Ras Corali - Gulf of Tadjoura
Ras Corali, tucked away in Djibouti's Gulf of Tadjoura, is definitely one for the logbook if you like a bit of pace. The currents here are consistent, making it a proper drift dive along steep walls and slopes that are generously draped in coral. We’ve found the clear water often brings in the bigger pelagics; think reef sharks cruising the blue and rays gliding past in the distance. It’s a site that rewards experienced divers who are comfortable with moving water and want to cover some ground underwater.
- Location
- Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 11.783300, 43.166700
Marine Protected Area: Iles Musha et Maskhali
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
- AL SAID - 29m (wreck)
- ARCHON RAPHAEL - 18m (wreck)
- Arta Beach - 5-20m
- Banc de La Clocheterie (reef)
- Banc de la Pointe Noire (reef)
- Banc des Salines (reef)
- Banc du Héron (reef)
- Banc du Pingouin (reef)
- Banc Gutta Tella (reef)
- Banc Moidubis Kebir (reef)
- Banc Moidubis Seghir (reef)
- Banc Ousal (reef)
- FONTAINEBLEU - 0m (wreck)
- GHINDA (POSSIBLY) - 0m (wreck)
- Ghoubet al-Kharab
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 Ras Corali
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