Top Dive Sites in Comoros: Coelacanth Caves to Whale Shark Bays
The Comoros have roughly 18 named dive sites across three islands, with dozens more waiting to be documented — especially inside Mohéli Marine Park, where Laka Lodge has explored only about 15 of the estimated 20–25+ sites. This guide covers the 10 sites worth planning your trip around, organized by the kind of diving experience they deliver.
The Heavy Hitters
Banc Vailheu (Vailheu Bank)
Location: Offshore bank, north of Grande Comore Depth: 20–55 m | Level: Advanced Best season: July–November
This is the premier pelagic dive in the Comoros. Banc Vailheu is a deep-sea coral bank that rises from the seabed in the open Mozambique Channel, creating an aggregation point for grey reef sharks, tuna, giant trevally, barracuda, and seasonal manta rays. Whale sharks pass through the wider area during October–April. The current runs moderate to strong — this is a drift dive where you drop upcurrent and let the flow carry you across the bank. Visibility is at its best from July to November when the dry season settles the water column. The depth profile means this is a genuine advanced dive: plan for bottom times at 25–35 m with a reasonable ascent profile. There are no mooring lines — the dive operates as a live drop from the boat.
Bird Island Mchaco (Île aux Oiseaux)
Location: Eastern tip of Mohéli Depth: 10–40 m | Level: Advanced (4–5/5) Best season: August–November
Bird Island is the most advanced recreational dive in the archipelago and arguably the most rewarding. It sits at the easternmost point of Mohéli, fully exposed to the open Indian Ocean. A large white rock formation rises above the surface, populated by nesting seabirds, and the underwater terrain drops into a steep wall with strong channel current. The current here is the feature — it drives an abundance of life. Expect grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, large schools of tuna and trevally, barracuda formations, and the occasional Napoleon wrasse. The visibility during peak season (August–November) makes the wall visible from the drop, and the dive profile allows mixed-level exploration from 10 m on the shallow sections to 35 m+ along the wall. This dive requires careful air consumption planning, a surface marker, and an experienced local guide. The reward is the kind of pelagic show that most divers associate with the Socorro Islands or the Maldives outer atolls.
Épave du Massiwa (Massiwa Wreck)
Location: North of Grande Comore Depth: 20–40 m | Level: Intermediate–Advanced Best season: July–November (year-round possible)
An 80-meter cargo ship resting upright on the sandy bottom, the Massiwa wreck is the only substantial artificial reef in the Comoros. The wreck is largely intact, with the superstructure accessible to trained wreck divers. Lionfish have established a significant presence here — expect to see them at every depth level — alongside moray eels, crocodile fish, batfish, and schools of barracuda and jacks that patrol the upper deck and masts. The wreck sits at 20–40 m, which means bottom times are limited by no-decompression limits. A dive computer is essential. The best visibility runs July–November. This is not a beginner wreck dive — the depth and potential for entanglement in fishing line on the upper structure recommend advanced open water certification at minimum.
The Signature Sites
Magic Rocks
Location: ~5 min boat from Laka Lodge, south Mohéli Depth: 15–35 m | Level: Beginner–Intermediate Best season: July–November
Two coral-covered volcanic pinnacles rising from a sandy plateau, Magic Rocks is the most popular dive in the Mohéli Marine Park and for good reason. The bommies are covered in soft and hard coral with abundant reef fish. Green turtles rest on the sandy patches between the pinnacles. The site is accessible as a shallow dive (15–20 m) or a deeper exploration (to 35 m). Night diving here is exceptional — cuttlefish, Spanish dancer nudibranchs, ornate lobsters, slipper lobsters, saddle shrimp, and sleeping turtles are reliably encountered after dark. Current is usually nonexistent to mild, making it suitable for divers of all levels. The boat ride from Laka Lodge is under five minutes.
Singani — Front de la Coulée (Lava Flow Front)
Location: Singani, west coast of Grande Comore Depth: 10–40 m | Level: Intermediate–Advanced Best season: May–November
The 1977 lava flow from Mount Karthala reached the ocean at Singani and created one of the most unusual underwater landscapes in the Indian Ocean. Submerged lava formations — jagged basalt flows, collapsed tubes, and fissures — form a dramatic topography that supports a unique community of marine life. Moray eels, lionfish, stonefish, and scorpionfish are common in the crevices. Nudibranchs and other macro life are abundant. The site drops from 10 m to over 40 m, with the most interesting terrain between 15 and 30 m. The current is generally mild but can pick up on the seaward edge. This is a site for divers who appreciate unusual geology and macro photography.
