Grey Reef Shark

Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC

Grey reef sharks patrol the deeper portions of the pass between 20 and 35 metres, using the channel as a corridor between the outer reef slope and the lagoon hunting grounds. Mayotte's lagoon supports a healthy prey base of snappers and fusiliers, and the grey reef population here is notably robust compared to heavily fished areas of the western Indian Ocean. The characteristic arched-back threat display is rarely seen as the sharks are accustomed to divers, preferring to circle calmly at a distance of 3 to 5 metres.