“Dorida” Reef

“Dorida” reef is a shallow, very easily accessible dive site in Oroklini, Larnaka which can be reached by boat within minutes from nearby locations. It is a site which enjoys pleasant environmental conditions almost all year round, with good visibility and low current activity. It can be utilised both by snorkellers and open water divers, although more experienced divers may also enjoy adding this site to their itinerary. This location includes a shallow, natural reef, making the dive of a circular nature where the deepest point does not surpass 12m. The majority of the dive can be comfortably carried out between 7-10m depth. Visitors to ‘Dorida’ can expect an interesting combination of sandy and rocky substrates on its benthos, as well as meadows of the Mediterranean endemic Posidoniaseagrass. The existence of these three substrates in close proximity alongside favourable conditions, allow and support the presence of a large array of marine organisms. ‘Dorida’ is home to sponge species such as the common black sponge but also the very attractive yellow/golden sponge. Small–sized species often found in this location include colourful fan worms, starfish and wrasses, marbled spinefoot rabbitfish, small white sea fans, combers, Mediterranean parrot fish, sea cucumbers, multiple sparidae species, various gobiids, damselfishin abundance, as well as scorpion fish and puffers being common. Also commonly found are octopuses and the invasive lionfish. Larger species found at “Dorida” include the dusky grouper and the greater amberjack.

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Species list of most common marine life encountered at “Dorida” Reef:

Neptune grass / Posidonia oceanica

Mediterranean rainbow wrasse / Coris julis

Ornate wrasse / Thalassoma pavo

Damselfish / Chromis chromis

Blue-spotted cornetfish / Fistularia commersonii

Yellowspotted pufferfish / Torquigener flavimaculosus

Mediterranean parrot-fish / Sparisoma cretense

Red Sea goatfish / Parupeneus forsskali

Dusky spinefoot / Siganus luridus

Marbled spinefoot / Siganus rivulatus

Two – banded Sea bream / Diplodus vulgaris

Comber / Serranus cabrilla

Dusky grouper / Epinephelus marginatus

Striped sea bream / Lithognathus mormyrus

Cardinalfish / Apogon imberbis

Red scorpionfish / Scorpaena scrofa

Saddled seabream / Oblada melanura

Painted comberfish / Serranus scriba

Moray eel / Muraena helena

Lionfish / Pterois miles

Red Sea squirt / Halocynthia papilosa

Common octopus / Octopus vulgaris

Yellowtail barracuda / Sphyraena flavicauda

Yellow-golden tube sponge / Aplysina aerophoba

Oyster sponge / Crambe crambe

Common Sea-cucumber / Holothuria sp.

Lessepsian Sea-cucumber / Synaptula reciprocans

Long-spined urchin / Diadema setosum

Moon snail / Natica dillwynii

Bittersweet clam / Glycymeris violacescens

Ceriths / Cerithiidae sp.

Thorny oyster / Spondylus gaederopus

Rayed trough shell / Mactra stultorum

Striped venus clam / Chamelea gallina

Banded dye-murex / Hexaplex trunculus

Tellins / Tellina planata

Little Circe-shell / Gouldia minima

Average Sea Surface Temperature (°C) per month