This ‘Shooting Star’ Crater in Oman Is Said to House an Aquatic Demon

Visiting the so-called ‘Bayt al Afreet’ (House of the Demon) might not—at first thought—seem like an obvious touristic choice when you’re looking to explore the stunning landscapes of Oman to the South of Muscat. However, other than one mythical (and yes, chilling) story, the Bimmah Sinkhole is anything but scary. 

Local legend tells the tale of a shooting star plunging into the ground at this very spot, giving it its Arabic name, Hawiyat Najm, which translates to “the deep well of the star”. The submerged, strikingly turquoise sinkhole, which cascades down to depths of 300 feet, is home to tiny Garra fish—the same variety you’d find in a spa in Thailand or Cambodia—that gently pick the dead skin from your feet. 

And no one can blame these little critters for making the Bimmah Sinkhole their home, despite whispers of an aquatic monster—the famed demon—lurking within its depths, when they’re surrounded by the achingly rich hues of spectral blue, extending from the sun-soaked shallows to the deepest, darkest parts of the hole. The azure waters are so alluring that you'll immediately be overcome with the urge to jump in, without a second thought about any potential creatures below. 

Now, if you’d rather err on the side of caution, you can splash around in one of the various confoundingly clear spots that are a reassuringly safe distance away from the deeper side of the hole (and its inhabitant). 

However, for those who are more dauntless and simply can’t resist the draw of the mirrored pool, stairs lead straight down to the surprisingly warm brackish water, a mixture of salty groundwater from the neighbouring Arabian Sea and fresh runoff water from inland. 

Alternatively, if the stairs seem too slow and, well, pedestrian, you can find yourself a safe spot on the overhanging crags and launch yourself straight into the sinkhole. There are safe jumping spots anywhere between two and 30 metres above the water, for just about all levels of cliff-jumping confidence and monster-facing panache. 

Ideally, you’d get there as early as possible, before the increasingly large crowds gather at this free-to-enter wonder, snap a few aesthetic photos, climb to a reasonable height and cannonball straight into the water—without paying any mind to the shadowy resident watching from the darkness at the very bottom of ‘Bayt al Afreet’, of course.