surfing

Talal Mazrui: Bustan Palace; 2007

Any day now, surfing is going to be the thing that brings peace to the middle east. for now though you get to surf places like Oman all by yourself becasue the other people are concerned with things obviously far more important.

Storm cells rip through the Arabian Sea around MAY through to JULY and deliver good swell right along the coast of Oman. It is worth bearing in mind that there are fewer than 100 surfers living in Oman so it's one of those places that you dont mind surfing with someone else for a change. The predominat flow of SW swell across the Indian Ocean tends to miss Oman with Sri Lanka really being the cut off point for reliable swell activity originating in the Southern Hemisphere.

Wandering swell systems can and do manage to get bent back to the coastline here however offering you another source of swell generating activity. Be sure to enjoy the isolation while it lasts, before someone builds a surf camp there.  

what to pack

Rich Niewiroski Jr.: 62 mm ultra-violet, fluorescent, and polarizing lens filters. Camera used was a Canon 400D; April 9, 2007

Trainers, loose clothing - everything for the hot weather. Definitely take along some bug repellent spray, good sunscreen and sunglasses! Better take your medicines with you (esp. anti histamine tablets), as the brands can be unfamiliar and cost more.

Bring some basics there so that you can mix and match with your clothes. That way you don't need to bring so many sets of clothes, yet still have a decent set of clothes to wear every day.

And take a good protection for your camera from the sand.