Diving Lobster Cave with Scuba World Diving Mauritius

A dive planned outside the reef creates a heightened sense of expectation in me as my dives there are fewer due to weather limitations. They are also more challenging with a possible moving surface, currents or surges, as well as possible deeper dives. It is however the huge, healthy and diverse collection of corals outside the reef that takes my breath away – every time – when I hover over their extraordinary surface textures and colours!

 This dive stands out for more than my love for Coral. On arrival at the dive centre I discovered the divers on the dive was limited to the Dive Centre Owner with his fabulous camera in hand as well as a special guest visiting and then me. Just the three of us! What a privilege to have the conversations I have with the Centre Owner continue underwater and part of the dive turning into a photo shoot! (Upon writing this blog I am still awaiting the underwater photographs of the dive – will be published soon.)

We descended into visibility of 20 m to a depth of 23 m in water of 28˚C on the Lobster Cave Dive Site on the East Coast of Mauritius. The site goes down to 25 m and is known for occasional strong currents. During the dive briefing we were told about the structure of the cave and that we’ll be swimming to the exit on its other side, the dive leader first, then me and then our VIP guest.

Descending with this kind of visibility, into the blue and being welcomed by the array of Coral structures mentioned and with the company I was in, already made it the perfect dive in my eyes. Then we started exploring and I was again amazed at the diverse ecosystem. One of those times where you think every 2 minutes, “I wish I had a photographic memory – I must remember this one! Oh, that one and”.  

Perhaps it was because the dive leader was using the intimate dive as an opportunity to take some photos, but it felt like I had more time to linger and observe. Yes, my Clown Triggerfish was there, right next to my mermaid coloured Parrotfish who was pecking away at some coral. Some of what I can remember, there were two Nudi sightings, a huge white Starfish, bright orange Sabre Squirrelfish, sad looking Blotcheye Soldier Fish, a Porcelain Crab and the largest Moorish Idol that I’ve ever seen. This bringer of happiness could only bode well!  Then we saw a Hawksbill Sea Turtle and as I noticed the dive leader seemed to want to photograph it, following it at a distance, I started following too.

Moments later I noticed that I was by myself and stopped to look back, the endangered Hawksbill disappearing in front of me. About 20 m behind me, my two dive companions were hanging, watching me. Probably wondering when I would realise my over eager move. I could read their minds, when I reached them!

Ah! The cave! Flashlights on we swam into what appeared to me to be a large overhang as I could see the wall at the back of this space. Once inside I noticed that the walls were covered with an abundance of Feather Starfish which had attached themselves there. These feathers were alternated by small orange and purple soft corals. There was a medium surge and my first instinct was to get away from the walls as not to hurt any of the organisms by accident. I turned and swam out, allowing the others to look at the many Lobsters. It was only when the dive leader called me closer that I realised – what I thought was the back wall of an overhang was a bend in the cave. We were at the entrance of Lobster Cave!

The cave was narrow, probably felt more so as the surge made me over aware of the cave walls and not touching them. The structure of the cave is such that you do not see the blue exit as a light at the end of a tunnel and as it was my first time in the cave (or any underwater cave for that matter) I had no idea how long the swim through would take. This heightened the sense of adventure and happily added some extra adrenaline to my dive experience. As we neared the exit I was awestruck by the dark cave walls contrasting the blue outside. Each irregularity in the cave formation becoming an artistic photo opportunity in contrast and silhouette. Once outside the cave I turned around and was thrilled at how comfortable I felt with the swim through, as I could only then appreciate the width of the cave. It was not wide at all!

On the outside structure of the cave, there was a collection of large Sea Fans and I grabbed the opportunity to signal to the dive leader that I needed a photo shoot! Even our safety stop was spectacular, as a school of Blue Fusiliers was also hanging at 5 m, calmly watching us while we were admiring them as we watched our dive computers.

By Lynette Gerber-Lochenkov