Meet 29-year-old Reem al Humaidi, a boat captain, freediver and founder of Ocean Emotions, a sea-tourism company creating safe and welcoming sea experiences for women.
Just six years ago, she could not even swim.
What began as an unexpected setback during her college years ultimately led her to discover a passion that transformed her life.
In 2020, Al Humaidi was going through a difficult period in her studies which resulted in a three-month break. Unsure of what to do next, she booked a trip to the Daymaniyat Islands.
“I booked the trip and thought, ‘Let’s go and see what happens’. During the trip, I saw a whale shark for the first time and was amazed by how beautiful the islands were”, she said.
“At the time, I did not know how to swim and knew nothing about the sea. After the trip, I asked the owner of the company whether he would accept me as a freelancer so that I could understand the field and gain experience.”
“That was when my passion for the sea began. It felt like I had found what I really wanted to do”.
Al Humaidi began working with tourism operators in Muscat, first as a customer supervisor and social media manager before moving into a female supervisor and guide role.
At the same time, she taught herself how to swim.
“At the time, I did not have the money to book swimming lessons, so I taught myself. Whenever I met someone who knew how to swim, I would ask them for advice until I gradually gained the confidence to be in the water”, she said.
In 2021, Al Humaidi started working towards obtaining her boat captain’s licence.
“It took me a long time because becoming a boat captain is not only about understanding the boat. You also need to understand the nature surrounding you”, she said.
“Most importantly, you have to gain the confidence to lead the trip, operate the boat independently and take responsibility for your guests”.
After several years, Al Humaidi obtained her boat captain’s licence in 2025 and founded her company, Ocean Emotions, with the goal of making marine tourism more accessible to women.
“Ocean Emotions started as a sea tourism company. We wanted to gain the trust of our female customers and create a more female-friendly environment for trips to the Daymaniyat Islands”, she said.
“I love seeing girls thrive and enjoy themselves near the water. It means a lot, especially because, for some of the girls, it is their first time trusting someone enough to go on a sea trip”, she said.
Al Humaidi was surprised to learn that her female-only trips were attracting tourists from abroad.
“A lot of people travel from outside Oman specifically to join one of my trips, which is something I am very grateful for”, she said.
Among them were two women from Qatar who requested her as their captain after seeing her videos online.
“I was surprised when they told me they had travelled from Qatar not only for a holiday, but also specifically to join one of my trips”.
The company has since expanded its trips to include everyone while continuing to dedicate several trips each month to women. It has also moved beyond the sea by introducing land trips.
“I would love to explore more of Oman and showcase the country beautifully through tourism”, Al Humaidi said.
Beyond her work as a boat captain and tour operator, Al Humaidi is also a freediver.
Inspired by Omani freediver Omar al Ghailani, she saved money while still a student to enrol in her first freediving course.
“I was impressed by how smoothly he moved through the water”, she said.
Today, she has reached a depth of 32 metres and continues to train regularly.
“Some people ask how I can go that deep, but I see it as a very peaceful, almost Zen-like environment. It is just you and the rope”, she said.
For Al Humaidi, freediving is also a mental challenge that has taught her to remain calm and manage her thoughts underwater.
Looking ahead, she hopes to compete in freediving tournaments.
“As far as I know, there is currently no Omani women’s national freediving record. I would love to compete in a tournament and see how far I can go”, she said.
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