Located just off the southern coast of Mayotte, the Chira Lepoe site offers gentle, welcoming diving marked by the exceptional presence of anemones. This habitat attracts a large concentration of clownfish, making diving both fun and fascinating, especially for divers looking for detailed observations and iconic photos.
The underwater landscape of Chira Lepoe is relatively flat, dotted with low coral structures that provide shelter for colourful microfauna. Visibility is often good, and the sandy seabed allows you to observe areas of biological activity.
This is not a site with large drop-offs or deep dives, but rather an underwater garden on a human scale, to be explored at a leisurely pace. It exudes a feeling of calm and closeness to marine life.
The distinctive feature of Chira Lepoe is the abundance of anemones and their clownfish. These small territorial fish live in symbiosis and defend their shelter with touching fervour. The colonies are numerous and can be seen from the first few metres down.
In addition to clownfish, you can see damselfish, porcelain crabs nesting in the anemones, as well as triggerfish, angelfish, butterflyfish and sometimes ribbon moray eels in the recesses of the reef.
Chira Lepoe is regularly used for first dives, post-training dives, and as an introduction to underwater photography. Its accessibility, relative calm and clear waters make it an ideal place for your first independent explorations.
It is also a popular site for children accompanied by snorkelers, as the fauna is visible at shallow depths.
This site is perfect for contemplative diving. It’s not about venturing into the deep blue sea, but learning to read the details of the reef: the interactions, the camouflage, the habits of the resident species. Chira Lepoe is a place of learning, but also of attachment, where many divers have their first real underwater encounters.