Comoros

Diving in Comoros

20 sites82 species26–30 °C15–40 m vis

Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Pexels

The Comoros are the Indian Ocean's last diving frontier — a volcanic archipelago where coelacanths still swim in deep caves, whale sharks gather in near-privacy, and marine biologists discover new species on almost every dive. Two small dive operators serve an entire nation whose reefs have barely been explored. This is expedition diving at its rawest: 20,000 green turtles nesting on a single beach, a 300-million-year-old living fossil in your logbook, and reef walls that have never seen a crowd.

The Comoros are the world capital of the coelacanth — a 'living fossil' fish unchanged for over 300 million years. Comorian fishermen have known about them for generations, calling them 'gombessa.'Mount Karthala on Grande Comore has one of the world's largest active volcanic craters at 4 km wide, and its 1977 lava flow created a unique underwater dive site at Singani.Itsamia on Mohéli hosts the second largest green turtle nesting population in the Indian Ocean — up to 20,000 nests per year, with 100–150 turtles emerging per night on peak nights.The Mohéli Marine Park (est. 2001) was the Comoros' first protected area and is community-managed. The IUCN praised it in 2022 as a 'shining example' of community-based marine conservation.The Comoros produce 80% of the world's ylang-ylang essence — the iconic floral scent used in Chanel No. 5. The perfume islands' vanilla, clove, and cinnamon plantations fill the air as you dive.With only 2 verified dive operators for the entire country, the Comoros have the thinnest dive infrastructure of any destination in the DivePass pipeline. You will often be the only diver on the reef.

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Places on this map (2)

20 places have no verified map location yet. Browse the page lists for more places.

Conditions

Water temp

26–30 °C

Visibility

15–40 m

Depth

5–55 m

Current

Mild

Best season

July–November (peak visibility 25–40 m, humpback whales Aug–Oct, manta rays Jun–Jul)

Month	Summary
Jan	Warm waters at 29°C with whale sharks feeding on plankton blooms. Turtle nesting in full swing and moderate visibility at 15–25 m. Rainy season with potential choppy seas.
Feb	Similar to January with 29°C water, peak whale shark season, and turtle nesting continuing. Visibility remains moderate at 15–25 m. Cyclone season means flexible planning is essential.
Mar	End of the main turtle nesting peak with whale sharks still present. Water temperature holds at 29°C and visibility 15–25 m. Transition period as the rainy season begins to ease.
Apr	Transition month into dry season with whale sharks at peak and improving visibility at 20–30 m. Water temperature 28°C. A shoulder month offering the best of both seasons.
May	Start of the dry season with excellent visibility at 20–35 m and comfortable 28°C water. Manta rays begin appearing as conditions calm. One of the best months for overall diving conditions.
Jun	Peak manta ray season with 27°C water and visibility improving to 20–35 m. Calm seas, low humidity, and increasingly active marine life across all islands.
Jul	The start of peak diving season — 26°C water, 25–40 m visibility, humpback whales arriving, and mantas still active. The best month for combining whale watching with pristine diving conditions.
Aug	Peak humpback whale calving season with the best visibility of the year at 25–40 m. 26°C water, manta rays, and reef sharks active. The absolute prime month for Comoros diving.
Sep	Humpback whales at peak, visibility still excellent at 25–40 m, and 26°C water. Reef sharks frequently sighted as the dry season draws to a close. The last month of guaranteed superb conditions.
Oct	Humpback whales begin departing as whale sharks return for plankton blooms. Water warming to 28°C with good visibility at 20–35 m. A transitional month with diverse marine life.
Nov	Whale sharks return in force with 27°C water and visibility at 20–30 m. The rainy season begins but conditions often remain diveable. Shoulder month with fewer tourists and active marine life.
Dec	Whale sharks abundant as turtle nesting begins anew. 28°C water with 15–25 m visibility. The start of the rainy/cyclone season — flexible itineraries recommended but rewarding diving for those who time it right.

Dive Sites (20)

Banc Vailheu (Vailheu Bank)

20–55m · Advanced

Deep reef · Pelagics · Sharks

Bimbini National Park Zone

5–30m · Intermediate

National park · Coral reef · Seagrass

Bird Island Mchaco (Île aux Oiseaux)

10–40m · Advanced

Strong currents · Pelagics · Sharks

Chindini

10–30m · Intermediate

Reef · Volcanic boulders · Turtles

Coelacanth Habitat (Deep Sites)

100–300m · Expert

Deep diving · Technical · Coelacanth

Épave du Massiwa (Massiwa Wreck)

20–40m · Advanced

Wreck · Macro life · Artificial reef

Galawa Beach Reef (Épave Galawa)

10–30m · Intermediate

Wreck · Reef · Seagrass

Itsamia Turtle Sanctuary Reefs

5–20m · Beginner

Turtles · Reef · Conservation

+12more sites in the appGet the app →

Marine Life (82)

must-see

Bull Shark

must-see

Spotted Eagle Ray

must-see

Green Sea Turtle

must-see

Hawksbill Turtle

must-see

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin

Common Lionfish

Great Barracuda

Saddleback Hogfish

Mauritian Anemonefish

Whitetip Reef Shark

humphead wrasse

Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray

+70more species in the app

Dive Shops (2)

Massiwa Diving Center

★ 4.7Moderate

Laka Lodge Diving/training & certification

★ 4.2Moderate

Website ↗

Guides

Top Dive Sites in Comoros: Caves, Bays, and Volcanic Reefs

The best dive sites across Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan — from deep pelagic banks and volcanic lava flows to turtle sanctuaries and legendary Bird Island.

9 min read

Comoros Dive Guide: The Indian Ocean's Last Frontier

Coelacanth caves, whale shark bays, and pristine reefs with zero crowds. Your complete guide to diving Comoros — operators, sites, and expedition realities.

6 min read

Diving Comoros: Conditions, Seasons, and What to Expect

Water 26–30 °C, visibility 15–40 m, and marine life that shifts from humpback calves to whale shark aggregations. Your month-by-month guide to diving Comoros.

10 min read