Turtle City

Turtle City is a beginner-friendly dive site in the Daymaniyat Islands near Muscat, reaching just 7 meters in the shallow waters that serve as critical habitat for the sea turtles that nest on the islands' beaches. The name perfectly describes the experience: a place where green and hawksbill turtles are encountered with remarkable reliability in the warm, crystal-clear shallows. The shallow reef at Turtle City provides the resting and feeding habitat that draws turtles to this section of the islands. Seagrass beds and coral reef provide food for both green turtles, which graze on the vegetation, and hawksbill turtles, which feed on sponges and other reef organisms. The Daymaniyat Islands' protected status means the turtles are undisturbed by fishing or harassment, resulting in confident, approachable animals that continue their routines in the presence of respectful divers. The 7-meter maximum depth ensures extraordinary natural lighting and extremely comfortable air consumption, allowing extended dive times in the warm Arabian Sea water. These conditions create ideal opportunities for turtle observation, as the shallow, clear water means the animals are visible from the moment of descent. Multiple turtle encounters during a single dive are common, and the calm behavior of these protected animals allows extended close-range observation. Beyond turtles, the shallow reef supports colorful coral communities and the diverse tropical fish species of the Gulf of Oman. Clownfish in their anemone homes, butterflyfish pairs, and various wrasse species create constant animation in the background of the turtle encounters. Turtle City is the quintessential Daymaniyat Islands experience for beginning divers, where guaranteed turtle encounters in crystal-clear shallows create memories that define what tropical diving is all about.