N'Gouja Beach Reef - Mayotte Lagoon

N’Gouja Beach Reef might sound like a simple shore dive, but we think it’s a brilliant introduction to Mayotte’s lagoon. You wade in from the sand, which is soft underfoot, and the water immediately warms around you. It’s shallow, only ever dipping to about 15 metres, so you get incredible light bouncing off the sandy patches and the delicate corals. We love drifting over the seagrass beds, watching the green turtles just doing their thing, grazing slowly, completely unbothered by a few divers finning past. They’re nearly always there, especially in the mornings before the beach gets too busy. What makes N’Gouja stand out for us isn’t just the turtles, though they are a massive draw. It’s the sheer density of the smaller stuff. We’ve spent whole dives just watching banded tobies poke around, or tracing the iridescent lines on a sunburst butterflyfish. The staghorn coral here is surprisingly healthy for a shore access site, providing plenty of nooks for scarlet wrasse and sleek unicornfish. If you’re a newer diver, or just want a relaxed session with guaranteed turtle sightings, this is absolutely our pick. Go early to beat the crowds and catch the best light.

Location: Mayotte Lagoon, Mayotte, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -12.960000, 45.080000
Type: reef
Maximum Depth: 3-15m
Difficulty: Beginner

Marine Protected Area: N’Gouja

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 N'Gouja Beach Reef

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 N'Gouja Beach Reef

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