Depth Range:
14 ➜ 16m
Diver Level:
Novice ➜ Experienced
Welcome to Mikes Cupboard - a huge and shallow inshore reef located halfway between Barra & Tofo Bay. Mikes Cupboard reef is well known for it's marine life, incredible topography and special encounters which has proven to be very unique compared to other inshore reefs along the Manta Coast. At 17 meters in depth, the reef rises 3 meters up from the sea bed and forms a ridge beautifully decorated in a colourful array of white, yellow, purple, orange soft corals like a bedroom floor covered with various items of clothing - hence the title, Mikes Cupboard - Though, the colourful display isn't the only attraction on the reef. On top of the ridge, divers have the option of exploring a series of 5 giant pot holes, each varying in size with numerous ledges, crevices, caves overhangs and swim-throughs, home to a marine paradise amongst beautiful soft corals and large illuminating anemones.
The first pothole is the smallest and is no more than a few meters in diameter whereas the second pothole is ten times the size. The third pothole has a stunning cave leading to the fourth pothole where the odd white-tip reef shark lurks and the fifth pothole is the largest with the most sea life. Mikes Cupboard Reef has so much to see that not only will it give you a sore neck but it'll probably takes at least two dives to explore the entire reef thoroughly.
Mikes Cupboard Reef is one of the only dive sites on the Manta Coast where dolphins have been spotted and during peak season (November to March), whale shark sightings are not uncommon so don't be surprised if you find a dark shadow passing over you whilst scrutinizing every nook and cranny on the reef.
Mikes Cupboard offers divers sightings of numerous nudibranchs bright in vivd colours, paper fish, smashing mantis shrimp, squat shrimps, cuttlefish, pipefish, juvenile angelfish, clown triggerfish, flute fish, trumpet fish, bluebanded snappers, coachmen, twobar anemonefish , dusky sweepers, porcelain crabs, octopus, giant crayfish - all offering great photographic opportunities for the macro enthusiast whilst huge schools of fusiliers, yellow banded snappers and game fish like kingfish and tuna are often spotted swimming just above the reef in open water - but also keep an eye out below for scorpionfish, crocodile fish and lizardfish that camouflage themselves very well on the sand.
Apart from the intriguing marine life along the reef, we also have an exhibition of coral to admire including white and purple thristle soft coral, whip coral in different colours, lobed soft coral, porous coral, smooth-horned corals and lots of beige fleshy soft coral
Most of the time spent on the reef is within these potholes, where there is shelter and protection from Ocean currents making it an easy and gentle dive.
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