Hulls Rock - Mafia Island
MagiColor is exactly what it says on the tin, a vivid spot tucked away in Tayrona National Park. We’ve always found this site to be a lively one, even when other spots nearby feel a little subdued. The corals here, particularly the smooth and knobby star corals, are doing well, forming a good structure for all the reef fish. We often see big schools of Spanish grunts and schoolmasters swirling around, thick enough to make you feel like you’re swimming through liquid silver. What we really love about MagiColor is the chance to spot the more unusual characters. Keep your eyes peeled on the sand patches for flat needlefish hovering just below the surface, or a warteye stargazer peeking out, always a fun find. The maximum depth of 18 meters means a nice long bottom time, perfect for photography or just soaking it all in. Visibility averages about 13 meters, which is decent for the area, and it can clear up significantly on a calm day. This site is a great pick for divers who appreciate a dense concentration of fish life and enjoy searching for the smaller, quirkier critters.
- Location
- Mafia Island, Tanzania, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -10.204600, 40.143700
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Mangrove
Best Time to Dive in Mafia Island
The warmest water temperatures in Mafia Island occur in January, averaging 28.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.8°C (air: 27.8°C)
- February: 28.8°C (air: 28.0°C)
- March: 28.8°C (air: 27.8°C)
- April: 28.8°C (air: 27.0°C)
- May: 28.8°C (air: 26.9°C)
- June: 28.8°C (air: 26.0°C)
- July: 28.8°C (air: 25.2°C)
- August: 28.8°C (air: 25.0°C)
- September: 28.8°C (air: 25.3°C)
- October: 28.8°C (air: 26.1°C)
- November: 28.8°C (air: 27.0°C)
- December: 28.8°C (air: 27.7°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Mafia Island
- Bwejuu Wall (wall)
- Bwejuu Wall (wall)
- Chekechea (reef)
- Chole Reef North (reef)
- Coral Gardens (reef)
- Coral Islands (reef)
- Corinne’s Reef (reef)
- Critters Alley (reef)
- Cryptomania (reef)
- Dindini Wall (wall)
- Jina Wall (reef)
- Juani North (reef)
- Juani South (wall)
- Kasa (cave)
- Kinasi Pass (drift)
Nearest Dive Centres to Hulls Rock
- Action for Oceans Eco Dive - ["PADI"]
- Blue World Diving - ["PADI"]
- Mafia Island Diving ltd - PADI
Marine Life in Mafia Island
Home to 165 recorded species including 94 hard corals, 63 reef fish, 3 sharks & rays, 2 jellyfish, 1 other, 1 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Bullet Mackerel (Auxis thazard) - Reef Fish
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Tail-spot Squirrelfish (Sargocentron caudimaculatum) - Reef Fish
- Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora verrucosa) - Hard Corals
- Smooth cauliflower coral (Stylophora pistillata) - Hard Corals
- Stony coral (Porites cylindrica) - Hard Corals
- Stony coral (Porites lutea) - Hard Corals
- Larger star coral (Favites pentagona) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aspera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora listeri) - Hard Corals
- Birdsnest coral (Seriatopora caliendrum) - Hard Corals
- Thin birdsnest coral (Seriatopora hystrix) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora polystoma) - Hard Corals
- Closed brain coral (Leptoria phrygia) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Hulls Rock
Based on average water temperature of 28.8°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°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