Dive Sites on the Inhambane Peninsula

Most of the diving takes place early in the morning, due to the fact that this is normally when the weather and sea conditions are best. We normally do 2-dives per day however it is often possible to enjoy more than two dives should the weather, sea and surf conditions permit.

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 see 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, the reefs are in pristine condition due to the fact that they were untouched during the seventeen years of civil war.

Manta Reef

Depth:- 21 to 26 meters

Mozambique Diving

Whales off the Mozambique Coast

Indian Ocean Diving
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.

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