Scuba Dive

The whales have no trouble finding Mozambique.

Mozambique. Just the name conjures up exotic notions of faraway lands.  When pressed, some people might correctly identify Mozambique as a country in Africa, but pinpointing its exact location would send most people scrambling for a good map.  Fortunately, droves of manta rays, whalesharks and humpback whales have no such trouble finding the waters off of Mozambique’s coast.

So many dive spots, so little time.  Mozambique is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, to the west and South Africa to the southwest.  This little-known diving destination offers pristine beaches, warm waters and healthy, unspoilt reefs.  Much of the diving is done from the town of Tofo, a small but growing town in southeastern Mozambique right on the ocean.  Avid shark divers tend to gravitate south to the beaches of Ponta do Ouro and Mozambique’s top two shark reefs, Pinnacles and Pandaine Express.  The Island of Inhaca is also a popular spot for diving and snorkeling. Generally, the visibility is between 40 and 100 feet. The water temperature in the Indian Ocean varies from 23 to 29 C.

Diving with critters great and small.  By far the biggest diving attractions in Mozambique are the Manta Rays, Whalesharks, Humpback Whales and Dolphins:

• Rays can be spotted on almost every reef off of Mozambique year round. The waters boast a wide variety of rays, including the Giant Manta ray.  In 2008, a new, migratory species of manta ray was identified in the waters off of Mozambique.  Many scientists think that southern Mozambique hosts the largest population of manta rays in the world.  The rays are so plentiful that most dive operators, especially those out of Tofo, will guarantee manta ray sightings during dives.
• Whalesharks are mostly summer visitors with the best time to see them being November until April.  Whalesharks are gentle creatures – non-aggressive plankton feeders that can reach up to 12+m in length with average lengths of 8-9m in the Tofo area, which is the home the of largest concentration of whalesharks in Africa.  During November and March, the whalesharks are plentiful, with up to 20 individual sharks being spotted during 30 minute boat journeys. The whalesharks cruise along, at, or just below, the surface so divers frequently don their snorkel gear to see them.  Some diving outfits also work with local small plane operators who act as whaleshark spotters, which pretty much guarantees the chances of seeing one while there. 
• Humpback Whales visit the area from as early as June until as late as October. The whales spend the summer months in Antarctic waters feeding on large amounts of krill, and then migrate up the east coast of Africa to mate and give birth.  Male whales are often seen breeching the surface and slapping their fins in an effort to look sexy to the ladies in the surrounding waters.  While diving, it is possible to hear them “singing” to one another – a sound that can be heard from up to 2 km away.  
• Dolphins can be seen in Mozambican waters most of the year but June, July and August are the best months for them. There are various species of dolphins in the area including Bottlenose dolphins, Common dolphins and Humpback dolphins.  Dolphins are rarely seen alone but rather in groups known as pods – sometimes in very large numbers. Divers are frequently treated to dolphin sightings right at the bow of their dive boats as the creatures ride the water swell. 

Smaller, but no less beautiful… The Tofo area is rich in a diverse array of marine life, such as hard and soft corals, pelagic fishes, a multitude of colorful reef fish, sea turtles and green moray eels.  It is common to see Grey Reef Sharks, White and Black Tip Reef Sharks all along the coast, especially in the south.  Macro photographers will love the great diversity of shrimps, nudibranchs and even leaf fish to choose as photo subject matter.