Dive tourism in Mozambique is still relatively new, with the first permanent dive operations in the country having been established in the late 1990s. Mozambique has the second longest coastline in Africa and the diving in Mozambique can be divided into three distinct zones; the extreme north, from Pemba to the Tanzanian border, including the Querimbas Archipelago, the extreme south of the country near the border with South Africa, including Ponta d’Ouro and Ponta Malangane, and the Province of Inhambane, from Quessico north to Inhassoro. The diving in the very north, known primarily for stunning corals and excellent macro life, and the diving in the south, great reefs and good sharks, both offer very good diving. However, it is the reef system found just off-shore in Inhambane Province that offers the most spectacular diving opportunities in Mozambique. In addition to our two main dive destinations in Inhambane, In Depth Dive Travel is also able to offer dive packages which include the destinations Barra Beach, Morrungulo, Pomene and Vilankulo – please contact us if you would like to know more about these destinations.
Located just 20 minutes from the provincial capital of Inhambane, Tofo is quite arguably the best place in the world to see Whale Sharks. Research conducted in the region by Dr. Simon Pierce, of the Foundation for the Protection of Megafauna, has shown that Tofo has “the largest number of reported Whale Shark sightings year round in the world”. Of all the Whale Sharks which have been identified internationally, 20% of these have been identified in Tofo. Research is continuing in to exactly why, but this much is known; just south of the bay in Tofo there is an area immediately off-shore, approximately one half of a mile wide and 4 miles long, which is a major aggregation area for Whale Sharks. With proper surface and weather conditions, Whale Sharks are very easily spotted in this “Whale Shark Zone”, frequently in numbers and almost always at or near the surface, often feeding.
In addition to being an internationally known Whale Shark destination, Tofo also offers world class diving, with several Manta Ray cleaning stations and an abundance of reef life to be found on numerous shallow and deep dive sites. In Depth Dive Travel offers complete trips to Tofo for its clients exclusively in partnership with Tofo Scuba. Tofo Scuba, the longest running dive operation in Mozambique, is the premier service provider in the area and is owned and operated by John and Nikki Pears, who between them have been diving in Mozambique for more than 25 years. Tofo Scuba is a PADI Gold Palm 5 Star Instructor Development Center and has consistently been a leader in the industry in support of marine research and conservation efforts.
ZAVORA - Located approximately 50 miles south of Tofo, and about a 90 minute drive from Inhambane, is the newest dive destination in Mozambique, Zavora. Permanent diving only began in Zavora in December of 2009, and over the last two years Zavora has established itself internationally as a premier diving destination. According to Mr. Johan Boschoff, the Editor of Divestyle Magazine in South Africa and the author of the book “The Dive Spots of Southern Africa”; “Zavora has the best diving in all of southern Africa”. Part of what makes the diving in Zavora so incredibly special is the significantly large number of Manta Ray found here, including Manta Biostris, also known as “Giant Mantas”, with wing spans of more than 20 feet. Mantas in Zavora are encountered on both the in-shore and off-shore reef systems which are home to numerous Manta cleaning stations, some of which are as shallow as 20 to 30 feet. It is not uncommon to see anywhere from 5 to 10 individual Mantas on a single dive in Zavora.
As well as being one of the top Manta Ray destinations in the world, Zavora boasts literally miles of reefs that are in absolutely pristine condition and are quite literally packed with life, from an incredibly wide variety of pelagic and macro species to everything in between. Exploration diving is still continuing in the area and marine research, which was established from the very beginning of dive activities in Zavora through the Oceans Research Foundation, is continuing to document a plethora of species, including marine species not previously known to be in the Indian Ocean basin and even some species which may be potentially new. In Depth Dive Travel works exclusively in partnership with Mozdivers Zavora to offer diving packages to this incredible dive destination. Mozdivers Zavora is fully owner operated by Jon Wright and Danny Russell, who together have more than two decades of cumulative diving experience in Mozambique. Mozdivers Zavora is a PADI Resort and IANTD Dive Center and is based at Zavora Lodge, home to the Oceans Research Marine Sciences Lab.
Diving in Mozambique
