Habili Jaffar

Overview

Habili Jaffar is one of the smallest reefs in St. John's. Some call it "the needle", but it also has similarities with a volcano. The abundance of fish is enormous.

Description

Habili Jaffar has a diameter of 15m by 8m at the top. It has two plateau-like reef noses. One starts at 18m and ripples north much more than 50m before plunging in a diagonal sand and rubble slope. The other starts at 15m and runs almost due south, then drops steadily to 45m before fully disappearing into the depths after a small overhang.
Barracudas, snappers, trompet fish, banner fish and angel fish cavort in this reef. Gray, whitetip reef and silky sharks also drop by and at certain times an oceanic whitetip or manta ray may be seen.
The coral growth ranges from leather corals to soft corals in all shades of mint, fire corals and staghorn corals, sporadically in the depths also fan corals.

The reef top is excellent for the end of the dive. There is always current and wave action, but also a lot of fish.

However, the reef can only be approached in good weather, because the reef top is only just under water and therefore a big wave can easily build up. When this is the case, entry and exit becomes difficult or even impossible.

Hotspots

• Reef spurs: Both reef spurs of Habili Jaffar are perfect for scanning the waters for grey reef shark, silky sharks or whitetip oceanic sharks and mantas.