Telegraph Island

Telegraph Island sits at a bend in Khor Sham, where the Strait begins to narrow toward the inner fjord. It is reachable only by boat and is a standard stop on full-day dhow cruises from Khasab. The ruins of the Victorian-era British telegraph relay station are modest — a few stone walls and foundations — but the setting is extraordinary: sheer limestone cliffs dropping directly into deep turquoise water.

The island is a popular snorkelling stop; the underwater visibility in the khor is exceptional and the rocky bottom hosts a variety of reef fish. The tiny beach on the sheltered side fills up on Friday mornings with local Omani families who motor out by speedboat for a picnic. Time your visit to a weekday for a quieter experience.

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A story
Telegraph Island — known officially as Jazirat al Musandam — was staffed by British operators maintaining the India-England telegraph cable in the 1860s. The phrase "round the bend" is said by some to derive from the mental anguish suffered by telegraph staff posted here, though this etymology is disputed. The station was abandoned in 1869 when the cable was rerouted; what remains is a scatter of stone ruins on a small rocky outcrop that can be circled on foot in minutes.

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