FONTAINEBLEU - Gulf of Tadjoura

Fontainebleau sits almost defiantly in the shallows, a skeletal remains of a merchant vessel. We're talking 0m here, truly. It’s more of a snorkel and free-dive playground than a traditional scuba site, but that’s precisely why we love it. The wreck itself is pretty broken up, mostly ribs and bits of hull, but the way the sunlight slices through the structure, hitting the sand below, is just gorgeous. You’ll find a surprising amount of small reef fish darting around the metalwork, morays tucked into crevices, and often, schools of juvenile barracuda just hanging out. We’d suggest going early in the morning. The light is softer then, and you'll likely have the whole place to yourself before any boats arrive. It’s also much calmer before the afternoon winds pick up. For photographers, this place is a dream – the natural light and the shallow depth make for some stunning wide-angle opportunities. Just watch out for stray bits of sharp metal; the wreck has been here a while and it's certainly seen better days. Fontainebleau is a perfect spot for divers looking for something a bit different, a chance to really slow down and appreciate a wreck in a completely new light.

Location: Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 11.591667, 43.141666
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 0m

Marine Protected Area: Haramous

Best Time to Dive in Gulf of Tadjoura

The warmest water temperatures in Gulf of Tadjoura occur in January, averaging 26.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 26.9°C (air: 24.8°C)
February: 26.9°C (air: 25.3°C)
March: 26.9°C (air: 26.9°C)
April: 26.9°C (air: 28.9°C)
May: 26.9°C (air: 32.5°C)
June: 26.9°C (air: 35.7°C)
July: 26.9°C (air: 36.4°C)
August: 26.9°C (air: 34.9°C)
September: 26.9°C (air: 34.5°C)
October: 26.9°C (air: 30.2°C)
November: 26.9°C (air: 27.2°C)
December: 26.9°C (air: 25.5°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Gulf of Tadjoura

Marine Life in Gulf of Tadjoura

Home to 205 recorded species including 95 hard corals, 75 reef fish, 8 sharks & rays, 6 crabs & lobsters, 5 sea cucumbers, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Reef Fish
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) - Sharks & Rays
Halfspotted Hind (Cephalopholis hemistiktos) - Reef Fish
Longfin Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) - Reef Fish
Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) - Sharks & Rays
Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) - Reef Fish
Bottleneck Sea Cucumber (Holothuria (Thymiosycia) impatiens) - Sea Cucumbers
Ehrenberg's snapper (Lutjanus ehrenbergii) - Reef Fish
Sea Scorpion (Scorpaena porcus) - Reef Fish
Sand-dusted Cone (Conus arenatus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Brown-spotted Grouper (Epinephelus chlorostigma) - Reef Fish
Staghorn coral (Acropora donei) - Hard Corals
Blue-dashed Rockskipper (Blenniella periophthalmus) - Reef Fish
Edgeblack Grouper (Epinephelus summana) - Reef Fish
Black triggerfish (Odonus niger) - Reef Fish
Small-eyed Squirrelfish (Myripristis murdjan) - Reef Fish
Coral hind (Cephalopholis miniata) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for FONTAINEBLEU

Based on average water temperature of 26.9°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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