Ghoubbet Deep Wall (Devil's Cauldron)

Ghoubbet al Kharab, Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti

The deep wall inside Ghoubbet al-Kharab ('the Gulf of the Demons') at the extreme western end of the Gulf of Tadjoura — a narrow 200 m-deep cove at the junction of the African and Arabian tectonic plates. Famous as a juvenile whale-shark nursery (mid-October through mid-February), where juveniles gather to feed on seasonal plankton blooms. Depths 5-40+ m along volcanic walls with strong tidal currents funneling through the narrow channel. Large pelagics (whale sharks, manta rays, hammerheads, dolphins) are the draw; macro life on the soft-coral reefs in the shallows. Advanced certification recommended.