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The rocky coast extending east of Mirbat, on the Arabian Sea coast of Oman, boasts many bays and coves to snorkel. Eagles Bay is one of the most accessible and recommended in the area. Moray eels, starfish, groupers, Moorish Idols and anemonefish are easy to spot around the rocks and coral found in the bay.

Moorish idols and sergeant majors in Eagles Bay, Mirbat
Moorish idols and sergeant majors at Eagles Bay’s reef.

How to get to Eagles Bay snorkeling spot?

Eagles Bay is located east of Mirbat, on the Arabian Sea coast of Oman. It is just a 20 minutes drive (14km) from Mirbat’s city center. To reach the spot, you will need a car, preferably a 4×4, since there is no public transport in the region. The last part of the road, after Alila Hinu Bay resort, is unpaved.

If you have a 4×4, you can drive up to Kiwi Cove, which is the recommended water entrance point (see pin 1 on the map below). If you don’t, park your car at the end of the practicable road (pin 2 on the map) and then walk to Kiwi Cove (approximately 400m).

From Salalah, the largest city in southern Oman, the driving time to Eagles Bay is a bit more than 1 hour (85km).

Eagles Bay and Kiwi Cove snorkeling map, Oman

Water entrance for snorkeling Eagles Bay

Kiwi Cove, offering a nice sandy beach and calm sea, is the best spot to enter the water.

Eagles Bay snorkeling exploration tips

The best snorkeling area is along the rocky shore extending south of the beach (see map above). You can follow the coast for some 300 meters, but don’t drift too far if there is (even slight) current or if you are not a confident swimmer.

Laced moray eel in Oman
Several species of laced morays live at Eagles Bay. In this picture, a laced moray, the second-largest moray species in the Indo-Pacific.

At this spot, the water depths are ranging from 1 to 30ft/0.5 to 10m. Snorkeling is especially good at low tide, as during high tide the deeper parts are difficult to see and you have to dive to enjoy it to the fullest.

Snorkeling along the coast, you’ll discover patches with kelp full of little fish, as well as really nice coral combined with rocks and sand. Different types of starfish and urchins are living on the seabed.

Oman anemonefish in Eagles Bay
A pair of Oman anemonefish, endemic to the southern coast of the country.

This spot boasts a wide diversity of fish, including spotted guitarfish, different species of moray eels, bluespotted groupers, long-spine porcupinefish, yellow boxfish and a lot more. Octopus and cuttlefish are also frequently seen around.

Eagles Bay is a great location for encountering the Oman anemonefish, only known from the Arabian Sea coast of Oman. Couples or small groups are found in the sea anemones from Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis crispa species living on the reef.

Octopus in Eagles Bay, Oman
An octopus noted in the rocks.

In normal sea conditions, the bay is very calm, with no mentionable currents.

The spot is never busy, even during the weekends and holidays, and you’ll have good chances to have the bay for yourself.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

There are no amenities in Eagles Bay, as this spot is completely natural. A restaurant, a campsite, a resort, and some other lodging options are available less than 5km from the spot.

Discover Eagles Bay fascinating underwater world, including many laced morays and an incredible encounter with a guitarfish, in these videos 👇 shared by ajvessen!

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  • Level required Intermediate
  • Maximum depth30ft/10m
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsFree
  • Restaurants nearbyNo

MAP Spot

These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.