One gets wet in Muscat

[Scuttler]

Last year in Muscat I met up with Neil B from these boards. Unfortunately my time was such that I couldn't get a dive in but we went out for a great curry and a beer.

This time I tried to swing it that I'd fly out on Wednesday or Thursday so that I could make a Friday dive with Neil's club Muscat Divers BSAC 621. It wasn't to be. So I landed on Friday and gave Neil a call on Saturday to arrange for the next best thing....curry and beer.

Neil suggested a night dive on Sunday if he could get some numbers together. I didn't have any kit but Neil assured me I'd be fine as he had a load of kit he could lend me.

This morning I got a text that the dive was on.

Neil and his lad Aln came over and picked me up from my hotel and took me down to the marina where the club hut and boats are stored.

Once everything had been organised and I was introduced to all on board we set off.

Just outside the harbour is a rock which juts out of the sea about 30-40m. This was to be our dive.

We kitted up, did our buddy checks and rolled in.

The water hit me, but not in that ice cold gawd I'm in way......more like ooh isn't that refreshing. The water temp reached a bone numbing 28 degrees C

We faffed about a little on the surface making sure we were good to go and I spent a bit of time reacquainting myself with single tank operations and diving a BCD and then we were off.

The visibility was between 6 and 15m depending on which part of the dive we were on.

There were cuttlefish, lionfish, damselfish, trumpetfish, pufferfish and I'm sure I saw a free swimming juvenile Moray Eel at one point. There were literally fish everywhere. The damselfish were particulary drawn to our torch beams and would bathe in the glow slowly swimming closer and closer then dart away at the last moment. There was an almost perfectly camouglaged hermit crab that scurried away after we held him in our torch beam for too long. I saw various types of coral including brain coral. A large anemone that I didn't recognise as well as some small sea fans.

I have to say I had an awesome 45 minute dive with my buddy Vaughn. Our max depth was 9.5m! Just goes to show.....some of the best stuff happens in the shallows.

We surfaced and dekitted. By the time we'd sorted our kit out Neil's wife arrived with the Pizzas and we sat down with some Pizza and a beer discussing the dive.

I had a great time and would like to that everyone at BSAC 621 for their hospitality.

Special thanks to Neil B for the loan of the gear and for organising it and ferrying me to and from the marina and to Irene for making the Pizza .

Cheers Neil

[purple vonny]

Nice! Oh man it sounds like you had a good time

[Ding Dang Doo]

Sounds great.... one of those sort planned - but unplanned doo's that work out well!

Lucky you!

Pete

[NeilB]

A similar event can be arranged for all visitors. I just need a phone call to let me know you are here.

I am glad that it took Ian away from the hassle of working and gave myself and Alan a chance to test our new torches!......report later.

You know where I live folks.........

[Sixsquid]

Great report and glad you managed to squeeze a dive in

Originally Posted by purple vonny

Nice! Oh man it sounds like you had a good time

Groan

Originally Posted by NeilB

A similar event can be arranged for all visitors. I just need a phone call to let me know you are here.

You know where I live folks.........

It sounds fabulous so, it might be years away but, I may well hold you to that
Cheers