When the sun goes down

Our night dive usually starts with a beautiful sunset, as we try to be in the water before it gets completely dark.

It is amazing to see how the reef’s dynamic changes as the sun goes down. The fish which are usually active during the day start to slow down, getting ready for “bed”. The ones hiding away in crevices and nooks during the day, come out hungry and looking for a meal.

Night dives are especially interesting for divers who have an eye for the small critters. Just observe the reef for a while and you will be sure to find shrimps and crabs.

Night dive highlights at Kihaa house reef

• Parrotfish – after a very busy day swimming around and scraping algae from the reef, the parrotfish settle for the night. They secrete a mucus from their mouths creating a kind of protective bubble which keeps predators from capturing their scent. A good night’s sleep is then guaranteed.
• Stingrays – it is very common to see stingrays flying by during our night dives.
• Shrimps – a variety of shrimps can be found during the night. Banded Boxer, Hinge-beak, Thin-armed, Anton Bruuni cleaner are commonly seen. The ones with a keen eye may also spot Plumed, Imperial, Horned Feather Star and Hidden Sea Whip shrimps. On some lucky nights we might even spot the most beautiful one, the Harlequin shrimp.
• Crabs – our house reef is also home to many different species of crabs. Hermit crabs can be easily spotted but the trained eyes of our guides can also find you Spider crabs, Elegant Crinoid, Red-dotted Coral and Sea Cucumber crabs.

Requirements:

• Minimum Junior Open Water level;
• Must be 12 years old and older;
• Must be not scared of the dark.

If you are still too young or haven’t completed your Open Water yet, you can join us for a night snorkel.

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