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Dive Site

St.Johns Gota Soraya

  • Current: J, F, M, A, M, J: S/W in the morning, S/E at midday, S/E in the afternoon --- J, A, S, O, N, D: N/W in the morning, N/E at midday, S/E in the afternoon
  • Visibility: J, F, M, A: 25–35 m; M, J, J, A: 30–40 m; S, O, N, D: 30–50 m
  • Temperatures: J, F, M: 24°C; A, M, J: 24–27°C; J, A, S: 27-31°C; O, N, D: 27–24°C
  • Depth: 100 m
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Dive Site

Overview

This small round reef lies between Habili Soraya and Gota Kebir. It is a steep wall reef and has a chimney on the south side which reaches to the surface. Thanks to its location, spectacular sightings can be made here: mantas, oceanic sharks, silky sharks, etc.

Description

Gota Soraya is a steep wall reef extending far more than 100 metres into the deep and it has a chimney in the south at a pleasant water depth of only nine metres. Diving the chimney is not recommended due to falling objects.

The west side is a wall featuring deep grooves and vegetation. A block which looks as if it is growing out of the reef can also be found here – it reaches from 22 metres all the way up to nine metres. Here, grey reef sharks occasionally pass by in the deep.

In the north, St. John's Gota Soraya has a reef spur measuring approx. 15 metres, which further slopes down more than 70 metres. It is adorned all over with gorgonians and whip coral as well as with huge fields of soft coral. Grey-black snappers and reef sharks can also be frequently encountered here.

We can find shoals of snappers and goatfish in the wide depressions on the east side. We are also visited by mantas sometimes with the current hitting the reef here.

Hotspots

  • The Dome: The Dome is the Gota Soraya's chimney which is found in the south at nine metres. The perfect lookout point under the blue.

map Dive Plans

Southwest in the morning

In the south at about 9m is the entrance to the chimney, screened by an overhang overgrown with huge black corals. The current mostly comes from the south and / or west. Next to the reef on the right shoulder a huge block protrudes from the reef. Feel free to search the blue below you. On the way back, reef left shoulder, stay at 5m and look into the blue now and then: there may be a longimanus or silk shark to be seen.

Southwest in the morning

In the south at about 9m is the entrance to the chimney, screened by an overhang overgrown with huge black corals. The current mostly comes from the south and / or west. Next to the reef, on the right shoulder, a huge block juts out of the reef. Feel free to search the blue below you. On the way back, reef left shoulder, stay at 5m and look into the blue now and then: there may be a longimanus or silk shark to be seen.

Northeast at noon

With the Zodiac you can be dropped off in the north at the plateau and dive 30m to the gorgonians. Further east, reef right or left shoulder - whichever is more comfortable. Diving out at the upper coral garden in the southeast is highly recommended, because one or the other lionfish and scorpionfish are still waiting for you there.

Northeast at noon

With the Zodiac you can be dropped off in the north at the plateau and dive 30m to the gorgonians. Further east, reef right or left shoulder - whichever is more comfortable. Diving out at the upper coral garden in the southeast is highly recommended, because one or the other lionfish and scorpionfish are still waiting for you there.