1) Global Scuba, located in Oman, offers diving tours and packages focused on the Daymaniyat Islands. The company is run by Keith, a British expat, and his Belgian wife Monique, who have decades of experience in the diving industry in Oman. 2) The Daymaniyat Islands are considered one of the top diving destinations in the Middle East, known for whale sharks, seahorses, and beautiful coral reefs. However, Oman's tourism industry overall still needs more promotion and infrastructure development to reach its full potential. 3) While Global Scuba has been successful, the diving tourism industry in Oman also faces challenges such as weather issues, regional political instability,

1. MOMENTS
in WATER
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22 March 3, 2016

2. About 18 km off the Batinah Coast, the
Daymaniyat Islands are a sanctuary for
migrating birds and are Oman's only protected
marine area, directly under the supervision of
the Ministry of Environment since 1996
“
W
ow! Whale sharks, whale sharks,” Adrienne and Dominique
simultaneously shouted at the top of their lungs. In fact, who
can contain the mad excitement of sighting the shy and rare
whale sharks? But Keith Holt and Monique Borlee have got
used to such frenzied moments during diving trips at the Damaniyat Islands,
and such expressions at best draw a simple grin on their faces.
The young-at-heart Keith and Monique excel—and revel—in creating
in the Sultanate, especially the Daymaniyat Islands. That’s their business.
Sitting at the Global Scuba Dive Centre, one of the oldest and most loved
dive centers in Oman, the veteran couple designs exciting diving holiday
packages for scuba divers and snorkellers from across the world.
Keith—who is from the Wales, UK—reached Oman in the early 1970s to
work with the erstwhile British Bank of the Middle East, which later became
HSBC Oman. He met Monique, a Belgian, in Muscat; married her, and now
calls Muscat his home. Their romance with the seas eventually turned into
a successful business venture a decade ago with the establishment of
Global Scuba LLC, encouraged by his son Yannick, a professional scuba
diving instructor.
Age has totally failed to diminish their professional commitment. Monique
oversees the dive Centre’s marketing and reservations department. With
a commendable mastery of French, Dutch, German, Spanish and English
languages, she is best suited for the job, as more than 90 per cent of their
clients come from Europe and America. As much as 30 per cent of them
are French. Meanwhile, Keith is more into administration and liaising with the
government.
Global Scuba is located at the Civil Aviation Club, Azaiba, and has nine
bungalows for diving enthusiasts to stay and relax. “Our location is strategic.
We are just 25 minutes from the Daymaniyat islands, which is our main
diving destination. As the islands are a protected nature reserve, we make
every effort to safeguard the islands’ environment,” Moniqu said.
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4. Of course, they care a lot for the environment. “We
the Oman Government for our eco-friendly initiatives
and sustainable diving practices,” Keith said. Also,
as an active member of the Environment Society
of Oman (ESO), Global Scuba has been playing a
key role in promoting responsible tourism in the
Sultanate.
Apart from diving trips to the Daymaniyat islands,
Global Scuba undertakes trips to Fahal, Bandar al
Khyran and al Munassir as well. “Daymaniyat islands
are an ideal site to spot sea-horses and whale
sharks. Large sea-horses and whale sharks are very
rare to spot globally, but Daymaniyat islands seem to
be an exception of sorts,” Monique remarked. She
recalled times when as many as six whale sharks
were spotted during diving expeditions.
About 18 km off the Batinah Coast, the Daymaniyat
Islands are a sanctuary for migrating birds and are
Oman's only protected marine area, directly
under the supervision of the
Ministry of Environment
since 1996.
“The islands
offer some
amazing dive
sites featuring
beautiful coral
gardens, reefs,
walls, large pelagic
and leopard
sharks, along with
seahorses and whale
sharks. The diving here
is considered the best in
the entire Middle East. Many
divers feel Daymaniyat to be richer
in marine life than the Red Sea,” she
said.
admirers from across the globe. To serve them
better, they are adding a fourth boat to the existing
It was only recently they took over the dive centre at
the Al Sawadi Beach Resort.
All this while some of the dive centres in Oman are
downing shutters and packing up. “We absolutely
love the business. Our business has had its ups
and downs; last year in particular was quite tough.
Unfriendly windy weather at the Daymaniyat islands
during the last dive season, and negative political
The islands offer some
aammaazzing dive sites featuring
bbeeaauutiful coral gardens, reefs,
waalllls, large pelagic fish, turtles,
raayyss annd leopard sharks, along
with sseeaahhoorrses and whale sharks.
