Dive Review of Jon Hildebrandt - General Manager in
Africa/Comoro Island - Moheli

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Jon Hildebrandt - General Manager: "The Lure of Less-traveled places.", Sep, 2018, by Bonnie McKenna, TX, US ( Contributor 13 reports with 9 Helpful votes). Report 10507.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The Lure of Less-Traveled Places Last year at the Frisco, Texas dive show, the word Moheli on a booth banner caught my eye. I stopped to investigate. Always looking for the unusual and the lure of diving an area as off the beaten track as Moheli, I was interested. Eight months later, my husband, two friends and I landed in one of the most less-traveled areas of the world. Moheli, is one of four small islands that makeup the nation of Comoros. The islands are nestled about halfway between Mozambique and Madagascar. The Comoros are often referred to as the Perfume Islands because this is where the Ylang-Ylang blossoms are gathered, reduced to oil and purchased by famous French perfume houses. Laka Lodge, the only lodge/hotel on the island, is located on the western edge of Moheli Marine Park, was our destination. We were looking forward, not only to dive the local reefs, but to dive with the Humpback whales, who at this time of the year (July through end of September) were passing through. Other activities available at Laka Lodge are visiting the turtle nesting beach for Green and Hawksbill turtles and seeing the rare Livingstone’s bats. Laka Lodge’s reception/dining room is a large comfortable area to spend time while using the internet and meeting fellow travelers. All of the bungalows face one of the two beaches. The rooms are large and comfortable. Although malaria has been eradicated on the islands, mosquito nets are suggested. Water is solar heated, enough for a good shower. Electricity, available 24 hours a day. The resort provides its own solar energy during the day and from the grid at night. Meals are served at set times. The food is generally European or American style. Laka Lodge maintains a large garden to augment the vegetables purchased from the village. Fish is purchased daily from the local village fishermen. The kitchen must have hundreds of recipes because I do not recall, but once, having a fish dish repeated. The dive operation is small, managed outside under the trees, but efficient. Divers must bear in mind, diving here is not luxury on the scale of the Caribbean, Philippines or Indonesian resorts or liveaboards, but adequate and safe. This is where you come for the adventure and discover a new and unfamiliar world. Three small converted fishing boats are used for diving on the reefs and snorkeling with the whales. There is quite a large tide fall in the area and as a consequence there can be a lot of current during those times of the day, so be prepared for a fast-moving drift dive. The reefs in the area still show the result of destruction from either destructive fishing practices or bombing. The area is now protected, the reefs are making a recovery. Much of the fish life was familiar to me with variations of species diversity. The most unusual critter seen was a yellow eel. The Indian Ocean Reef Guide by Helmut Debulius describes a yellow or golden eel. Our sighting matched the description perfectly. My dive partner got a photo of it…I was not so lucky. The Comoros Islands is one of the only two places in the world where the elusive coelacanths are known to reside; the other place is Sulawesi, Indonesia. Snorkeling with the whales was an interesting adventure. Bearing in mind the whales are migrating and not always hanging around, we were ‘skunked’ a couple of days. Although we got close, we did not get any photographs. On the last day we met a couple of, what was later determined to be Short-fin Pilot Whales. Apparently, not a common sighting. Lemurs are usually associated with Madagascar, but much to our delight a troop of brown lemurs reside near Laka Lodge. In the evening, a pair of lemurs come down to a tree near the lodge, knowing there will be some banana treats being readily offered. Although the diving was not as unique as I envisioned, it was no less exciting because it was an adventure off the beaten track. Was it worth the long plane ride to the other side of the world to follow my love for less-traveled areas? Yes!
Websites	Jon Hildebrandt - General Manager
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Philippines, Palau, Chuuk, Yap, Thailand, Caribbean, so. California, Lembeh, Raja Empats, Guam, Thailand, Comoro Island - Moheli,
Closest Airport	Moheli	Getting There	The easiest way to get to this destination is to take Ethiopian Airlines from the U.S. to Addis Ababa to Moroni then AB Aviation to Moheli.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp	73-75°F / 23-24°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	30-60 Ft/ 9-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Dive with a guide especially when diving with whales.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	no
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	> 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	All setting up and recharging has to be accomplished in your room. Rinsing gear after a dive is either hose or shower.

Subscriber's Comments

By Elaine Morse in CO, US at Apr 24, 2021 15:00 EST

Did they have any equipment to rent?

By report author: Bonnie McKenna in TX, US at Apr 24, 2021 18:18 EST

I believe so, but email them just in case. When are you going?

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Dive Review of Jon Hildebrandt - General Manager in Africa/Comoro Island - Moheli

Jon Hildebrandt - General Manager: "The Lure of Less-traveled places.", Sep, 2018,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Jon Hildebrandt - General Manager in
Africa/Comoro Island - Moheli