, and indifference by our local dive operator 
, we had a consolation prize of arranging at short notice 4 days diving at the Damiyat islands, Oman.Our first day of diving was cancelled due to bad weather.
The second day was abandoned because of engine failure half way out to the site. we then decided to cut our losses, and headed for the Oman diving centre, Muscat - conveniently beside the Shangri-la resort. On day three we were FINALLY rewarded with a day of great diving... hurrah! 
Water: 25C/77F
Air: 25C/77F
Viz: variable - 3 - 15 metres (10 - 45 feet) What made the conditions so variable is the current and unusual phenomenon of the Oman "red tide" which is working its way down the coast. It is like diving in brown patchy fog and similar to the "olden day" effect you get on those fun pics you get taken at the funfair
Marine Life: Pretty amazing. Nothing especially rare or incredible, but it was mating season! Over two dives we saw countless cuttle fish, honeycomb moray eels - many in rocks together
, box fish, Arabian Picasso trigger fish, scorpion fish - and something I'd never seen before - not one, but two pairs of mating conches. Pic not brilliant due to the viz.. Some soft and hard coral, but the sites we dived were mainly rocky/sandy.We decided not to go on the fourth day for other reasons, but the diving was defiantly worthwhile, despite the red tide.
Another highlight of the trip was on the drive back to Abu Dhabi - offroading up to Jebel Shams, the "Grand Canyon" of the Middle East.
As I notice a few members are in and out of the region, I would recommend Muscat as a destination for a weekend of decent diving it you want to avoid long haul to the Far East.
