Sira Island
Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve (permit needed, closed to visitors May–Oct). Sloping walls and valleys with good visibility, as described by one guide; eagle rays, leopard sharks, turtles, batfish and sweetlips are reported. Single-source entry: no depth data.
Facts
- Region: Muscat & Daymaniyat Islands – Oman
- Area: Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve
- Level: intermediate
- Current: low
- Type: slope, reef
- Coordinates: 23.847, 58.1 (approximate)
- Highlights: eagle ray, leopard shark, turtle, batfish, sweetlips
- Permit: Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve (Royal Decree 23/1996): an Environment Authority entry permit is required. Official one-day fees for foreigners: OMR 3 visit, OMR 6 visit + diving, OMR 10 visit + diving + overnight stay (Omani rates are lower; multi-month passes exist, e.g. OMR 150/year for visit + diving). Landing and camping are prohibited from May to October (turtle and seabird breeding season), so dive trips in practice run in the open season; confirm with the operator. Dive operators normally buy the permit for guests: Euro-Divers' 2022 price list charged a nature-reserve permit plus fuel surcharge of OMR 13.4 per trip on top of the dive price, so check current prices. Fees have changed several times; always confirm with the Environment Authority.
- Issuer / contact: Environment Authority (Oman)
- Phone: 1991
- Website: https://www.ea.gov.om/en/authority-services/service-catalogue/service-catalogue/paid-entry-permit-to-dimaniyat-islands-nature-reserve/
- Call Center 1991 and WhatsApp 24404696 as listed on the Authority's service page; the gov.om service page lists 30238399 / 30238401 without labels. No e-mail address is published for this service. Permits are applied for online via the Authority's e-services and are normally arranged by the dive operator.
- Unverified: The exact position of this dive site within the Daymaniyat island group is not published in the sources used; the marker is placed in the island group only and is approximate. Only one source describes this site.
- Tips: Treat details as indicative; confirm the day's site list with the operator.