The Islands

Also known as: Island

The Islands lie south of Mashraba at the start of the sand spit of the Laguna, where a small reef island shows above the water at low tide; divers cross a wide reef platform, ideally at high tide, and either drop in over the edge or swim through a short tunnel in the reef. A series of sandy pools at about 7 to 10 m leads into a maze of coral blocks, alleys, valleys and amphitheatres, partly created when an earthquake broke up the reef, and most of the dive stays shallower than 20 m. The density and colour of the hard and soft corals, including huge brain and pore corals, are the main attraction, and the shallow water keeps the colours bright. A large school of yellowtail barracuda usually roams the northern part, with groupers, snappers, Napoleon wrasse, lionfish and glassfish, and eagle rays, turtles or even a guitar shark turn up occasionally. Divers circle back around the island to the entry, often helped by a light current; getting in and out is tricky in wind or at low tide.