Maskali Island - Gulf of Tadjoura

Maskali Island has a special place in our logbooks. We always make a point of hitting it when we’re in Djibouti because it delivers consistent, healthy coral coverage, especially on the west side. The site itself is an island reef, dropping gently from about five meters to a maximum of 25. What really makes Maskali stand out, though, are the manta ray cleaning stations. We’ve had some truly epic encounters here, just hanging back and watching them glide in. It’s not a guaranteed sighting, but the potential is a huge draw. When the mantas are shy, there’s still plenty to keep your attention. The hard corals are in fantastic shape, lots of intricate formations sheltering blennies and gobies. We’ve spotted Blue-spotted Stingrays resting on the sandy patches and Dugongs have been seen cruising the deeper areas, though you’d need a good dose of luck for that. Keep an eye out for Longfin Bannerfish schooling overhead, their long fins catching the light. We think it’s best suited for intermediate divers who can comfortably manage their buoyancy and appreciate a slower pace, giving those mantas a chance to appear.

Location: Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates: 11.560000, 43.210000
Type: reef
Maximum Depth: 5-25m
Difficulty: Intermediate

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 Maskali Island

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