Underwater Photo Location: Limah Rock

For me the dive that summed up our whole trip was Limah Rock. This is a large island that juts magnificently up from the sea. It is over 300m high and sinks down over 60m into the depths. We dived Limah Rock on our last day, the tide was just about to turn so there was no tide movement and the sea was flat calm it was perfect conditions for a dive. We stepped off the dive platform and slowly descended through what felt like an aquarium. The fish below us would move aside and as soon as we had passed the gap would close so that we were constantly surrounded.
This dive we were on a mission. The dive guide had told us that seahorses live on a large rock at 29m so we were off to find them. At that depth we would not have long so I was relieved to be able to see the rock from 20m away, there would be no searching in low visibility for us. Approaching the rock there was no seahorses to be seen. Then as we looked closer one was found holding onto a piece of soft coral. It was small and blended perfectly with its surroundings, using natural camouflage to hide from predators.
Unfortunately we did not have time to look for more but as we turned to ascend I was amazed at the sight that met me. From nearly 30m down I could see the bottom of our dhow. There were several pairs of divers gliding over coral through so many fishes that you could not possibly count them all. Silhouetted against the sun was a school of large batfish. I turned and looked along the reef. Larger fish were gathered a little way off, the water was so clear that they appeared to be floating in mid air with nothing to support them. Further up a shoal of fish swam by at speed as if they were in a rush to go somewhere important. We slowly made our way up the side of the reef looking into every hole and under every overhang.
I could not believe the colours in the coral. It seemed as if every colour you could think of was there in every shape imaginable. There was large soft cabbage coral in a soft green, spiky teddy bear coral in red and yellow, purple soft coral and no end of brown and green table coral. All too soon this dive was over and we had to ascend to the surface but it is one that will get a special mention in my log book.
The dive trip came to an end that day as we arrived back in Dibba but for the divers it will live with them a long time. We took nothing but pictures, we left nothing but bubbles......we will be back.

Facts about Limah Rock

• It is in Oman
• Limah Rock is in the Arabian Sea.