Marine life
Mayotte is populated by 215,000 inhabitants spread over an area of 374km2. Mayotte is the oldest island in the Comoros archipelago is a French overseas department. Located in the Indian Ocean and close to Madagascar. Mayotte is made up of two main islands, Petite Terre and Grande Terre surrounded by an almost uninterrupted double coral reef containing the third largest lagoon in the world after the one in New Caledonia and Rangiroa. 12 deep passes from 20 meters to 70 meters deep make it possible to leave the lagoon.
What to do in Mayotte?
Mayotte is a paradise destination famous for its beautiful white sand beaches, the most famous are Mtsanga Tsoholé, Mtsamboro and N’gouja. There are also black sand beaches close to Bandrélé.
The lagoon offers the opportunity to discover desert islets and practice snorkeling over beautiful coral reefs. Some operators propose to observe the marine mammal such as dolphins, reef sharks, humpback whales from July to the end of October, killer whales, sperm whales, manta rays and dugongs very rare.
The mangroves Aquatic Forests cover a third of the coastline of Mayotte and contribute to the balance of biological systems between the littoral and the lagoon. There are endemic species of birds and crustaceans. For an unforgettable experience, nothing better than kayaking to sneak through the quirky branches of mangroves.
Where to dive in Mayotte?
Mayotte is a paradise for divers from all over the world. The coral reef that borders the lagoon is 1,500 meters wide, 200 meters high and pierced by more than a dozen passes that offer many exceptional dive spots for scuba divers. A second coral belt 50 to 800 meters wide runs along the coast of Mayotte and completes the internal barrier of 15 km long. Among the most beautiful dive sites are the Airmen’s Fallen East, the Saziley Pass Southeast and the Boat Pass Southwest where 90 meters are waiting for you. However The S Pass in the East is known as the best dive site in Mayotte. Those pass are perfect to observe manta rays, gray sharks or white tip sharks and sea turtles. The corals and the variety of fish will blow your mind.
Diving Condition
Visibility in Mayotte is really great. You can expect clear water with 15 to 40 meters visibility depending on the scuba diving site.
Current are almost inexistent inside the lagoon. However it could be very strong in the pass.
Level requirement : dive center propose diving for all level, from beginner diver to experienced diver.
Water temperature varies between 25 and 28°C.
What to see while diving in Mayotte?
The coral reefs offer divers a breathtaking underwater show illustrated by vertiginous drops plunging into the abyss, gardens of sea fans and black coral, a relief made of canyons and a beautiful volcanic landscape. In this sumptuous setting, there are over 800 species of fish, some of them are now threatened by global warming. The lagoon serves as a shelter for a number of iconic species including dugongs, humpback whales, dolphins, gray sharks, white tip sharks, hammerhead sharks, green turtles, hawksbill turtles and giant manta rays.
