strait. The name Khasab, the main tourist town on Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, appears repeatedly in many news reports. This gives many readers the impression that the incidents are taking place directly off the coast.
In fact, the security-related incidents primarily affect commercial shipping routes in and around the Strait of Hormuz. While there have since been confirmed incidents relatively close to Khasab, the dive sites currently used by the local operators we contacted are, according to them, still operating normally. Khasab is also frequently mentioned in reports because it is the nearest named location on the map.
According to consistent reports from the dive centers we contacted, operations have not changed so far: Boats are heading out as usual, the dive sites currently used by these operators remain accessible, and there are no additional restricted zones or special rules. No oil slick has been observed so far at the dive sites they use. Whether and to what extent oil residues are floating elsewhere in the region cannot be assessed in general terms independently of this.
A War That’s Affecting Bookings
There are, however, noticeable effects—of an economic nature: Business at the dive centers slumped significantly when the war began, as reports of attacks in the region have unsettled many potential guests. Added to this is the fact that summer in Musandam is already the slower travel season—high temperatures typically result in fewer visitors. Operators are expecting demand to pick up again for the upcoming peak season, provided the situation does not worsen further.
| We spoke with Ahmed Al Dhuhuri (owner of The Vision, a safari boat in Musandam); here is his assessment: From our perspective as an operator, life and tourism activities continue. We are still running local trips regularly, including on weekends, and so far we have not observed oil pollution affecting the dive sites that we are currently using. Of course, we take both the environmental and regional situation very seriously and continue to monitor developments. I can only speak about what we actually see during our operations, and I would not try to predict how the situation or the movement of an oil slick may develop. Since your trip with us in February, we have adjusted our longer itinerary. At the moment, we avoid taking The Vision through the Strait of Hormuz toward the northern part of Musandam as we did during your trip. Instead, we concentrate our itinerary farther south, giving us more distance from the areas most affected by the current regional situation. We have also met with the Minister of Tourism and the Governor of Musandam regarding the situation and the impact it has had on tourism. They understand that our sector has been one of the most affected, particularly because of the international perception of the region, and we have received their full support. We remain in contact with the relevant authorities and will adjust our operations whenever necessary according to developments and official guidance. Next month I will personally be running an international trip aboard The Vision. I think this is particularly important now. I want our guests and partners to see the situation themselves, experience Musandam as it is today, and share their own photos, videos and experiences. I believe firsthand experiences from people who are actually here can help give a more complete picture than the news alone. |
For anyone planning a trip to Musandam: according to the operators we’ve contacted, the fjords, visibility, and on-site conditions so far are as expected. The security-related incidents primarily affect shipping routes in and around the Strait of Hormuz. If you’re unsure, you should check directly with the respective dive center as close to your departure date as possible—up-to-date information from the ground is more reliable than headlines that are several weeks old.
Source: Local dive operators in Musandam, including Ahmed Al Dhuhuri (The Vision)