Monoliths - Mafia Island
Praia Vermelha’s rocky Costão do Morro da Babilônia is one of our favourite shore dives in Arraial, especially when the main boat sites are a bit choppy. It’s shallow, only topping out around 8m, which makes for a relaxing dive and long bottom times. We love dropping in from the beach, then hugging the right-hand rock wall as it stretches away from the sand. Visibility here averages around 4m, so it’s not about seeing huge schools in the distance, but rather focusing on the macro life and close-up encounters. You’ll spot pufferfish, grunts, and sometimes a curious octopus peeking from the rocks. Keep an eye out for the Dusky Flounder blending into the sandy patches and the Pygmy Filefish swaying gently with the current. There are a lot of sea urchins, so good buoyancy and reef hooks aren't just polite, they're essential. This is a perfect spot for newer divers to practice skills without pressure, or for experienced eyes to slow down and really appreciate the smaller critters.
- Location
- Mafia Island, Tanzania, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -10.228400, 40.154400
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)
- Hulls Rock (reef)
- Jina Wall (reef)
- Juani North (reef)
- Juani South (wall)
- Kasa (cave)
Nearest Dive Centres to Monoliths
- 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 Monoliths
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