Dindini Reef
Dive site
A wide, shallow coral plateau on the north side of the island that makes Mafia's best macro dive and the only site diveable in a range of conditions. The reef top sits at 6 to 12 m, pocked with rubble zones and coarse sand patches that are unexpectedly productive: robust ghost pipefish sway among crinoids, frogfish sit motionless on algae-covered rock, and cleaner shrimp stations are busy at every coral head. Hawksbill turtles rest in the shallows. The gentle depth and manageable currents make this Mafia's most accessible dive and the best entry point for those new to the island.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 18 m
Good for beginners
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
5 to 12 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
23 to 30°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Vis (m) | 12 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 |
| Current | calm | calm | calm | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | calm | calm | calm |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Painted frogfish
Photo: Marine Explorer (Dr John Turnbull) · CC BY-NC-SA
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Hawksbill sea turtle
Photo: Kevin Bryant · CC BY-NC-SA
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Peacock mantis shrimp
Photo: Jenny · © all rights reserved
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Robust ghost pipefish
Rare
Now and then
Field journal
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Gear
Basic kit
For this site
- Macro lens / wet lens · Ghost pipefish and frogfish are the targets here — a +10 dioptre wet lens on a compact camera unlocks the detail that makes these finds worthwhile.
- Pointer stick · Sand patches are where the finds are; a pointer lets the guide flag creatures precisely without touching the substrate.