Oman Aggressor

The little known Sultanate of Oman, with its stunning deserts, rugged mountain landscapes, green oases, endless beaches, and friendly people, is one of the Aggressor Fleet’s newest destinations. And the Oman Aggressor offers 7 and 10 night liveaboard diving cruises to 2 distinct and remote regions of the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman with the promise of chance encounters with some giants of the sea, with transit trips that visit both areas.

This large and modern yacht is 148 ft (45m) long. It has a steel hull and is built and for comfort and safety, with all the services to which divers have become accustomed from Aggressor cruises. 22 guests are accommodated in 11 ensuite staterooms with TVs across the 3 decks, and are attended to by the 13 crew members.

The spacious air-conditioned saloon features a dining area and a comfy lounge area to watch TV or chat with fellow passengers. The upper deck has a large social area with lounge-style seating, deck chairs, chaise lounges, and a shaded hot tub. Diving amenities include freshwater rinse showers, camera table, rinse tanks and nitrox. Up to 4 dives per day are done from the two 22 ft (7m) long motorised tenders.

There is a highly varied weekly menu, featuring Western style breakfast, and Arabic and international lunches and dinners. These include salads, soups, main courses of fish, seafood, beef or chicken, fresh breads, vegetables, and a selection of desserts. Dinners are served each evening with complimentary local beer and wine. As with all Aggressor safaris, the final night is spent in the port and dinner is taken at a recommended restaurant. So if you are looking for a fascinating and new diving destination on a high quality liveaboard yacht, look no further than the Oman Aggressor.

Loading...

Dive experience: When our guests compete their Cruise Application they affirm to Aggressor that they are fit to dive in Oman. That “fit to dive” implies physical fitness, dive skills, and dive experience. Oman Aggressor expect divers to accept personal responsibility for their fitness to dive.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, local beer and wine, dives (as detailed in the trips above), 2 experienced in-water safety divers, tanks, weights and weightbelts.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental, diving computer, port and park fees (US$ 200), restaurant meal on final evening. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (credit card only).

Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks (other than local beer or wine), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, torch, 15 litre tank (US$ 50-70 per week), (see our dive insurance, transfers to the boat from the airport/hotel (US$ 35 each way). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

How to get there: Many major airlines fly to Oman: Emirates, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, Delta, Lufthansa, Swiss and British Airways. Due to airline schedules, we highly recommend arriving at least 1 day prior to your liveaboard departure and staying at the host hotel.
- For Al Mouj Marina - the local airport is Muscat Airport (MCT). The host hotel is Grand Millennium Hotel (60 minutes from the airport). Transportation can be arranged with the Oman Aggressor from the host hotel to board the boat, and to depart the boat for the host hotel or Muscat Airport.
- For Juweira Boutique Hotel Marina - the local airport is Salalah Airport (SLL). The host hotel is Juweira Boutique Hotel (30 minutes from the airport). Transportation can be arranged with the Oman Aggressor to depart the boat for Salalah Airport. It is not necessary to arrange transport from the host hotel to the marina because the marina is inside the hotel.
It is also possible to fly to Dubai (DXB) and then travel by road. From Dubai International Airport to each departure point is: Muscat 4½ hours, Salalah 11½ hours.
Arrival/Boarding/Departure: Boarding starts at 3 pm and the boat departs on the following morning. The liveaboard boat returns to the pier after lunch time on the penultimate day, with checkout being at 8 am. Reservations are required for all transfers at least 14 days in advance. Transportation costs will be collected onboard the yacht at the end of the trip.
The last dive of the cruise will be at around 12 noon on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.

Non-diver rate: US$ 200 off the full published price (does not apply to specials).

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 65% of the normal published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 9 guests, and 2 additional persons can join the cruise in a Deluxe Stateroom free of charge (total 11 or more guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Equivalent to: Pay for 18 guests and 4 additional persons can join the cruise in a deluxe Stateroom free of charge (22 guests).

Hallaniyat & Daymaniyat Islands (11 Days / 10 Nights - 35 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays, whales, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Hamdi’s Block, Ras Mirbat, Marriott Wreck, Hasikiyah, Sunny Turtle, Mini Gozo, Coral Bay, Gota Qibliyah, Ras Qinqari, Eagle Bay, As Sawda, Coral Garden, Canal Garden, Shemis Fingers, The Arch, Fish Highway, Angry Grouper, Aquarium, 3 Sisters, Garden of Eden, Junne, Tito's Run, Hayut, Bandar Khayran, Fahal Island, Al Munnassir Wreck, Decorator Bay, Sari Island, Mouse Trap, Police Run

Day 1
Arrive in Muscat and take a 60 minute taxi to Grand Millennium Hotel. Boarding the Oman Aggressor starts at 3 pm at Al Mouj Marina, but the yacht will only leave anchor on the following morning. There will be a welcome platter of cheese, hummus and pita bread, mini sandwiches and homemade mini pizzas. The tour leader will welcome you onboard, assign your cabin to you, and explain in detail the liveaboard boat features and the plans for the coming days. Then dinner will be served. After a good night's sleep in your comfortable cabin, the diving will commence the next day.

Days 2-10
Expect up to 4 dives a day at some of the most amazing dive sites in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, with awesome coral reefs and tons of fish. The Daymaniyat Islands are small, rocky islands north of Muscat. The reefs cover up to 70% of the seabed with more than 100 different species of coral of which no less than 10% are unique to Oman’s waters. Marine life is abundant with 280 different species of fish, varying from sting rays, turtles, moray eels, leopard sharks and whale sharks. Green and hawksbill turtles are common residents of the islands. Bottlenose and spinner dolphins can be encountered, and more rarely humpback whales. The islands are a nature reserve and an important turtle nesting site, as well as a sanctuary for migrating birds.
The Hallaniyat Islands are located off the south eastern coast of Oman. The islands are an undiscovered diving region where you can expect almost anything! Diving highlights are undoubtedly the opportunity to see the populations of humpback whales (Jan-Apr), but also include encounters with sperm whales. Huge pods of dolphin are often seen, as well as green turtles. Giant groupers, meaty catfish and mobulas are all commonly encountered.
The menu onboard is varied and plentiful, with a variety of international and Arabic cuisine. You will wake up to fresh fruits, hot entrees, cereals and juices. Lunches are buffet-style, featuring hot soups, homemade breads, salads and sandwiches, and/or entrees. Dinners are chef prepared and served each evening, and include salads, vegetables, seafood, beef or chicken, with a fresh homemade dessert. There will also be plenty of snacks mid-morning and mid-afternoon. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know during the booking process and speak to the yacht chef once onboard so he can adequately prepare to meet your needs.
After 2 morning dives on the last full day of the trip, the Oman Aggressor returns to the marina during the afternoon to provision and re-fuel. A sunset cocktail party will be held, then you may go ashore for dinner at one of the many fine restaurants located in the marina. There is also shopping and nightlife.

Day 11
After a continental breakfast, you will depart for the airport at approximately 8 am. Arrangements can be pre-booked for transportation to your local hotel or to Salalah Airport. Note: these trips sometimes run in reverse so please check the departure/return ports.

---

[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

The Oman Aggressor has 11 guest cabins, all with private bathrooms. There is 1 large Suite with a king-sized bed at the bow of the main deck, with panorama windows. On the upper deck, there are 4 Master Staterooms with either a king-sized bed or twin single beds, and all with seaview windows. And on the lower deck, there are 6 Deluxe Staterooms with twin single beds and portholes.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 13 / 13 - hot water