Bandar Khayran tide times

Predictions: Open-Meteo Marine (MeteoFrance SMOC, 0.08° grid) — heights relative to MSL (not chart datum / LAT). Model-derived.

Model-derived from a global ocean grid. Useful indication; expect about ±45 minutes on average vs. a local harmonic gauge, individual stations vary widely. See /methodology for per-region detail. Not for navigation.

Conditions as of 02:00 local time. Refreshes daily.

Predictions: Open-Meteo Marine (MeteoFrance SMOC, 0.08° grid) — heights relative to MSL (not chart datum / LAT). Model-derived. · Not for navigation.

The angler tradition for major/minor fishing windows: major ≈3-hour windows around moon transit and opposition; minor ≈2-hour windows around moonrise and moonset. Times are Asia/Muscat local. Folk tradition, not a scientific forecast.

Next spring tide on Fri 08 May (range 1.6m). Next neap on Mon 11 May.

Spring tides cluster around new and full moons (biggest swings). Neap tides land on quarter moons (smallest swings). See the spring tide and neap tide glossary entries for the why.

Bandar Khayran is a sheltered multi-cove inlet on the Gulf of Oman coast, roughly 30 km SE of Muscat city centre. The inlet cuts back 2–3 km into the limestone coastline; several sandy coves face into the main channel, sheltered from the NE swell by the outer headland. The combination of clear water, accessible beaches, and proximity to Muscat makes Bandar Khayran one of the most popular day-trip destinations for residents and visitors, accessible by boat from Qantab (30–40 minutes) or by 4WD on the unpaved coastal track that follows the Hajar mountain foothills. The tidal regime follows the Muscat mixed semidiurnal pattern: spring range approximately 1.5–2.0 m above Chart Datum. The inlet amplifies the tidal range slightly — the inner coves sit at the narrow end of the inlet and the high-water mark is 0.1–0.2 m higher inside the inlet than at the entrance. At low water the sandy floors of the inner coves are exposed across their full width, sometimes stranding small boats that have anchored over the shallow inner shelf. At high water the coves are fully swimmable with clear water over the sandy and rocky bottom. The most rewarding snorkelling in Bandar Khayran is on the rocky walls along the inlet channel, where the depth drops to 5–12 m within 20 m of the cliff face. The walls carry a typical Gulf of Oman reef community — grouper, sweetlips, fusilier schools, and the occasional turtle resting on the bottom. The best time for snorkelling is at or near high water, when the depth over the reef shelf is sufficient to explore without scraping the bottom and the water clarity is at its peak before the afternoon wind stirs sediment. Kayaking the inlet channel at Bandar Khayran is well-suited to intermediate paddlers; the channel is sheltered from swell and the tidal current is mild (0.3–0.6 knots at springs in the main channel). At high water the inner coves and mangrove channels at the head of the inlet are accessible by kayak; at low water the shallows restrict access to the main channel. The inner mangrove area at the inlet head is a feeding area for wading birds; herons, egrets, and kingfishers are resident. On the 4WD coastal track from Muscat, the road arrives at the inlet from the landward side and drops to beach level at two of the main inner coves. This access makes Bandar Khayran reachable without a boat in a suitable vehicle; the track is unpaved and requires ground clearance. At low water in calm conditions the sandy cove floors can also be approached on foot from the track end. Tide predictions here come from Open-Meteo Marine: accuracy ±45 min / ±0.2–0.3 m, referenced to Muscat Port. The National Hydrographic Office of Oman is the authoritative source for Omani tide data. The Bandar Khayran area is within Muscat Governorate's protected coastal zone; camping and fire-making require a permit from the relevant authority. The 4WD track to Bandar Khayran from the Muscat coastal road is approximately 20 km from the main Qantab junction; the track traverses wadi crossings and rocky sections that require high-clearance vehicles. Tyre pressure adjustment (30–35% reduction) is recommended for the rocky sections. After the rainy season (November–January), some wadi crossings may be impassable without checking conditions locally. The track passes several viewpoints over the inlet from above; the aerial view of the multiple sandy coves from the ridgeline is one of the better viewpoints on the Muscat coastal area. The name Bandar Khayran translates roughly as 'good harbour' or 'harbour of goodness' in Arabic; the sheltered multi-cove geometry that earns the name is visible on any satellite image of the Muscat southeast coast. The protected character of the inlet has made it a historic anchorage; traces of ancient settlement have been recorded in the area, consistent with a coast that has been used for sheltered anchorage for thousands of years. The limestone geology of the surrounding headlands is the same formation as the Hajar Mountains that back the coast; the coastal erosion and cave formation processes that created the current inlet geometry are ongoing.