Djibouti, Pearl of the Southern Red Sea

scuba divingcoral reefsdivingwhale sharksdjibouti

Diving in the waters of Djibouti and the Gulf of Tadjoura (c) A.Fuchs

A diving safari at its finest - in the still almost untouched waters of Djibouti and the Gulf of Tadjoura. The Maldives and the coasts of Mozambique and Australia are considered whale shark areas for divers. But why fly halfway around the world when you can spend time with the peaceful giants of the sea – without masses of scuba divers – only ten hours flight from central Europe? So far, only a small community of experienced divers knows about this. Djibouti is an insider tip! The hazy viz in the water of the Gulf of Tadjoura is rich in plankton, the microscopic organisms that feed the largest of all fish: the whale shark. From October to the end of January there is even a guarantee for the dotted giants of the sea. They move faster than you think in warm water. As a diver you can hardly keep up with them. Why do they meet in such large groups in the Gulf of Tadjoura? Researchers suspect that in addition to the good food supply, the group offers more protection to the individual young animal. Because whale sharks are also hunted and are therefore prey fish when they encounter for example mackerel sharks. Only until a few years ago, researchers still assumed that whale sharks only feed on plankton. It was recently discovered that the largest species of shark in the world also feeds on fish up to the size of mackerel. And large shoals of mackerel can be found in the Gulf of Tadjoura: perfect for the giants of the sea. Reefs full of life at 'Seven Brothers' The 'Seven Brothers' are an archipelago in the middle of the "Gate of Tears", the strait that leads from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. Here we are, clear at the southern end of the Red Sea, just between two continents. We are going through the Gate of Tears: "Bab-El-Mandeb" in Arabic. Even though Jacques Cousteau has already dived the reefs of the 'Seven Brothers', they are still an insider tip among diving enthusiasts! The barren landscape is contrasted by the wonderful reefs full of life. There are some strong currents there - a real challenge, even for experienced divers! But the dive is worth it. The hard coral growth of the reefs is abundant. Large schools of snappers, schools of mackerel and fusiliers can be found there. There are also reefs with almost no current. Japanese and Chinese Garden invite you to just relax in the water. Fluttering banner fish can be seen near the water surface, deep blue Arabian angelfish frolic in the colourful coral gardens. Parrotfish, anemone fish, filefish and lion fish can also be spotted. You can also meet dozens of dolphins that live between the reefs of the island... The blue water on the Gulf of Tadjoura is also known for excellent encounters with lots of different fish species. Apart from the whale sharks, which can bee seen between late October and mid-February, there is a lot more to experience: Large schools of triggerfish, mantas, blue-striped snappers and sweet lips can be spotted... Quite something - even for experienced divers! So far, only a few operators in Germany offer diving trips to Djibouti. Alexandra Fuchs, aka "divingFox" is tireless in finding high-quality diving ships and special diving tours beyond the usual standard. Therefore, she has now included a diving safari in this untouched diving paradise. She has put together a tour in Djibouti that is second to none. Further Infos: divingfox.net Start planning your liveaboard trip on LiveAboard.com