Wonders of Oman: Bimmah Sinkhole

The original credits for this post going to our valuable guests Terrence and Victoria from Followmeaway

Oman has many natural and man-made wonders that you should be sure to check out when on a trip to Oman, and one of these is the Bimmah Sinkhole. In case you haven’t heard much about the Bimmah Sinkhole, the best way to put it would be to picture a massive, beautiful natural pool. Still, descriptions and pictures don’t really do justice to this breathtaking place with all its spots to explore and discover; it’s one of those things you need to see firsthand to experience in full. If you’re visiting Oman, the Bimmah Sinkhole is a must-see location, and here are some tips you should keep in mind when you go.

Photo is taken by our valuable guests Terence & Victoria

Getting there

If you’re in Muscat, Bimmah Sinkhole is only one-and-a-half hours away by vehicle, and if you’re in Sur, the journey takes almost an hour. The good thing is that it doesn’t require too much effort; you can travel smoothly on the main highway to the Bimmah Sinkhole, which is within 10 minutes of the nearest exit. It’s so easy to access that many of the locals visit the place on day-trips.

Parking

The Bimmah Sinkhole has free parking facilities available, and even though it can get a bit packed at times with locals and foreigners, the parking area is quite large, so you are very likely to find a parking spot.

At the entrance to the attraction, there is a small team for security who will also ask you to dress and behave modestly. Try not to wear clothes that expose too much skin, as this is offensive to the local culture and may cause them to deny you access to the Bimmah Sinkhole.

There are also restrooms available for you to get changed into your swimming kit, which are kept clean and provide a much better option for you to change rather than doing it inside the vehicle.

The Bimmah Sinkhole Grounds

The Bimmah Sinkhole also has a set of grounds that are well-maintained for visitors to just relax and play around in. Children will be able to enjoy the playground facilities here, which will keep them occupied for you to have a chance to relax. There are also sets of picnic tables for you to sit down and have a meal or chat, which is a better place for you to eat and clean up than the sinkhole itself. The place is great for a few pictures and a calm stroll, even if you’re not here to take a swim in the sinkhole.

The Bimmah Sinkhole

There is a high wall that surrounds the sinkhole, so if you want to take photos from above the sinkhole, like the ones common on the internet, you will need to scale over this to get the opportunity. Sometimes locals hop this wall to jump into the sinkhole from the top, but this is not officially allowed!

The sinkhole itself is accessible via a staircase, and once you’re down there, you can take a dip in the clear blue water. This is definitely something you must do if you visit the Bimmah Sinkhole. It isn’t a dangerous place to swim in, but there are signs around highlighting that you should exercise caution, which you should pay heed to.

While there is a main area where most visitors swim, there are also smaller coves that you can discover if you look around. These are all part of the same area, but these smaller spots will usually have less people inside, where you can relax with some privacy. The water here is cool and fresh, and it feels amazing to take a dip in this beautiful pool under the bright sun.

The Bimmah Sinkhole is filled with freshwater that flows out of the mountains, as well as seawater that comes in from underground, at the deepest section of the sinkhole. This means that the water is a little salty.

The depth of the water goes from a few feet – where you can sit down, kids can swim, or just splash about – to over 300 feet at its deepest. These areas are quite obvious; since the water is clear, you can see which parts are shallow and which parts are deep. This way, you can swim wherever you feel confident, but do be safe.

Something that may surprise you when swimming in the sinkhole is the little fish that will come nibble at your feet (and any other dead skin on your body), almost like a free fish spa treatment! They come towards you whenever you stop moving around too much. It might tickle you a little, but when you leave the pool, you will be feeling fresh and clean.

Cliff Jumping

Cliff jumping is a fun and common activity at the Bimmah Sinkhole, especially among the locals. However, this should be done with caution, as the jump from the top is roughly 90 feet and you may injure yourself if not careful.

Though the sinkhole is over 300 feet deep at the deepest region and you won’t hurt yourself by hitting the bottom, but you may be injured if you enter the wrong way. Still, the cliff walls can be climbed, allowing you to jump in from a shorter distance, like 5 or 10 feet, or even higher if you prefer. It’s important to know your limits, though!

What to pack for your trip

When visiting the Bimmah Sinkhole, it’s wise to dress modestly and keep your swimming kit in your bag, since you can change at the restroom facilities there. Also make sure your swimwear is also modest to some degree; wearing a thong bikini may result in some awkward situations. It’s generally a wise option to bring along a large t-shirt that you can wear on top of your swimming kit.

You should also bring along some flip-flops that you can wear when you walk about, as the floor of the pool is rocky, and this will make it easier for you to wade about. If you’re planning on taking photos, you definitely need to take along a waterproof case for your phone or camera, so that you can get some really great pictures from inside the pool.

Obviously, you will need a towel to dry off after your swim, and you might also want to pack along some goggles and a snorkel so that you can enjoy the view beneath the crystal clear waters.

All in all, the Bimmah Sinkhole is a great place for a day-trip; there’s so much to see and do in this natural wonder that time will pass without you knowing!