Experience Ocean Life

Among reasons to visit Djibouti, sea life is one of them. Djibouti's proximity to the Red Sea makes it an ideal starting point for exploring the area's abundant sea life, with many organizations offering snorkeling and scuba diving trips. World-class soft coral reefs, including reef sharks, whale sharks, and mantra rays, can be found in the Gulf of Tadjoura and the Seven Brothers Islands off the coast of Djibouti. Djibouti has a very small and underdeveloped fishing industry, despite having extremely limited arable land and a coastline of approximately 195 miles. There are approximately ninety fishing boats employing approximately 300 people that primarily catch reef fish such as grouper, but much of the fishing involves traditional spear hunting or using a line and hook. Local divers also catch lobsters. Due to the country's poverty, Djibouti lacks the capacity to patrol its seas. Fishermen from Yemen are known to fish illegally in Djiboutian waters.

Although Djibouti has the capacity to land more than 350 tons from the sea each year, the Fisheries Law of 2002 prohibits large-scale development, ensuring that traditional fishing habits remain at the heart of the industry. In addition to sea life, Djibouti has many lakes, including Lake Assal, a crater lake in central Djibouti that is not only the world's third largest saltwater lake (sadly, making its supply unsuitable for human consumption in the drought-stricken country), but also Africa's lowest point, at 508 feet below sea level. The country's sea life can also be explored from beaches near the capital, such as Dorale and Khor-Ambade. Travelers can also do some whale watching!