What happens when an Omani woman trades a chemistry degree for a wetsuit and never looks back?

In this episode, we talk to Dee, full name Ehdaa, meaning dedication, the first female PADI diving instructor in the Sultanate of Oman and founder of Aura Divers, the country's only women-owned dive centre. Today she has taken that passion even further as CEO and Co-Founder of DiveNav.ai, a traveltech platform reimagining how adventure travel is discovered and experienced.

We dive into how Dee went from studying Chemistry to building a life underwater, travelling through Southeast Asia and working as a dive instructor along the way. She talks about what makes Oman's waters so special, pristine reefs, whale sharks, diverse marine life, and dive sites with almost no current, and why it remains one of the most underrated diving destinations in the world.

We also talk about what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated field in the Middle East, and why she thinks the best way to protect the ocean is simply to let people see it.

Plus: a very memorable moment involving a wetsuit, a boat, and an audience she didn't expect.

Muna bint Khalfan Al Shidhani is a captivating Omani photographer whose artistic journey embodies both personal growth and cultural celebration. Beginning her photographic odyssey in 2010, Muna's path from novice to acclaimed artist is a testament to her passion and dedication.

Her story begins in the vibrant city of Muscat, where she honed her craft at the local Photography Club. There, Muna absorbed the fundamentals of photography and image processing, laying a solid foundation for her future endeavors. This initial spark of creativity quickly blazed into a full-fledged passion, propelling her into the competitive world of international photography.

Muna's versatility as an artist is truly remarkable. Her lens has captured the essence of humanity through portraits and street photography, explored the nuanced beauty of monochrome, and delved into the realm of abstraction. This diverse portfolio has earned her recognition in over 30 international competitions, showcasing her ability to excel across various photographic disciplines.

In 2020, Muna's artistic focus shifted dramatically towards adventure photography, a genre that perfectly aligns with Oman's breathtaking landscapes. This new direction has led her to exciting projects, including collaborations with the Hunna platform and participation in the prestigious global competition UTMB. Her work on the Yalla Go Oman 2020 adventure further cements her role in showcasing the natural wonders of her homeland.

Armed with her trusty Sony A7iii camera and 24-70mm lens, Muna ventures into Oman's diverse terrains, from rugged mountains to serene wadis, capturing the spirit of adventure and the raw beauty of nature. Her journey from the structured learning environment of the Photography Club to the unpredictable world of adventure photography illustrates not just her technical skill, but also her adaptability and courage as an artist.

Muna's work serves as a bridge between Oman's rich traditions and its stunning natural beauty, inviting viewers to experience the country through her unique perspective. Her evolution as a photographer mirrors the dynamic spirit of Oman itself – rooted in tradition yet boldly stepping into the future.

About Altair Destinations

www.altairdestinations.com

[email protected]

+968 93255059 (OM)

+ 34 666811280 (SP)

About Muna

[email protected]

X: munaalshidhani

IG: munaalshidhani

Muna tells us about the geology in Oman, it is spectacular and a paradise for geologists, and not only in its mountains, but also in its caves and some local curiosities. Do not miss all the episode with her adventure experiences.

Descubriremos cómo el deporte se convirtió en el inesperado profesor de español de Gazi, abriendo puertas a nuevas amistades y culturas. ¿Quién diría que un balón podría ser la llave a un nuevo idioma?

Prepárate para un tour deportivo que te llevará desde los campos de fútbol hasta las pistas de carreras de camellos. Sí, ¡has oído bien! Aprenderemos sobre la pasión global por el fútbol y los intrigantes tipos de carreras de camellos. ¿Sabías que hay más de una forma de correr en camello?

Pero eso no es todo. Viajaremos en el tiempo para ver cómo la revolución digital ha transformado el panorama deportivo en Omán. De la televisión tradicional al streaming, ¡el deporte nunca ha estado tan cerca de nuestros dedos!

¡Abróchate el cinturón para este emocionante viaje por el deporte, la cultura y la tecnología!

+ 34 666811280 (SP)

¿Alguna vez te has preguntado qué pasa en el vestuario antes de un partido? ¿Por qué un jugador estrella tiene un mal desempeño?

I heard about Camel and Bedouins culture in Oman webinar during covid times in Oman. I found it so fascinating that later I decided to contact Ibtisam who delivered the webinar and who is a Bedouin herself. I really wanted to interview her for my podcast and I even thought I did not think she was going to reply back when I contacted her. She did reply back and took lots of her time to explain about her study, based on informal conversations with Bedouin children and their parents who have all grown up with camels in Al Wahiba, a Bedouin people of the Sharqiyah, Oman. By analyzing such narratives, she aimed to demonstrate the depth of impact that this contact with camels has on the cognitive, emotional, and social development of Bedouin children.

