Salon Dive Site in the Manta Coast, Mozambique

Salon reef is a small inshore / fringe reef located between Barra Point (where Barra lighthouse is) and Tofo Bay and is a shrimp haven, named after a variety of exotic and colourful shrimp species like the durban dancer, banded boxer, scarlet cleaner shrimp, harlequin shrimp, white banded cleaner, peacock mantis shrimps and marble shrimps that live in numerous nooks and crannies found along the reef. cleaner shrimps are important to the marine ecosystem where they provide a 'cleaning' service by feeding off parasites that's built up on other fish species such as moray eels, manta rays and other clients that may need grooming. cleaner shrimp go as far as cleaning the inside of some moray eels mouth which is a fascinating act of nature.

The topographical layout of Salon's Reef can be compared to mini mountain range where a continuous pinnacle ridge extends for more than 40 meters with the highest point of the pinnacle reaching 5m. Divers have the opportunity to explore either side of the reef's ridge featuring many crevices, caves, ledges and overhangs where divers are likely to spot Lobsters, striped eel catfish, cleaner pipefish, lionfish whilst junvenile butterfly fish, angelfish and multi-coloured paperfish dash around the reefs amongst beautiful soft corals where a keen eye can spot brightly coloured nudibranches and cowries. Resident geometric, black cheek morays and honeycomb moray eels will definitely catch your eye as they peek out of their holes to see who's passing by.

An unusual and new hunting technique amongst trumpetfish has been noticed by numerous divers in Salon Reef. The trumpetfish - an elongated sea-horse look alike fish is known to have developed a strategic plan to hunt shrimp by following and using divers as a decoy. When divers stop to admire various cleaner shrimp on the reefs, they can't help but notice a trumpetfish hovering near their goggles. Whilst it is an interesting site and a very close encounter, you'll notice that in a blink of an eye, the shrimp you were looking at has suddenly disappeared into the trumpetfish's mouth! trumpetfish have learn't to use divers as a distraction to target their prey easily.

Divers can venture off the reef and onto the sea bed where other forms of marine life co-exist. blue spotted rays and electric torpedo rays can be seen hovering over the sand whilst the not so easy to see and camouflaged crocodile fish, blends into the environment patiently waiting for a tasty meal to get within striking distance. Around the corner octopus and lobsters can be seen resting under various boulder ledges and with a bit of luck you may spot the scarce pineapple fish generally found only in this reef.

Salon Reef is a magnificent dive and is a macro photographers dream opportunity to add more close-up shots of these extraordinary fish species to their collection! Even if visibility is little on the day, it's still worth the dive since most of the sea creatures are small - which requires divers to get close up to spot them anyway.