Khasab: The "Musandam Discovery Diving Centre" in the Governorate of Musandam stands out as a model for ambitious national projects that have successfully transformed a passion for the marine environment into a leading institution promoting Omani tourism and attracting diving enthusiasts from across the globe.
Badr Mohammed Al Shehhi, owner of the Musandam Discovery Diving Centre, shared with Oman News Agency (ONA) that his beginnings were rooted in the fishing profession. Curiosity drove him to explore the treasures hidden beneath the blue surfaces.
He began his professional career working at a centre affiliated with a German company in the Wilayat of Khasab, progressing through diving levels until he obtained an instructor’s license from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Consequently, he established his own centre in 2015.
Al Shehhi stated that Musandam Governorate is unique for its numerous fjords (khors) and the diversity of its marine life, featuring a unique blend of mountainous and marine environments that provide an ideal habitat for rare marine creatures.
He added that the center currently offers daily trips to more than 30 diving sites, in addition to training courses, "Discover Scuba Diving" programs for unlicensed individuals, and snorkeling trips.
He pointed out that Musandam Governorate represents a safe haven for marine life, emphasizing the role of diving centers as guardians of this environment.
The center serves as the primary supporter for the "Musandam Diving Team," a volunteer group that carries out periodic seabed cleanup campaigns and coral cultivation projects. He also highlighted the importance of training divers in "buoyancy" skills to protect coral reefs from unintentional damage.
Regarding tourism demand, Al Shehhi noted that tourists express great fascination with the healthy state of the coral in Musandam, with visitors spending an average of an entire week engaged in daily diving within the governorate.
He mentioned that the center has made a significant mark by being the first Omani company to participate in the "Boot Düsseldorf" boat and water sports show in Germany, the world's largest maritime sports exhibition.
Additionally, the center contributed to organizing the first edition of the "Musandam International Diving Festival" in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Musandam.
Al Shehhi encouraged Omani youth wishing to enter the marine tourism sector, asserting that uniqueness in ideas is the key to success and urging them to innovate unconventional activities that serve the local market.
Concluding his remarks, Al Shehhi revealed that plans are currently under study to introduce new marine activities by next summer, expressing his optimism for the future of diving tourism in Musandam as it becomes a leading global destination on the international diving map.
