Mozambique Travel > Inhambane Diving

Inhambane Diving

The dive sites offer great chances of close encounters with Manta Rays on every dive. Whale Sharks are also around most of the year with the high season being between October & April, when sightings of up to 20 can be seen during a boat ride out to the dive sites and at times we have up to eight of the gentle giants joining us on a single trip.

Humpback Whales visit the areas between June and October and can often be seen breaching. There is a fantastic range of marine life, and the reefs are in pristine condition. Most of the diving takes place early in the morning, because this is normally when the weather and sea conditions are best. It is usual to do two dives per day however it is often possible to enjoy more than two dives should the weather, sea and surf conditions permit.

Suggested diving resorts in the area:
Areia Branca
Barra Lodge
Blue Footprints Eco Lodge
Blue Moon Beach Resort
Flamingo Bay Water Lodge
Guinjata Resort
Guiquindo Lodge
Jeff's Palm Resort
Pleasure Bay Resort
Pomene Lodge

Manta Reef

Depth:- 21 to 26 meters
Barra Lodge’s  showcase dive. A gentle drift dive from North to South, your dive begins with a negative entry 26m into the middle of a small amphitheatre teeming with life. The dive progresses through a series of pinnacles before the first cleaning station is reached, a shallower (21m) sandy area. At this cleaning station Mantas circle overhead to be cleaned by Goldies, Cleaner Wrasse and Butterfly fish. This dive is amazing with upwards of ten huge 4 - 5 meter Mantas circling overhead. At the end of the dive your ascent is often accompanied by groups of inquisitive Devil Rays wheeling about your safety stop.
 

Amazon

Depth:- 22 to 28 meters
This reef is shaped like an L, formed by two ledges with craters and large swim throughs. As the name implies it is wild and untamed and totally unspoiled as it is seldom visited. Because it is so far out to sea, the visibility is generally very good and the reef is teeming with both reef and pelagic fish. It is also one of the very few places here where sharks are seen. These include Leopard sharks, Whitetips, Blacktips, and very occasionally Tiger Sharks. Mantas, Giant Eagle Rays and Ribbon Tail Rays are seen on most dives. Amazon is also home to a huge resident Loggerhead Turtle.
 

Giants Castle

Depth:- 26 to 33 meters
A 6 to 7 metre tall wall running for two kilometres. The wall drops from 26 to 33 metres and runs North/South with the predominant current. When conditions are right this is a fantastic dive and often overlooked by divers who know of the more famous Manta Reef. The crenellated wall is inhabited by Giant Potato Bass [hence the name] and features several Manta cleaning stations. This is definitely a pelagic dive with a proliferation of game fish including Great Barracuda, Kingfish, Pick Handle Pike and Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Devil Rays, Bowmouth Guitar Sharks, and, uniquely in this area, Blue Marlin. The memory of a descent through schools of Barracuda onto a Manta Ray cleaning station while Devil Rays circle above is unforgettable. 

The Office

Depth:- 19 meters to 24 meters
This is a rock pinnacle, 10 km’s straight out to sea and comes up from a depth of over 90 meters. The reef is made up of a number of ledges and gullies, part of which includes an extremely rare Manta cleaning station. This is primarily a drift dive with the current running from North to South. The cleaning station is situated on the Northern point of the reef and divers will be treated to the sight of Mantas being cleaned by Cleaner Wrasse. Also seen on this reef are a number of resident Leopard Sharks, White Tip Sharks and Potato Bass, a vast array of game fish can be seen on most dives.
 

Sherwood Forest

Depth:- 27 meters to 39 meters
An 80 meter DOME cut away around the bottom and covered with green coral trees [hence the name Sherwood Forest]. These coral trees are home to millions of Goldie's, and are a spectacular sight, especially for the keen photographer. Also seen under the dome are large Potato Bass and a resident Brindle Bass [aptly named Robin Hood]. This site is home to Mantas, Devil Rays and a variety of game fish.
 

Anchor Bay

Depth:- 9 to 12 meters
This is a large flat circular reef made up of rock and large plate corals with an assortment of beautiful soft corals and sponges. All the normal tropical fish can be seen as well as Crocodile fish, Stonefish, Lionfish and often a school of juvenile Barracuda. This is one of the only inshore reefs where Manta's can be seen, often cavorting on the surface. It is common to see Whale Sharks, Humpback and Bryde's Whales on the journey. This reef is named after the very large and old sailing ship's anchor which can be seen there.

Buddies Reef

Depth:- 7 to 10 meters
This is an oval rocky reef cut by channels and gullies. With a shallow average depth, this reef offers an opportunity to study some of the smaller fish and nudibranch that this area offers. Pairs of Clownfish and other Anemone fish are common, often with young. Black Spotted and Honeycomb Morays lurk under the ledges and Lobsters and Crays hide in the gullies. Coachmen, Moorish Idols, the magnificent Juvenile Emperor and other Angel Fish move in clouds above the reef.
 