The divinngg hheerree is consideredd thee
best in thhee eennttiirree Middle East
25March 3, 2016
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5. developments in some parts of the Arab
world have joined forces to dampen the
business. On the other hand we see cruise
tourism growing; but cruise visitors to Oman
are short-stay guests and don’t have the
time to go for diving or other explorations,
and generally they don’t spend much,” Keith
said.
Diving picks up in Oman during winter,
though Monique feels diving can be best
enjoyed in Oman in summer. Of late, though,
there is a slight increase in the number of
summer divers, which according to her is
a good sign. Also, Omanis are increasingly
taking up diving as a sport. Global Scuba
generally remains almost fully booked during
winter.
At the same time, Keith feels Oman still
remains relatively unknown: “In fact, Oman is
the safest and most beautiful country, and is
also a great diving destination. But European
and other foreign tourists know pretty little
about Oman. Much needs to be done to
promote the Sultanate abroad.”
He continued: “Neighbouring UAE,
especially Dubai, can be best described as
the world’s largest shopping destination,
but in terms of tourism potential Oman is
far ahead with its stunningly beautiful and
varied landscape and friendly people. The
only glitches are the expensive hotels and
yet to be developed tourism infrastructure.
We need a lot of signposts to guide the
tourists. Even taxi drivers sometimes struggle
to locate the sites. What’s wrong with making
taxis to use GPS system to navigate easily
and avoid getting lost? Also, taxi cars are not
metered. These might be small issues but
have great impact nonetheless.”
Monique intervened: “In France, for
instance, it takes great efforts and time
to get a licence to operate a taxi service.
They are tested for their knowledge about
the tourism sites, culture, and courtesy
towards customers etc… I don’t think the taxi
operators here are assessed against any
such parameters.”
Diving in Oman waters is unique, what with
the most diverse marine life, coral reefs
and a choice of marine cliffs, small islands,
bays and caves. A long stretch of clean
coastline extending over 3100 km, along
Keith and Monique
26 March 3, 2016
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6. with wonderful drop-offs ranging 6-40 m in depth
“All it takes is a little more focused marketing and
promotion, or in other words an effective brand
building, and a commitment to enhance tourism
infrastructure, to develop the tourism sector here to
greater heights,” they said in unison.
Beyond being the only NAUI Scuba Dive Centre in
Oman, Global Scuba is also a PADI Resort and is also
a recognised Beuchat Dive Centre and BSAC Resort.
The Centre also offers a variety of diving courses in
French, English and Arabic. Guests can go for a few
speciality courses as well including wreck diving, at
Fahal Island – an attractive tug boat and barge, and
at Bandar Khairan – Al Munassir.
Global Scuba has special agreements with
prominent hotels in Muscat, where guests can
avail attractively priced packages. Also, they use the
Centre’s strong presence in the social media for
broad-based marketing and promotion. Meanwhile
to better connect with the younger generation,
Global Scuba is developing a highly user-friendly
smartphone app, which will be ready for download
in a couple of weeks’ time.
Keith and Monique have brought in elements of
allowing guests to spend more time touring the
wadis, deserts and mountains. Dolphin watching
tours are also arranged in collaboration with some
operators.
Global Scuba has nine employees, including Keith
and Monique, with four of them Omanis. “There
is a lot of Omanisation happening here. All our
operational staff, including the three instructors, are
Omanis. They have been recruited from the local
communities of Qantab and Sawadi regions. We
have also been awarded contracts to impart diving
skills to staff from various Ministries and a host of
Oil may be down, and political unrest may continue
in some regions of the Arab world. However,
people’s fascination for the mysterious marine world
won’t subside so easily. And diving will continue to
remain one of the most exciting activities, believe
Keith and Monique.
GGlloooooobal SSScccuuubbbbbbbaaaaaa hhhhhaaaaasssss ssspppppecciiaall
aaaaaaaggggggggrrrrreeeeeeeeeeemmmmmmeeeennnntss wwwiitttthhhhh ppprrrooomminneennnnntttttt
hhottttteeeeellssss iiinnn MMMMMuuussscccccaaaaattt, wwwhhhheeeeerrrrreeee ggggguuuuueeessttts
cccccaaaaannnnn aaavvvaaaiiilll attractively priced
ppackageeeesssss. Also, they use the
Centre’s ssssstttttrong presence in the
social mmeeddia for broad-bassseeed
maarrkkettiinngg annd ppromotion
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