Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AROUND DJIBOUTI
Moucha Island
It ain't the Bahamas, but this island, easily accessible from Djibouti City, is a welcome res-
pite from the hustle and bustle of the capital, with good, uncrowded beaches and warm wa-
ters.
Activities
Diving & Snorkelling
Moucha Island is an excellent underwater playground and a good place to learn to dive,
with a couple of very safe dive sites that are less than 15 minutes away by boat. Wreck en-
thusiasts will head for monster-sized
Le Faon
, a 120m-long cargo ship that lies in 27m of
water on a sandy floor; it's also noted for being heavily overgrown with marine life. Other
shipwrecks worthy of exploration include
L'Arthur Rimbaud
, a tugboat that was scuttled
in 2005 (average depth is 25m), and the nearby
Nagfa
, a small Ethiopian boat that lies in
about 32m of water. If you need a break from wreck dives, some excellent reef dives beck-
on, including
Le Tombant Nord
(The Northern Drop-Off), blessed with healthy corals and
prolific marine life;
Tombant Point
, where you'll see a smorgasbord of reef fish; and the
Canyon
, a relaxing site suitable for novices.
Snorkelling is also superb. You can grab a snorkel and splash around near the shore, but
to really experience life under the sea it's necessary to sign up with Le Lagon Bleu and go
out to further marine wonderlands.
Le Lagon Bleu
( 21250296, 77826119, 21325555;
www.djiboutidivers.com
;
closed Aug)
Profession-
al dive shop run by a French couple. They come with a good reputation for service and in-
struction, and offer introductory dives (from DFr10,000), single-dive trips (from DFr8000,
half day), snorkelling excursions (from DFr6000) and courses. Their day trips to Moucha
Island (from DFr24,000 per person, including two dives and lunch) are very popular. They
have an office at the Djibouti Palace Kempinski in Djibouti City.
DIVING, SNORKELLING
