World dive sites

Djibouti Diving

Land Temperature:
Hot, arid climate with big differences between day and night temperatures. December-February 25-30°C. October-November and March-April 30-35°C. May-September 30-40°C.

Water Temperature:
27-29°C

When to go:
Diving is all year round. October to January is whale shark season. During January to October liveaboards visit the 7 Brothers Islands.

Wetsuit required:
3-5mm

Visibility:
10-40m

Diving types:
Reefs, drop offs, walls, wrecks, pinnacles

Experience Level:
Intermediate to Advanced. Some dive sites are deep and currents can be strong.

Marine life:
Whale sharks, reef sharks, manta rays, pelagics, reef fish, beautiful corals.

After diving:
Site seeing around Djibouti town. Visit Lake Assal, the world’s saltiest lake. The Goublet El Kharab volcanoes. Desert treks.

Djibouti Dive Sites

Djibouti’s geographic location gives it a unique marine ecosystem. This is where the Red Sea and Indian Ocean meet and that means lots and lots of fish! The area is famous for being home to resting migrating whale sharks.

The best place to see whale sharks is around the Devils Cauldron in the Gulf of Tadjourah and the Goublet al Kharab. They are seen from October to January. It is common to see many of them including juveniles. However there is much more than just whale sharks to see. Liveaboards to Djibouti are big fish safaris. Manta Rays, Pilot Whales and Dolphins can all be seen. Grey reef sharks and nurse sharks are common but tiger sharks and hammerhead sharks are also seen on occasion. Most of the time on a Djibouti liveaboard is spent hunting for whale sharks. There are also some wreck dives, the wreck of Le Boutre, the Musha wrecks and the Salem Wreck.

The other major dive attraction in Djibouti waters is 7 Brothers. They are located in the Bab El-Mandab Strait to the north of the Devils Couldron and at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The seven uninhabited islands cover a large area and the surrounding reef system is spectacular with pristine soft corals and deep drop offs where large schools of fish and big pelagics are the norm, including manta rays and reef sharks. Liveaboard trips to the 7 Brothers run from January to May.

Djibouti water visibility is excellent and is tropically warm in the summer months. Currents can be strong on the exposed dive sites, especially the 7 Brothers dive sites and novice divers are not advised to take these trips. However there are also plenty of dive sites with sheltered, shallow reefs that also have an amazing variety of corals and fish life.