Abalone - Mayotte Lagoon

Abalone in Mayotte Lagoon feels like dropping into an enormous, natural aquarium. We love this site for its sheer variety, but particularly for the table and staghorn corals that create these incredible, intricate structures. It’s not a deep dive, perfect for just floating along and really taking in the smaller stuff. The standout here is the sheer number of parrotfish – the Batavian and Eclipse are always around, chipping away at the coral. You’ll also spot the Flathead Sleeper, a surprisingly elegant fish, often perched on the sand. We usually find Dwarf Morays peeking out from crevices, and the Silver Moonies shimmer in the dappled light filtering through the lagoon. Keep an eye out for the Humpbacked conch moving slowly across the sandy patches. It’s a gentle current most days, which means you can really take your time observing the Sebae Anemonefish darting through their host anemones. This is a site we’d recommend for anyone who enjoys a relaxed dive with plenty to see, especially if you appreciate healthy coral gardens and a vibrant population of reef fish.

Location: Mayotte Lagoon, Mayotte, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -12.926518, 45.101097

Marine Protected Area: Presqu’Ile De Boueni

Best Time to Dive in Mayotte Lagoon

The warmest water temperatures in Mayotte Lagoon occur in January, averaging 29.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 29.9°C (air: 26.6°C)
February: 29.9°C (air: 26.7°C)
March: 29.9°C (air: 27.1°C)
April: 29.9°C (air: 27.1°C)
May: 29.9°C (air: 26.2°C)
June: 29.9°C (air: 25.0°C)
July: 29.9°C (air: 24.2°C)
August: 29.9°C (air: 24.1°C)
September: 29.9°C (air: 24.4°C)
October: 29.9°C (air: 25.4°C)
November: 29.9°C (air: 26.4°C)
December: 29.9°C (air: 26.9°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Mayotte Lagoon

Nearest Dive Centres to Abalone

Happy Divers centre de plongée - FSGT, ANMP, FFESSM, NAUI, PADI, SSI, BSAC, EDA
Le Lagon Maore

Marine Life in Mayotte Lagoon

Home to 415 recorded species including 260 reef fish, 101 hard corals, 17 whales & dolphins, 10 sea cucumbers, 9 sharks & rays, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
Indian gold-ring bristle-tooth (Ctenochaetus truncatus) - Reef Fish
Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
Whitetail Surgeonfish (Acanthurus thompsoni) - Reef Fish
Heavybeak Parrotfish (Chlorurus strongylocephalus) - Reef Fish
Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) - Sharks & Rays
Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
Salmon (Elagatis bipinnulata) - Reef Fish
Red-flushed Cod (Aethaloperca rogaa) - Reef Fish
Doubleband Surgeonfish (Acanthurus tennentii) - Reef Fish
Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
Ocean Triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata) - Reef Fish
Barracuda (Acanthocybium solandri) - Reef Fish
Bullet Mackerel (Auxis rochei) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Abalone

Based on average water temperature of 29.9°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