When do the Daymaniyat Islands beaches reopen?

On 1 November. Landing on the beaches of the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve is allowed from 1 November to 30 April. From 1 May to 31 October the beaches close to protect nesting sea turtles and breeding seabirds, and trips snorkel from the boat without landing.

What does a full-day Daymaniyat trip with a beach landing include?

The private full day with Horizon Blue is 8 hours of exclusive boat use, 9 AM to 5 PM, from Al Mouj Marina, Muscat. In beach season it combines two or more snorkelling stops with a landing on one of the islands, where guests can walk, relax on the sand, swim from the shore and climb one of the small hills for a view over the reserve. The boat, captain, crew, snorkelling gear, life jackets and refreshments are included, and an Omani BBQ can be added.

What is on the Horizon Blue BBQ menu?

Traditional Omani mishkak (grilled marinated meat skewers), Lebanese bread, hummus and fresh salad, alongside sandwiches, soft drinks, fresh fruit and Chips Oman, the country's favourite crisps. Tell us about dietary needs when you book.

How much does a full-day trip to the Daymaniyat Islands cost?

The private full-day charter is 350 OMR per boat for up to 15 guests, plus Environment Authority reserve permits of OMR 0.5 to 3 per person, which we arrange for you. The BBQ is an add-on and is confirmed with your booking. Tour agents and DMCs receive partner pricing through the Horizon Blue partner portal.

Can we swim with reef sharks at the Daymaniyat Islands?

Blacktip reef sharks live in the reserve and are often seen over the sandy channels near the reefs. They are shy and keep their distance from snorkellers. For guests who want more adventure we plan stops where they are most often seen, though no wild animal sighting is ever guaranteed.

Can tour operators and DMCs book Daymaniyat trips with Horizon Blue?

Yes. Agents, tour operators and DMCs in Oman and abroad can apply through our partner page for commission of up to 30%, a live availability calendar, branded booking confirmations for their guests and permits and gear priced in. We can also build custom itineraries for groups, incentive trips and repeat programmes.

How do I get to the Daymaniyat Islands from Muscat?

Only by boat with a licensed operator. Horizon Blue departs from Al Mouj Marina in Muscat, and the crossing to the islands takes about 45 to 50 minutes.

Daymaniyat Islands Beaches Reopen on 1 November: Full-Day Trips, Beach BBQ and What to Expect

For six months of the year the Daymaniyat Islands are seen from the water only. From 1 May to 31 October their beaches belong to nesting sea turtles and breeding seabirds, and every trip, ours included, snorkels around the islands without stepping ashore. On 1 November that changes. The beaches reopen to visitors, the sea is calm and clear, and a day at the Daymaniyats becomes a day on the islands as well as around them.

This guide covers what to expect from beach season, why it is the best time of year for a full-day trip with a BBQ, and how we plan each day around the people on board. It is written for travellers planning a winter escape to Oman, and for the tour agents and DMCs in Oman and Europe who send them to us.

What Changes on 1 November

The Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve is a group of nine small islands about 18 km off the coast, 45 to 50 minutes by boat from Al Mouj Marina in Muscat. The reserve is protected all year, and the rules change with the seasons:

1 May to 31 October: snorkelling and swimming from the boat. The beaches are closed for the turtle and seabird nesting season.
1 November to 30 April: landing is allowed on the beaches. The water is back to its clearest, the air is warm rather than hot, and the islands can be part of the day.

Every visitor still needs an Environment Authority permit, which we arrange with every booking. The reserve's rules stay the same on land: no litter, no disturbing wildlife, and nothing taken home but photographs.

Horizon Blue boat moored in turquoise water beside a sandy beach at the Daymaniyat Islands — Beach season: the boat waits in the shallows while guests head for the sand.

A Day on the Islands, Not Just Around Them

In beach season we bring the boat into the shallows and our guests go ashore. What happens next is up to them:

Walk the shoreline, where white sand gives way to weathered limestone and rock pools.
Relax on the sand with a towel and a cold drink, or swim straight off the beach in water you can see your feet through.
Play: room for children to dig, run and splash, and plenty of space for grown-ups to do nothing at all.
Climb one of the small jabals, the rocky hills on the islands. A short scramble gives you a view across the reserve, with the reef showing turquoise against the deep blue and the other islands lined up towards the horizon.
Socialise: the beaches are where you meet travellers from other boats and other countries, and where many guests swap their best turtle photos.

A white sand beach and clear turquoise water between limestone rocks on one of the Daymaniyat Islands — One of the island beaches: white sand, turquoise water and limestone to explore.

