​​​​​​​KHASAB, Oman

A mix of endurance and exploration activities was featured on Wednesday on the third day of the Musandam International Diving Festival in Oman.

More than 65 participants joined the exploration dive adventure, showcasing the deep waters off Musandam as a global attraction for diving tourism in Khasab.

Competitions drew interest from residents and visitors. Free-diving challenges tested divers’ breath-holding skills, while swimming contests included separate categories for children and adults.

Other events added variety to the schedule, including the Jar Challenge and the E-Rowing Championship, designed to combine fitness with entertainment.

Organizers continued to focus on education. A workshop on deep diving medicine provided practical knowledge for divers, and a dialogue session with Kuwaiti champion diver Husain Al-Qallaf offered insights into professional diving careers.

The four-day festival, held for the first time this year, aims to link tourism with environmental sustainability. Alongside competitive events, divers have planted coral and taken part in reef cleaning campaigns.

Organizers said the program underscores Oman’s strategy to strengthen eco-tourism and reinforce the governorate’s role as one of the Middle East’s most prominent diving destinations.