Passe en S - Mayotte Lagoon

Passe en S isn't for the faint of heart, but if you love a thrill, this is it. We’re talking drift diving with some serious speed, thanks to the S-shaped passage that funnels the Indian Ocean through the lagoon. You drop in, often on the outer reef, and the current just grabs you, pulling you along a wall of staghorn and table corals. It’s glorious chaos. Keep your eyes peeled, because everything moves fast here. We've seen long-beaked dolphins cruise by, almost casually, while schools of palani and bucktooth sweep past in shimmering walls. The sheer volume of fish is astounding – dark-fin chromis, bullethead parrotfish, red sea half-and-half chromis, they're all here in numbers that sometimes make it hard to see the reef itself. Our favourite spot is usually around the bend where the current really picks up; that’s where the big pelagics tend to hang out. It’s an advanced dive, no question, and you need to be comfortable with strong currents and getting swept along. We’d suggest a negative entry and staying close to your buddy. But for the sheer rush and the wildlife spectacle, Passe en S delivers every time.

Location: Mayotte Lagoon, Mayotte, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -12.650000, 45.090000
Type: reef
Maximum Depth: 10-35m
Difficulty: Advanced

Marine Protected Area: Pointes Et Ilots Du Nord

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 Passe en S

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 Passe en S

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