Cetaceans (the collective name for whales and dolphins)

This page is a little different to the rest of the pages on our website as we need you to help us protect the environment of Oman when you are on holiday, this includes the Whales and Dolphins.

Oman is a secret in its self and protected with in its waters are its marine wild life, mainly seen by the local people whom work and live here. You can see whales and dolphins all along the Oman coastline from the north to south.

Did you know that 21 different species of whales and dolphins have been identified along the coast of Oman? Take a trip and learn how to identify them, know something about their feeding habits etc.


What types can I see?

“Ho Boy” now you have asked. Not all these below in one day though, sighting these creatures is not like turning on a light. Don't blame the operator if you don’t see anything.
 

Note: The finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) occurs in the Arabian Gulf and may stray into waters around the Musandam peninsula. The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) and the pilot whale (Globicephala sp.) are additionally reported off Oman, but their occurrence in Arabian waters remains unconfirmed. Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) is known from the skeletal remains of one individual found recently near Quriyat.

Dolphins: Spinner dolphin, Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin 

Whales: Humpbacked

How many will I see?

What a question.

Dolphins you can see as many as hundreds at a time and whales in one or twos, yet last year people did see pod of 5 or 6 killer whales.

You can see dolphins generally all year round but for whales, the sightings are better from Oct to May.

What time of day is best?

Early morning or late evening is best.

Data on Oman Cetaceans is very low, their feeding grounds, habits and numbers are not well known. We do know that the Humpback whales in Oman are thought to be resident and are not migratory, where they breed has yet to be discovered. The Oman Whale and Dolphin research group has been taking data over the last few years with the approval of the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment. Muscat diving Adventure Centure is in full support of The Ministry of Environment and the Whale and Dolphin research group.

You have the Power

When in Oman you will be able to take daily tours or go camping for a few days, your choice of operator is important. You have the power to help good environmentally aware groups or the people who disrespect our world. The responsibility is yours.

I will concentrate on Whales and dolphins but the concept is for all tours.

Increasing numbers of tourists means increasing numbers of people who can provide dolphin and whale watching tours. I am sorry but some people do not understand that we need to view nature carefully and without too much disturbance, uneducated business practices can cause the loss of the exact thing they where trying to live off. We all hate the plastic bag trees, discarded bottles, fishing nets hung with rotting fish, basically any disregard for nature or rubbish in and out of the water or. Education of tourists and the local people is paramount to keeping our worlds creatures around for our grand children and sustaining a viable business.

Use your money carefully to help nature.

Questions to Ask

Here are some questions you can ask your tour operator to ensure that you are choosing a good dolphin- or whale-watching trip. By asking well-informed questions about safety standards, educational aims and boat-handling practices, you can help encourage local businesses to offer a better service, which will ultimately benefit the whales and dolphins of Oman:

• What are the safety standards of your tours?

Are there life jackets on board for all customers (including appropriate children's sizes?). Is there a first aid kit on board and someone trained to use it? Does the boat captain have a VHF radio or GSM telephone?

• Is there an educational element to your tours?

Is there a pre-tour briefing or explanation? Is there an on-board naturalist who can identify the species being viewed and explain aspects of their behaviour or ecology? No tour operator can guarantee dolphin sightings. On trips where dolphins are not found, having a naturalist on board can ensure that the trip is still interesting and educational.

• Does the boat driver adhere to guidelines?

Many tour operators may believe that guests simply want to get as close as possible to the dolphins or whales. By asking this question, and encouraging tour operators to adhere to the guidelines below, you can help to ensure that Oman's whales and dolphins are not unduly stressed or "run out of town" by irresponsible practices.

Boat Handling Guidelines

Boat-handling guidelines for whale and dolphin encounters

Now that you know what constitutes responsible whale & dolphin watching why not Book a Tour