| Mooie duik
Torfet Ali
Only 10 minutes north of Port Ghalib, the 5 sites of Torfet Ali all have
deep, blue water and sections of steep drop-offs. While advanced
divers will enjoy drifting along at depth, those who want to stay
shallow will find sand shelves and reef tongues to explore. Whatever
depth you are, keep an eye out in the blue. Sites include:
• Torfet Abu Shash - This site is really only accessible using our
high powered RIB as there are no moorings here. If you get the
opportunity though, you will find a sand patch protected by a small
headland that's dotted with coral blocks, home to colourful reef fish
of all shapes and sizes. As you reach the northern point you will find
a large pinnacle that is teeming with fish and shrimp before exploring
the cracks in the shallow reef wall - if you can see them through the
large schools of Unicornfish!
• Pipeline - Drift along from north to south picking your depth as
you go. On the deep reef wall look out for scores of Anthias going
about their business, and the eagle eyed may spot a Nembrotha
nudibranch or two. Large Tuna may swim past you forcing the large
schools of Fusiliers to stream past you en masse. Shallow up to some
beautifully soft sand banks surrounded by coral banks.
• Villa (Kharafi) - Depending on which way you dive this site you
will either start or end your dive in one of the most diverse hard coral
gardens in the area. Small fish face into the current as you pass them
along the way, and Dart Gobies hover over the drop off. Always keep
an eye out for Barney - our resident Hawksbill Turtle who loves divers.
If he's not chilling out under a ledge, Barney will often lead the dive
for a few minutes and maybe even pose for a camera or two!
• Halg Nigma - So named by the fisherman after a fable to do
with a star falling from the sky, this cut into the reef is a dive guide
favourite. A shallow sand plateau inside the lagoon drops off at 45o
to unknown depths, but the reef wall is the place to dive! A large
pinnacle next to the boat is an area you could spend your whole dive
on - swarms of Glassfish and Sweepers trying to keep out of the way
of the ever present Trevallys and Groupers, Fang Blennies hiding in
worm holes, Pipefish feeding on coral polyps - it's a stunning spot.
Move off down the reef though and you'll find a red anemone at
20mt and one of the largest individual coral colonies we have - a wall
of stag-horn coral tumbling from the surface to 15mt.
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