We’ve been diving in Mozambique for the past 9 years and just can’t get enough of the clear warm waters, tropical fish, mantas, whale sharks, the friendly people and relaxed way of life...
We make at least one trip to Mozambique each year, usually in July - and sometimes December / January as well..... but with the opening of our new dive centre in Gordon's Bay towards the beginning of August, we've had to forgo our July trip this year.
To make up for the lack of a "Moz" visit, Kate made up a video of one of our dives to Manta Reef that was filmed on our visit there in January this year...
Over the years, we’ve dived in Ponta do Ouro, Guinjata Bay, Tofo, Morrungulo and Pomene. Every one of these dive spots is unique and has something different to offer.
Our first few years of diving in Mozambique were spent exploring the reefs around Ponta do Ouro. Many of the reefs here are reasonably shallow for Mozambique, ranging in depth from 10 - 15m to an average of about 17 - 25 metres. All reefs teem with tropical fish including Lion Fish, Parrot Fish, Trigger fish, Angel Fish, Surgeons, Potato and other types of Grouper, numerous types of Moray Eels as well as interesting critters such as leaf fish and frog fish hiding amongst the nooks and crannies.
There are also a number of exciting and exhilarating dives such as Atlantis at 42 metres with its slabs of rock, gigantic nudibranchs, green coral trees; and the renowned Pinnacles (43 metres) where one can spot Zambezis, Hammerheads, Eagle Rays whilst hanging in the blue.
After diving in Ponta for a number of years, we soon received the “call” of the “North” and explored Guinjata Bay, Pomene, Morrungulo and Tofo. The diving we did at Pomene was the best we’ve ever experienced on the African continent – it’s unspoilt and wild - the “Garden of Eden” of Mozambique!
Most of our diving over the past couple of years has been in Tofo, a small village just outside the lovely town of Inhambane, located in the province of the same name.
Tofo dives are very varied and exciting - you never know what you will encounter - from peaceful whale sharks to frog fish, white tip reef sharks, zebra sharks, manta rays - you name it, you'll see it in Tofo. There are relaxing shallower dives such as Crocodile Rock and Praia de Rocha and then exciting deeper dives, further North, where one can sometimes encounter strong currents and the pelagics that accompany them such as Amazon and Oasis.
Ultimately, our hearts belong to Tofo – in fact Kate jokes this is our second home as we have been there so many times, we’re literally locals! The way of life in Tofo is so slow, nobody walks - it's more of a "shuffle", and you soon adopt this relaxed feeling after arriving. This is a fantastic place to dive, unwind and experience the real Mozambique...
Back home in South Africa, every time we catch a whiff of the unmistakable smell of peri-peri frango (chicken) or peri-peri prawns, we get that "home sick" feeling for Mozambique! Even the smell of wood smoke makes us hanker for the donkey-boilers that so many of the lodges and camp sites use to make hot water for us at the end of a long day diving...
Why not join us on our next trip to Mozambique and see what we mean!