The study sheds light on how the socio-cultural context embedded in the Bedouin culture affects the degree and nature of a child's attachment to a pet camel and how that affects development in adolescence. The research took an inclusive approach by including both human and nonhuman agents (camels) in the analysis.

If you want to explore Oman in an adventurous way have a look at:

www.altairdestinations.com

To know more about Ibtisam and her work

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7168600522768302081-is1n?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08927936.2024.2308401

The development of adolescent humans through child–pet interaction and attachment is the focus of the current study. The context is the Omani Bedouin culture, which is inseparably linked to camel culture. This culture promotes the importance of nurturing relationships between camels and their cameleers.

I joined the support team of YallaGo expedition where I met Dr Kalid at the expedition, together with other team members we were supporting two brave women, from Oman and the UK, who were crossing the country from north to south to inspire the youth of both countries to enjoy the outdoors and to showcase the beauty of Oman.

Khaleed, a doctor-turned-explorer, will tell us of Oman's majestic mountains, discovering caves and venturing into hardly accessible rocky canyons, commonly called wadis. He is an authority in the Sultanate with two books about Omani nature. He has participated in several co-productions with French and British television, one of the most recent made with France 5 and BBC. Khalid is also a regular contributor to a local English newspaper about his explorations and often featured in adventure programs such at Nat Geo.

If you want to explore Oman in an adventurous way have a look at:

www.altairdestinations.com

To know more about yallago:

• Instagram: yallago_2020

• Facebook: yallago2020

With this small abrebocas (appetizer) of our next podcast, our guest Dr Khalid, an oral surgeon turned international recognized explorer - tells us one of highlights one of the most remarkable traits of the people of Oman, listen to him while he describes what he most likes about the sultanate.

Después de vivir 9 años en Oman Desert Marathon es sin duda una de las experiencias que más atesoro de mi vida ahí. La primera vez como corredora en el 2018, y este año 2023 como Project Manager después de una pausa de dos años debido a la pandemia.

El Maratón del Desierto de Omán o Oman Desert Marathon, es una carrera de 165 km que requiere que cada corredor esté preparado y sea autosuficiente en alimentación y necesidades personales.

Cada año, un grupo muy numeroso de corredores internacionales de diferentes países se reúne para participar en una aventura única en las pintorescas dunas de arena del desierto de Omán.

Los corredores disfrutan de la verdadera experiencia de vivir en el desierto, esta vasta extensión de impresionante belleza para tener una experiencia física, emocional y espiritual única en su vida.

En este episodio, después de pasar cuatro duros e inolvidables días en el desierto, tuve la oportunidad única de conversar con dos de los corredores después de finalizar la carrera. Aunque esperaban con ansias su merecido descanso, Albert Jorquera Periodista y Corredor de montaña junto a David Sanchez Caro Cartologo y corredor de Montaña tomaron tiempo para contarme de sus experiencias y percepciones mientras estuvieron en Omán.

Para saber mas de Oman Desert Marathon, visita:

www.marathonoman.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ibBMA8Bj4

Para saber mas de Albert Jorquera

https://albertjorquera.com/

Para leer el reportaje de Albert Jorquera durante la carrera

Etapa 1

https://runedia.mundodeportivo.com/noticia/2713/etapa-1-oman-desert-marathon-correr-47-km-en-otro-planeta-y-con-todo-encima/

Etapa 2

https://runedia.mundodeportivo.com/noticia/2717/etapa-2-oman-desert-marathon-insomnio-lewandowski-bella-ciao-y-dunas/

Etapa 3

https://runedia.mundodeportivo.com/noticia/2725/etapa-3-oman-desert-marathon-voy-el-ultimo-corro-de-noche-veo-camellos-y-escorpiones/

Etapa 4

https://runedia.mundodeportivo.com/noticia/2727/etapa-4-oman-desert-marathon-una-media-maraton-un-ultimo-esfuerzo-y-una-barbacoa/

Video Reportaje por etapas de David Sanchez Haro

Etapa 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GKfwhAgtXc

Etapa 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-A67xVyKQI

Etapa 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S80L9AgfgzY

Etapa 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5FWluozQP8

Para seguir noticias de los episodios de podcast en Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/que_tal_oman/