The Turtle Sanctuaries
Itsamia Turtle Sanctuary Reefs
Location: Itsamia, eastern Mohéli Depth: 5–20 m | Level: All levels Best season: Year-round (nesting peak November–February)
This is the site that makes the Comoros famous in conservation circles. Itsamia beach records 20,000 green turtle nests per year — the second-highest density in the Indian Ocean — and the adjacent reef teems with turtles at every stage of development. Diving here is like swimming through a turtle nursery. The reef is shallow and protected, with a sandy bottom and scattered coral heads. Females can be seen resting during the day after nesting overnight. Hawksbill turtles are also present, though less abundant. Night dives are prohibited in the immediate sanctuary zone to avoid disturbing nesting activity. Guided night walks for turtle observation on the beach are available through Laka Lodge.
Laka Lodge Reef (House Reef)
Location: Directly opposite Laka Lodge, south Mohéli Depth: 2–20 m | Level: Beginner Best season: Year-round
The house reef at Laka Lodge is an algae meadow with small coral formations descending to a sandy plateau at 20 m. Turtles feed here morning and evening — you can watch a green turtle grazing within 10 m of the beach entry. The site is excellent for check-out dives, night dives, and skill refreshers. Night diving reveals crustaceans, molluscs, octopus, squid, crocodile fish, and conger eels. The shallow profile (2–20 m) allows generous bottom times. Watch for stonefish and scorpionfish camouflaged in the algae — the lodge briefs every diver on this.
The Adventure Sites
Itsoundzou — Dolphin Bay
Location: West coast of Grande Comore, between Salimani and Singani Depth: 10–30 m | Level: Intermediate Best season: Year-round, best May–November
This site is named for its reliable dolphin encounters. Spinner dolphins and pantropical spotted dolphins frequent the bay year-round, often in pods of 15–30 individuals. The volcanic reef structure features drop-offs, coral overhangs, and sandy channels. Encounters are usually on the surface or during descent — the dolphins are curious and will often approach divers. The site also supports healthy reef fish populations. The best time for dolphin activity is morning, before the heat of the day.
Whale Shark Feeding Grounds (Mohéli Bays)
Location: Various bays around Mohéli Depth: 0–15 m (snorkeling / shallow diving) Level: All levels Best season: October–April
The whale shark aggregation around Mohéli is one of the least-publicized seasonal attractions in the Indian Ocean. During the plankton bloom months (October–April), whale sharks gather in the shallow bays to feed. Encounters are typically at the surface or within the top 5 m, making snorkeling the primary mode of interaction. The experience is managed by Laka Lodge with responsible encounter protocols — no touching, no riding, no blocking the animal's path, and a strict limit on boats per shark. The water temperature during this season is 28–30 °C.
The Explorer's Pick
Coelacanth Hotel Site
Location: Off the coast near Hôtel Coelacanthe, Moroni, Grande Comore Depth: 5–45 m | Level: All levels (multiple depth options) Best season: Year-round
Named for the rare coelacanth sightings in deeper water off the hotel that bears the same name, this is the most versatile dive site on Grande Comore. The terrain steps through multiple levels: a shallow reef plateau at 5–12 m, a drop-off around 18 m, and deeper walls extending to 45 m. The shallow plateau is excellent for beginners and photographers. The deeper wall is where the coelacanth has been documented on rare occasions — though the primary habitat is in the 100–300 m range accessible only to technical divers. The site sits conveniently close to the capital, making it accessible from both Comoros Plongée and shore entry from the hotel beach. Expect reef fish, turtles, rays, moray eels, and the occasional giant wrasse at all depths.
Planning Your Dives
Given Comoros's minimal dive infrastructure, your itinerary depends on which island you base yourself on:
Base on Grande Comore if you want to dive the Massiwa wreck, Banc Vailheu, and the Grande Comore coastal sites. Stay at Itsandra Beach Hotel or Golden Tulip Moroni. Dive with Comoros Plongée (Nazir Farid). Book weeks in advance via WhatsApp.
Base on Mohéli if you want the best diving. Stay at Laka Lodge, the only dedicated dive resort in the country, and dive across 15+ Marine Park sites. This is the better choice for most divers — the lodge handles logistics, the house reef is excellent, and the whale shark and turtle experiences are unmatched in the archipelago.
Base on Anjouan only if you are doing an expedition tour that coordinates your own dive logistics. There are no operators on Anjouan.
The ideal trip combines both Grande Comore and Mohéli — fly into HAH, spend 2–3 days diving Grande Comore sites, then take the ferry to Mohéli for 5–7 days of Marine Park diving at Laka Lodge.