Jina Wall - Mafia Island

Mawan Komodo. Just the name makes us smile. This site is everything we look for in Komodo: a shallow, vibrant reef that always delivers, whether you're looking for big pelagics or tiny, weird critters. The maximum depth of 16 metres means plenty of bottom time, and the usually clear water, around 16 metres of visibility, lets you take it all in. We love Mawan for its sheer consistency. It’s one of our favourite spots to see reef manta rays, often hanging out at the cleaning stations. We've watched them for ages here, circling and swooping with an almost balletic grace. It's not just the mantas, though. We often spot white tip reef sharks cruising by, and if you have a keen eye, the sand patches hide bamboo sharks. The corals themselves are beautiful, with expansive fields of staghorn and brain coral, alongside more delicate fluorescence grass coral. Keep an eye out for cuttlefish trying to blend in, and the smaller stuff like nudibranchs and orang-utan crabs hidden amongst the branches. Mawan is a site that suits everyone, from snorkelers enjoying the shallow reef to divers keen on long, relaxed dives. It’s perfect for photographers too, offering both wide-angle opportunities with the mantas and macro possibilities with the smaller, often rare, critters. We'd suggest going in the morning; the light is usually best then and the mantas are often more active. Just be prepared for other boats – it’s a popular spot for good reason.

Location: Mafia Island, Tanzania, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -7.921800, 39.824500
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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Jina Wall

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 Jina Wall

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