PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ERIC BEAUME
To the southeast of Mbudya Island (located north of Dar es Salaam) lies Octopus Reef, which is approximately 1,000 meters in length and 250 meters in width. Laura’s Garden is the north section of this reef which sits at a depth of 8-10 meters.
Unfortunately, many of the reefs in Dar es Salaam have been badly damaged due to dynamite fishing, however, Laura’s Garden is not as badly damaged as most others nearby.
Although there are very few resident fish over the size of 30 cm, due not just to dynamite fishing, but also just general over-fishing in the area, the coral and smaller fish life is remarkably good. Nudibranchs, crustaceans, starfish and colorful reef fish are fairly abundant. There are also numerous moray eels, the occasional ribbon eel and sometimes visiting green turtles.
Soldier and squirrel fish lurk under the overhangs and predatory fish such as lionfish, scorpionfish of various species, lizardfish and hawkfish abound. Small shoals of fusiliers add color to the reef, darting around in search of food. Anemones and clown fish are common around the larger outcrops.
Because of the sometimes benign conditions on the reef and the abundance of small marine life, this can be a very good spot for macro photography. It is also great for night dives (when weather conditions are suitable) and due to the shallow depth you can have a nice, long relaxing dive.
LOCATION
PHOTOS OF LAURA’S GARDEN OCTOPUS REEF
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- A diver swims over the reef.
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- A shoal of glassies surround a coral outcrop
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- Schooling bannerfish, Henniochus diphreutes surround a diver
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- A view across the reef
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- A view between two divers across the reef.
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- Ring-tail cardinalfish, Apogon aureus and flame cardinalfish,Apogon maculatus glow in the light of the photographers strobe
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- A Big Eye stares at the photographer
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- Showing the large variety of corals on the reef
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- A blue linkia sea star, Linckia laevigata hugs a leather coral
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- A green turtle Chelonia mydas
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- View of the reef
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- A diver alongside a plate coral
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- A shoal of yellow and blueback fusilier,Caesio teres swim across the reef.
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- Reef fishes surround a coral bommie
MARINE LIFE AT LAURA’S GARDEN OCTOPUS REEF
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- A green turtle, Chelonia mydas
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- A nudibranch probably from the Polyceridae family
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- A blue Xenia species of soft coral
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- A black lionfish, Pterois miles
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- A red hermit Red hermit crab Dardanos megistos
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- A peacock mantis shrimp, Odontodactylus scyllarus
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- A spotfin squirrel fish, Neoniphon sammara
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- A peacock mantis shrimp, Odontodactylus scyllarus
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- A sponge crab, Dromia erythropus
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- An oriental flying gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis
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- A slipper lobster, Thenus Orientalis
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- A giant moray eel, Gymnothorax javanicus
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- A close up view of a red hermit Red hermit crab, Dardanos megistos
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- The bluespotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma.
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- A bluespotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma peers at the photographer.
DIVE INFO
Access: By Boat
Dive Operator(s): Sea Breeze Marine Ltd. at Msasani Slipway
Difficulty: All divers
Average Depth: 10 meters
Max Depth: 12 meters
Currents: Tide dependent
Visibility: Okay ( 5-20 m)
DIVE REVIEW
- Abundant with corals and small marine life
- Sometimes visited by pelagic fish and turtles
- Shallow depth makes for a long dive and provides good lighting for underwater photography
- Very few large fish due to over fishing
- Seasonal swells can make for low-visibility conditions
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