Why Beach Season Is Made for Full Days

Our half-day sharing trip is five hours and two snorkel stops, and it is still the easiest way to see the reserve. But a beach landing takes time to enjoy properly, and that is where the private full day comes in.

8 hours of exclusive boat use, 9 AM to 5 PM from Al Mouj Marina.
Up to 15 guests on one boat, with your own captain and crew.
Snorkelling at two or more reef sites, plus time ashore on the beach.
350 OMR per boat, plus reserve permits of OMR 0.5 to 3 per person, which we arrange.

A typical beach-season full day runs like this: leave the marina in the morning calm, snorkel the first reef while the light is best, land on the beach late morning, eat lunch ashore or on board, take a slow afternoon of swimming, walking and a climb to a viewpoint, then a last snorkel on the way home before the evening run back to Muscat. If your group would rather spend three hours on the sand and one in the water, we will plan it that way instead.

The view from the deck as we come in towards the island.

The BBQ: Lunch the Omani Way

A full day deserves a proper lunch, and our BBQ add-on is the one guests talk about afterwards. The menu:

Traditional mishkak: marinated meat skewers grilled the way Omanis grill them at home, smoky and straight off the fire
Lebanese bread, hummus and a fresh salad
Sandwiches for lighter appetites and younger guests
Soft drinks and chilled water
Fresh fruit to finish
And a bag of Chips Oman, the country's favourite crisps, because no day out in Oman is complete without one

Let us know about vegetarian guests, allergies or other dietary needs when you book and we will plan around them. The BBQ is added to your booking and confirmed with your quote.

Built Around Your Group

We ask every guest, tour agent and DMC who books with us to be specific about the day they want. Some groups want the most snorkelling we can fit in. Some want a long lunch and a quiet beach. Some are celebrating a birthday, an engagement or the end of a conference. The more you tell us, the better the day we can build, and building those days is what our crew does best.

Every full day can be customised, including:

The pace: more reefs, more beach time, or a balance of both
The food: the full BBQ, a lighter lunch, or your own catering arrangements
The occasion: birthdays, proposals, family reunions, team days and incentive groups
The adventure: for guests who want a little more, we plan snorkel stops where blacktip reef sharks patrol the sandy channels

Blacktip reef sharks are shy, graceful and keep their distance from snorkellers. Seeing one glide over the sand is a highlight for confident swimmers. As with any wild animal, we can't promise a sighting, but we know where they like to be.

Blacktip reef shark swimming over coral at the Daymaniyat Islands — A blacktip reef shark over the coral, for guests who want a little more adventure.

The reef itself is at its best in winter. Visibility improves as the water cools, and the turtles stay all year. This green turtle came by our snorkellers on 9 October, a few weeks before the beaches reopen.

Green sea turtle swimming over coral in clear blue water at the Daymaniyat Islands — 9 October: a green turtle glides over the reef. From our Instagram, @horizonblue.om.

Two snorkellers swimming beside a hawksbill sea turtle at the Daymaniyat Islands — Turtles live on these reefs all year, beach season included.

For Tour Operators, Travel Agents and DMCs

November to April is high season in Oman. Europe is cold, Muscat is in the mid to high twenties, and the Daymaniyats are back to full colour. If you plan Oman itineraries, the full day with a beach landing and BBQ is one of the strongest days you can add, and it fits easily into city stays, cruise calls and incentive programmes.

What our partners get:

Commission of up to 30%, tiered and fixed in your account
A live availability calendar for every boat and every slot, with no phone tag and no double bookings
Branded confirmations, so your guests remember who booked their day
Permits, gear and refreshments priced in, so the price you quote is the price your guests pay
Custom itineraries for groups, private charters and repeat programmes, planned with our crew

Agents in Oman, Europe and the wider Gulf can apply on our partner page. We're happy to talk through a programme before you sign up.

Clear turquoise water over the shallows with a Daymaniyat island on the horizon — Winter water at the Daymaniyats.

Plan Your Beach-Season Day

Weekends and holidays are the first dates to go in beach season, especially for groups. To secure yours:

Travellers: book online in about two minutes, or see the private full-day trip first.
Agents and DMCs: join the partner programme for partner pricing and live availability.
Custom groups: message us on WhatsApp at +968 93232 837 or use our contact page with your dates, group size and what you want from the day.

New to the reserve? Our complete Daymaniyat snorkelling guide covers what you'll see in every season, and the summer 2026 recap shows the reef as we filmed it this year. For more of the islands, follow @horizonblue.om on Instagram. See you on the beach.