Mozambique Diving

Dive with turtles, whale sharks and manta rays in the unspoiled depths of the warm Indian Ocean

Scroll for more

Overview

Mozambique-Loggerhead-turtle

Still a secret. But not for long.

Mozambique is a diver’s secret gem—especially around the Bazaruto Archipelago and the Quirimbas. Here, you can encounter whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, and even the elusive dugong.

Diving in Mozambique offers some of the most pristine, colourful, and crowd-free coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. With its long tropical coastline, scattered islands, and rich marine biodiversity, it’s a paradise for divers seeking something special—without sacrificing luxury.

The colours of the unspoiled reefs are vibrant and pristine. You can see many brightly coloured fish such as blue snappers, tiger fish and butterfly fish.

From the southern coast near Ponta Mamoli to the remote Quirimbas in the far north, Mozambique's dive sites are as diverse as they are spectacular.

Why Dive in Mozambique?

  • World-famous dive sites like Manta Reef and Two Mile Reef
  • Excellent visibility: 10 to 40 metres depending on location and season
  • Warm Indian Ocean waters all year round
  • You may be lucky and see barracuda, giant lobsters, manta rays, moray eels, plus loads of reef fish.
  • Expect encounters with whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, and even the elusive dugong.
  • Unspoiled reefs, with minimal bleaching and low diver traffic

Where to stay on a Mozambique Diving Holiday?

Bazaruto and Benguerra  Islands

Mozambique diving

These postcard-perfect islands offer some of the best diving in the country. You’ll find:

  • Whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, and dolphins
  • Two Mile Reef: famous in local dive circles
  • The Aquarium: shallow dive with vibrant coral and fish, great for all levels, including snorkellers
  • Seasonal (rare) chance to see dugongs grazing in seagrass beds

Where to Stay: Luxury beach lodges like Azura Benguerra and Anantara Bazaruto offer direct access to dive sites and in-house dive centres.

 

Southern Mozambique – Ponta Mamoli, White Pearl & Tofo

Perfect for adventurous divers who want greater affordability with incredible sightings. Diving with the majestic whale shark is a speciality of this area, especially around  White Pearl Resort,

  • Ponta Mamoli: great visibility and big pelagic species. But Rustic accommodation
  • White Pearl Resort: just to the north, luxury meets wild diving
  • Tofo: famous for seasonal gatherings of manta rays and whale sharks
Quirimbas Archipelago – Untouched Beauty

The Quirimbas Archipelago is a far-flung idyllic cluster of coral islands which remains largely undeveloped—and that’s its charm.

  • Remote dive sites with virtually no other divers
  • Untouched coral systems and excellent marine life

Note: Not operational now

Best Time to Dive in Mozambique

Mozambique diving

  • Best conditions: April to November (dry season)
  • Whale shark season: October to March (especially near White Pearl and Tofo)
  • Water temperatures: 24–29°C throughout the year
  • Avoid: January to March due to cyclones in some parts of Mozambique

 

Who would love Mozambique diving?

  • Experienced divers wanting to avoid crowds
  • Couples and honeymooners seeking Indian Ocean luxury without the Maldives cliché or the large Zanzibar resorts
  • Marine wildlife lovers
  • Families with older kids who dive or snorkel

Back to  Luxury Diving Holidays in Africa for more destinations.

Download our Free Safari Planning Guide

20 pages of Useful Tips: Best time to Travel, Safari Costs, How to Get Around, Special Interests and more... Get our Free Guide
Find me the best in for
Holiday of a lifetime
"Just wanted to write a quick note to say a big thank you for all your help in arranging what was a fantastic trip for the three of us. My dad loved every minute of it. And said it was a holiday of a lifetime – which is what I of course had hoped it would be for all of us. " - Jo & Family
Dream holiday
"Milandi (et all at C. A. T.) …”Like talking to a good friend/family member who genuinely, listens… then sets skill and extensive knowledge to work to fulfill (AND OFTEN BEYOND!!) all expectations!!” This Africa holiday was simply “ANOTHER” dream animal photo safari and experience Milandi (Cedarberg) put together… we have experienced TWO previous “ ..." - Mr Wally Rohrer
Winning itinerary!!
"Without ever meeting us, Kate and Tash from Cedarberg Travel & African Safaris created a winning itinerary for my friend and I! The itinerary was well-balanced in its schedule, activity levels and locations. We started in Cape Town with several tours and an excellent tour guide named Tobi. Tobi quickly clicked with us, laughed with us, and answered all of our questions about aspects ..." - Mrs Myers
10 out of 10 for everything
"The holiday was exceptionally good and we all enjoyed every moment, especially my son Stephen (10 years old). The fact that Stephen enjoyed it says a lot since he is a seasoned traveller (as are most expat kids) having been to almost 20 countries already in his lifetime. We returned with more than a thousand photos and wonderful memories of what Africa can offer at its best " - Family De Waal,
Once more million thanks for organizing and supervising our trip of the lifetime.
"Once more million thanks for organizing and supervising our trip of the lifetime. I am glad with choose to stay in multiple lodges and locations as every one of our five stops was absolutely unique. Service and staff were outstanding everywhere. transfers were very smooth and easy. food quality matches Michelin restaurants. And game was superb! I personally enjoyed viewing at Bate ..." - Mr & Mrs Yuly
 
staff image

Ginny Russell

AFRICAN TRAVEL SPECIALIST

Hi I'm Ginny, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience GET IN TOUCH