Bandar Al Khayran, one of the largest semi-enclosed bays in the northeast coast of Oman is designated as a 'Marine Protected Area' and host a pristine marine environment. It is a place where tourists can enjoy the spectacular underwater beauty of the Gulf of Oman by diving and snorkeling. A renowned real estate development company has proposed a low-impact resort development covering 14 hectares with approximately 250 m of beach front. The hotel facilities proposed are in the form of individual chalets and various other recreational facilities. Whilst the project has no major marine interaction barring provision of wooden decks for docking of small boats along the shore, a comprehensive marine survey has been conducted since January 2007 to December 2010 to study the impacts and monitor the marine environment. Preliminary findings indicate that the area can be promoted for recreational underwater diving and also be utilised for scientific purposes owing to its marine wealth. This paper presents how commercial diving can contribute to scientific research.
展开▼