Krakatoa

Depth:- 14 to 18 meters
This inshore reef resembles a sunken volcano crater or caldera. The 'crater' is on average 2-4 metres lower than the surrounding rock creating a wall around the site. This supports coral life typical of Inhambane’s inshore reefs. Hard and soft corals abound as well as reef and game fish. The center of the crater is dominated by a number of rocky out crops amidst the sand offering a slow winding dive with a couple of swimthroughs. This dive also offers one of the best chances to see and snorkel with Whale Sharks on the journey to and from the dive site.
 

Pria da Roscha

Depth:- 10 meters to 15 meters
This reef is made up of lots of huge boulders, all cut away on the bottom to form a maze of gullies and swim-throughs to the point where it resembles a grotto. A vast variety of soft coral can also be found on this reef. All the usual small Tropical Fish can be seen. This is an offshore reef and is therefore not generally affected by currents but can be affected by surge as the shore side of the reef is a rock face [as the name suggests 'Place of the Rocks'].

Chamber of Secrets

Depth:- 14 to 21 meters
This reef is shaped like a horseshoe. At 14 meters around the top and 19 metres around the base it forms a ragged wall lined with 6 swim-throughs and numerous overhangs and caves. The center of the horseshoe is a flat, white sandy area frequented by Blue Spotted Rays, Blue Stingrays and Whip-Tailed rays. As the name suggests it is full of surprises. This reef offers the best chance of seeing Whale Sharks on Scuba as it is right in the path of the migrating Whale Sharks. Other sightings normally include Morays, Lizardfish, Trumpetfish, Lionfish [Common and Clearfin], Scorpionfish, and a multitude of reef fish.
 

Simon’s Town

Depth:- 14 meters to 18 meters
Large chimneys of rock with an amazing amount of holes and gullies running outwards in all directions. A great dive when visibility is good, with large shoals of game fish swimming overhead.
 

Clownfish Reef

Depth:- 9 meters to 10 meters
A fairly flat reef with a lot of living Rock and Plate Coral and small tropical fish. This reef is ideal for a very gentle dive with no current and surge.

Mikes Cupboard

Depth:- 14 meters to 16 meters.
A series of Giant pot-holes linked together with caves, overhangs and gullies. As this is an inshore reef it is not really affected by current. Of particular interest is the vast assortment of soft coral. All the normal array of tropical fishes can be seen, as well as large numbers of Flute and Trumpet fish. Another interesting species not seen anywhere else in this area is the 'crocodile' fish and the 'leaf' fish which both appear in abundance. This is one of the few reefs in this area where dolphins may be seen on scuba. An absolutely stunning reef, with an abundance of soft coral, a wide variety of nudibranches and plenty of tropical and game fish. Giant crayfish are also amongst the many different species of marine life found on this reef. Also an excellent spot for Whale Shark viewing.

Praia do Roche (Beach of rocks)

Level of dive: Open WaterDepth: 5 - 18m
Soft and hard Corals are scattered among the pinnacles and boulders that cover this area, swim thru's and gullies make this a fun dive, along with the shallow depth is a great site for photographers and practicing skills.
Devil Firefish, Cleaner Shrimp, Crayfish and Morays hide among the nooks with Spanish Dancers, lobsters and Octopus. When there is a big swell there is too much surge to enjoy this site.
       

Salon   

Level of Dive: Open Water Depth: 15 - 18m
A lovely site, very popular with photographers with lots of macro life. The reef is a long ridge with boulders scattered around, overhangs and caves contain Honeycomb, Black Cheek and Geometric Morays, firefish and paperfish. Cleaner shrimp are in abundance and give the site it name, while Trumpet fish happily swim right passed your mask . In the sand and among the boulders Octopus, Blue Spotted Rays and Ribbontail Rays hover.

Barra Lagoon   

Level of Dive: Advanced (excellent buoyancy control required) Depth: 3 - 5m
This is a unique Dive location towards the edge of the Mangrove swamps and the main reason to dive here are the Sea Horses, these can be found wrapped around the sea Fans, Pipefish and also there has been sightings of the extremely rare Dugong in this area. It is an amazing macro location and you can spend 90 minutes easily here and still have plenty to see. Because of the very delicate nature of the surroundings.
Only experienced divers with excellent buoyancy control can dive here as even small sand particles kicked up can blind the sea horses.     

Lions Den   

Level of Dive: Open water Depth: 9 - 11m
A gentle flat reef with lots of Plate Coral, small tropical fish and of course Lion Fish. Good site for learning and reacquainting yourself with diving.

Coloseum   

Level of Dive: Advanced    Depth: 21 - 30m
Shaped like a large amphitheatre with a 10 metre wall around the edge which drops down with ledges and gullies into the centre. Plenty fish occupy the arena and the Huge Honeycomb Moray has been nicknamed Russell the Gladiator. Keep your eyes open for Guitar Sharks in the sand and Potato Bass over the wall.
Experience of negative entry, deep dives and ability to descend quickly to this depth is essential.