Playa Abou

Playa Abou is a large beach. It is a favorite for the local people to visit with large groups and spend a whole day on the beach, mostly including a BBQ. There are some huts but you need to be early to get these. In the back there are trees where you can find shade.

For diving the location is less optimal because it is a long swim out to the drop-off but it is worthwhile. It takes about 6 minutes before you are close enough to the drop-off to go underwater. In front of the beach the coral density is low. The drop-off is rather steep, 60 to 70 degrees. Below 20 meters there is mainly sand.

To the left you reach an area with a more gradual slope (around 45 degrees) and a far higher coral density. There is a great variety in coral species and there are also sponges (Orange Elephant Ear, Netted Barrel Sponges, Azure and Pink Vase sponges to name a few). There are also some really large coral formations.

On the way back in toward the beach you swim over sand. But you could still be in for a surprise. During one of our dives here we encountered a small Sting Ray almost completely invisible because he was covered with sand except for his eyes and part of the tail.