Le Lagon Maoré

Le Lagon Maoré is situated on the beautiful N'Gouja beach in Mayotte, serving as a gateway to the diverse marine environments of the southern lagoon. The centre is integrated with the Jardin Maore hotel, providing a seamless transition from accommodation to the dive boat.

The area is defined by its dramatic topography, ranging from shallow reef flats to steep external walls and deep canyons. Whether you are looking for a relaxed reef dive or a technical exploration of a deep drop-off, the centre provides the infrastructure and expertise to manage both.

The instruction team is composed of qualified professionals holding international certifications including SSI, SDI, and TDI, as well as CMAS and ANMP. This multi-agency affiliation ensures that divers from various training backgrounds can find suitable courses and guidance.

Safety is managed with a high level of rigour, with all dives supervised by a Divemaster or professional instructor. The centre operates under the regulations of the French Code du Sport, ensuring that safety equipment, including oxygen therapy and first aid kits, is checked daily.

The training programme covers the entire spectrum of scuba diving, beginning with Open Water Diver courses. For those looking to extend their recreational limits, the centre offers Nitrox and Advanced Nitrox certifications.

Technical diving is a core component of the centre's expertise. Divers can train for Deep diving, Wreck exploration, Drift diving, and Night diving. More advanced students can pursue Trimix Normoxic and rebreather certifications through SDI and TDI pathways.

The centre provides a full range of rental kit, including regulators, wetsuits, fins, and masks. For those looking to upgrade their personal equipment, an on-site boutique carries a wide selection of MARES products, including computers, BCDs, and dry bags.

Shore-based facilities include changing rooms equipped with showers and toilets. The centre also maintains a dedicated Nitrox station, offering Nitrox 32 as standard, as well as Nitrox 26 for deeper dives. For technical divers, Trimix and rebreather support are available on-site.

The marine life in the southern lagoon is exceptionally diverse. You will regularly encounter pelagic species, including Tuna (Thunnus), Jack (Carangidae), and various snappers. Larger residents such as Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), coral sharks, and reef manta rays appear in the area, with hammerhead sharks visible when freshwater masses rise to the surface.

The reef structures are heavily colonised by fixed life, including various Sponge (Porifera), hard corals, tubastrea corals, and octocorals. Sea fans (Gorgoniidae) and large gorgonians are common on the deeper walls, while black corals and colourful polyps add texture to the labyrinthine sections of the reef.

Macro life is abundant for those observing closely. Divers can find a wide variety of Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani), alongside shrimp (Caridea), moray eels (Muraenidae), and scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae). Look for leaf fish, flatworms (Turbellaria), and various species of butterflyfish (Chaetodon), angelfish (Pomacanthidae), and damselfish (Pomacentridae) amongst the coral heads.

The area is subject to strong currents, particularly when diving the passes. Instructors systematically check current conditions before every dive to ensure safety and appropriate site selection.

The best period for diving in this region is from April to September. During the months of October to March, heavy rains can occur, which may impact visibility.