Lake Malawi
Cape Maclear, Malawi
- Typical depth
- 18 m
- Type
- Freshwater
- Level
- Beginner
Marine life
- Other
- rocky boulder gardens, vast majority of cichlid species are endemic — found nowhere else
- Reef fish
- mbuna cichlids (rock-dwelling, hundreds of endemic species — Pseudotropheus, Labeotropheus, Melanochromis, Tropheops), utaka cichlids (open-water schooling), peacock cichlids (Aulonocara), dolphin cichlid (Cyrtocara moorii), catfish
Site features
- Freshwater
- UNESCO World Heritage
- National Park
- Rift Lake
- Endemic Cichlids
- Rocky Outcrops
- Warm
- Clear Water
- No Current
When to dive
- Best
- May–Nov
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar
Lake Malawi (Cape Maclear, southern end) is the world's richest freshwater fish lake — home to at least 700 species of cichlid (some estimates put the figure as high as 1,000), the great majority endemic. The lake's southern end is protected as Lake Malawi National Park, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 for its global significance to biodiversity conservation. Surface temperatures stay warm (24–29 °C) and visibility is excellent (15–25 m). Diving focuses on the rocky underwater outcrops where mbuna cichlids defend territories among boulders — colours rival a tropical reef. Calm dry season (May–Nov) is the best window; rainy season (Dec–Mar) drops viz and brings storms. No current. Most divers wear a 3 mm shorty.
Conditions & access
- Visibility
- 15–25 m
- Water temp
- 24–29 °C
- Current
- None
- Access
- Open access
- Min cert
- Open Water
Location
14.0167° S, 34.8833° E
Sources
Curated from 2 sources
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