Gavin Parsons: African photographic tour

See Gavin Parsons' article on diving Mozambique and South African safari which appeared in Diver magazine November 2007

Renowned for its Manta ray and Whale shark sightings, there is also a chance to see Devil rays (Mobula), Zebra sharks, dolphins and Humpback whales. The reefs off Ponta da Barra are made up of a variety of hard and soft corals which support a great variety of reef and game fish.

Manta Rays are resident year round whilst Whale sharks are around most of the year with the high season being between November and May when sightings of up to 20 can be see during a boat ride out to the dive sites.

Humpback whales visit the areas between June and September 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 and diving has only recently been introduced. The underwater photographer will not know where to point their camera next, with marine life ranging from macro critters to the largest fish in the sea!

Dive Sites:

Manta Reef

Depth: 21 to 26 metres

Mozambique’s showcase dive: a gentle drift from north to south, starting in the middle of a small amphitheatre teaming with life, through a series of pinnacles before the first cleaning station is reached. At this station Mantas circle overhead to be cleaned by Goldies, Cleaner wrasse and Butterfly fish. This dive is amazing enough without the huge Mantas circling overhead:  the sheer numbers of Blue-banded snappers and Big-eyes are exceptional. At times you have to push your way through the schools! At the end of the dive your ascent may be accompanied by groups of inquisitive Devil rays.

Amazon
Depth: 22 to 28 metres

This reef is formed by two ledges with craters in an L-shape, with large swim-throughs. It is seldom visited because it is so far out to sea and, as the name implies, it is wild, untamed and totally unspoiled. 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 where sharks are seen. These include Zebra sharks, Whitetips, Blacktips and very occasionally Tiger sharks. Manta, Eagle and Ribbon-tail rays are also seen on most dives. Amazon is also home to a huge resident Loggerhead turtle.

Giants Castle

Depth: 26 to 33 metres

A 6-7 metre tall wall running for two kilometres drops from 26 to 33 metres and runs north/south with the predominant current. The wall is inhabited by giant Potato bass (Grouper) and features several Manta cleaning stations. This is definitely a pelagic dive with a proliferation of game fish including Barracuda, Kingfish, Mantas, Eagle rays, Devil rays, guitar sharks and Blue marlin.

The Office

Depth: 19 to 24 metres

Why not head for the Office on a Monday morning! 10 km straight out to sea a rock pinnacle comes up from a depth of over 90 metres. The reef is made up of a number of ledges and gullies. Primarily a drift dive with the current running from north to south, there is a cleaning station situated on the northern point of the reef where Mantas are serviced by Cleaner wrasse. Also seen on this reef are a number of resident Zebra sharks, White tips and Potato bass; a vast array of game fish can be seen on most dives. Look out for large schools of Bannerfish (Coachmen), usually seen singly or in pairs.

Sherwood Forest

Depth: 27 to 39 metres

An 80 metre dome cut away around the bottom and covered with green coral trees (hence the name) which are home to millions of Goldies and are a spectacular sight, especially for the keen photographer. Also seen 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 metres

A large flat circular reef, named after the very large and old sailing ship's anchor which can be seen here, it is made up of rock and large plate corals with an assortment of beautiful soft corals and sponges. The ‘usual’ tropical fish can be seen as well as Crocodile fish, Stonefish, Lionfish and juvenile Barracuda. This is one of the only inshore reefs where Mantas can be seen. In season it is common to see Whale sharks, Humpback and Bryde's whales on the journey out to the site.

Budies Reef

Depth: 7 to 10 metres

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 in the area. Pairs of Clownfish and other Anemone fish are common. Black-spotted and Honeycomb morays lurk under the ledges, and Lobsters and Crayfish hide in the gullies. Bannerfish (Coachmen), Moorish idols, juvenile Emperor and other Angel fish move in clouds above the reef.

Mikes Cupboard

Depth: 14 to 16 metres

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 alongside the normal array of tropical fish, as well as large numbers of Flute and Trumpet fish. Other interesting species not seen anywhere else in this area is the Crocodile fish and the Leaf fish which both appear in abundance. Also look under crevices for the rare Harlequin shrimp and the occasional Mantis shrimp. An absolutely stunning reef with an abundance of soft coral, a wide variety of nudibranches and plenty of tropical and game fish.

The Salon

Depth: 12 to 15 metres

A crèche and bathhouse in one! A low-rise mound approximately 50 metres long plays host to a huge variety of small critters: this is Mozambique's version of muck diving. Look out for Banded pipefish, Paperfish ranging in colour from white to magenta, Peacock mantis shrimps, Durban dancing shrimps, Cleaner Shrimp (if you put your fingers out, one or two will hop on and start work on you!), morays, Blue-spotted rays, Mozambique crayfish and much more. Juvenile Catfish and Stripped snapper find safety in these shallower waters.

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