Chindini - Grande Comore
Chindini isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s a deep plunge into Grande Comore’s volcanic past, and our pick for experienced divers. You’re dropping onto a sheer wall, an obsidian curtain that stretches down into the abyss, well past recreational limits. We love how the light changes as you descend, the vibrant shallow blues fading to a deep, inky indigo. It’s here, in these shadowy depths, that the legend lives. While we can’t promise a coelacanth sighting – they’re notoriously shy – knowing you're in their ancient hunting grounds adds a real thrill. Even without a glimpse of the living fossil, there’s plenty to keep your eyes busy. Large meandroid brain corals anchor themselves to the rock face, massive and intricate. Keep an eye out for the subtle movements of Blackside Hawkfish perched on stony corals, or the flash of Blue-lined Tangs navigating the deeper sections. This isn't a site about colourful, shallow reefs; it's about the drama of the deep, the raw power of the ocean, and the possibility of seeing something truly extraordinary. Plan for a decent current, often pushing you along the wall, which just adds to the feeling of being a small part of something immense.
- Location
- Grande Comore, Comoros, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -11.930000, 43.450000
- Type
- wall
- Maximum Depth
- 20-50m
- Difficulty
- Expert
Marine Protected Area: Parc National Coelacanthe
Best Time to Dive in Grande Comore
The warmest water temperatures in Grande Comore occur in January, averaging 29.6°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.6°C (air: 23.3°C)
- February: 29.6°C (air: 23.6°C)
- March: 29.6°C (air: 23.5°C)
- April: 29.6°C (air: 23.0°C)
- May: 29.6°C (air: 21.4°C)
- June: 29.6°C (air: 20.0°C)
- July: 29.6°C (air: 19.1°C)
- August: 29.6°C (air: 19.5°C)
- September: 29.6°C (air: 20.2°C)
- October: 29.6°C (air: 21.6°C)
- November: 29.6°C (air: 22.7°C)
- December: 29.6°C (air: 23.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Grande Comore
- DEMOSTHENES - 2m (wreck)
- Dragon's Teeth - 10-30m (cave)
- Itsandra Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- KAMAL-EL-KUWAIT - 5m (wreck)
Marine Life in Grande Comore
Home to 365 recorded species including 248 reef fish, 94 hard corals, 5 whales & dolphins, 5 sharks & rays, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 other.
Notable Species
- Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Angelfish (Centropyge multispinis) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet Soldierfish (Myripristis pralinia) - Reef Fish
- Banded Toby (Canthigaster valentini) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Pufferfish (Canthigaster janthinoptera) - Reef Fish
- Ternate Chromis (Chromis ternatensis) - Reef Fish
- Red Squirrelfish (Sargocentron diadema) - Reef Fish
- Coral Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) - Reef Fish
- Blackside Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) - Reef Fish
- Arc-eye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) - Reef Fish
- Bridled Goby (Gnatholepis cauerensis) - Reef Fish
- Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) - Reef Fish
- Indian gold-ring bristle-tooth (Ctenochaetus truncatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Coral Beauty (Centropyge bispinosa) - Reef Fish
- Nalolo (Ecsenius nalolo) - Reef Fish
- Leopard Hind (Cephalopholis leopardus) - Reef Fish
- Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Chindini
Based on average water temperature of 29.6°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories