Tabarka Needles
Dive site
A row of dramatic quartzite rock needles rising from 25 metres to break the surface just west of Tabarka town provides some of Tunisia's most visually striking diving. The needle faces are crusted with red coral (Corallium rubrum), yellow gorgonians, and deep-water sponges, while the base of each pinnacle is undercut with small caverns and swim-throughs. Dusky grouper reach exceptional sizes here — individuals exceeding 70 centimetres are regularly seen. Schools of dentex and amberjack circle the outer faces. Posidonia meadows at the base of the needles shelter juvenile fish in abundance. The site is exposed to northwesterly swell and is best dived in settled summer and early autumn conditions.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 28 m
Open water and up
Current
Variable
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
18 to 28 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
12 to 26°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 14 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | calm | calm | calm | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate |
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