Banc du Choizil

A submerged reef bank in the northern lagoon that rises from 35 m to a broad plateau at 12 m. From July through September humpback whale mothers and calves rest in the calm water above the plateau, and snorkeling or freediving encounters are conducted here under strict no-scuba protocols to avoid disturbing the animals. SCUBA divers explore the walls and undercuts of the bank, which are home to nurse sharks, large grouper, and schools of batfish. The site represents one of the few places in the world where humpback whale acoustic encounters are reliably experienced underwater.