PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAN SUTTON
Situated on the the south eastern side of Jena Island, Mikadini reef is best dived on an incoming tide which drifts one slowly over the reef. The reef is composed of a large number of coral growths of various types spread across the bottom.
Mikadini Reef
There is a significant diversity of corals and sea life. Large shoals of snappers and other species can be seen, as well as white tip sharks (on occasion), Napoleon wrasses, rays and breams. A large shoal of humpback snapper is resident in the area. From a distance the shoal puts up interesting shapes so, as you approach it, the shoal breaks up and surrounds you. Shoals of barracuda have also been sighted here. Large numbers of rock cod, coral, peacock, and other species inhabit the coral bommies. The area is also particularly rich in most species of wrasse found in East Africa.
Soldier fish, squirrel fish and pufferfish can be seen hiding under the overhangs, as well as lobsters, and several species of anthias. The depth starts at roughly 18 meters and shelves upwards to the north to some 14 meters. All-in-all there is an abundance of reef fishes and corals. Depending on the state of the tide, the visibility ranges from fifteen plus meters. The reef is quite long and can be done in a series of drift dives.
These images cover the outer or seaward side of the reef where the coral is fairly dense interspersed with small areas of rubble.
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- A Tomato Grouper, Cephalopholis sonnerati
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- An Oriental sweetlips, Plectorhinchus vittatus
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- Triggerfish
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- A shoal of Blue lined snapper Lutjanus kasmira hover above the reef
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- View across the reef
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- A Coral Rock-cod Epinephelus corallicola swimming across the reef
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- A view of the reef
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- A shoal of Humpback red snapper Lutjanus gibbus
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- A shoal of blue lined snapper Lutjanus kasmira
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- A Coachman Heniochus acuminatus
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- Juvenile bream at a cleaner station
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- A Lined bristletooth tang, Ctenochaetus striatus
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- An Ember parrotfish Scarus rubroviolaceus
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- An Ember parrotfish Scarus rubroviolaceus
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- A Map pufferfish, Arothron mappa
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- A Peacock rock cod Cephalopholis argus
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- A Tomato grouper, Cephalopholis sonnerati
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- A Slate Sweetlips, Diagramma labiosum
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- Blue lined snapper Lutjanus kasmira
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- A Soldier Fish
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- A Peppered Butterfly fish Chaetodon guttatissimus
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- A Lined bristletooth tang, Ctenochaetus striatus
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- A Threadfin butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga
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- A Mushroom coral, Fungia scutaria
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- Eclipse Butterflyfish Chaetodon bennetti
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- A Freckled hawkfish, Paracirrhites forsteri
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- A juvenile Humphead bream, Monotaxis grandoculis
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- A Yellow longnose butterflyfish, Forcipiger flavissimus
Access: By Boat
Dive Operator(s): Mafia Island Diving
Difficulty: Advanced divers only
Average Depth: 18 meters
Max Depth: 24 meters
Currents: Strong ( > 2 knots)
Visibility: Okay ( 10-15)
- Large number of reef fish
- Abundant with corals and marine life
- Depth makes for a fairly long dive
- Strong tidal currents can drop visibility
- Diving on the reef is seasonal