Mozambique

Mozambique extends over 2,700 km of Indian Ocean coastline, and the diving — from the northernmost islands near Tanzania to the developed resorts around Tofo in the south — reflects the staggering scale of that geography.

Tofo Beach, on the Inhambane Peninsula, is Mozambique's dive capital and the place most divers mean when they say they're going to dive Mozambique. The reasons are specific: Tofo sits on a section of coast where the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Mozambique Channel meet the warmer Indian Ocean shelf, producing a plankton concentration that draws pelagic life in numbers unusual for this part of the world.

Manta rays visit the cleaning stations off Tofo year-round, with reef mantas virtually guaranteed and oceanic mantas possible from November through March. Whale sharks are present most of the year, with peak numbers from October through March. Humpback whales and their calves pass close to shore from June through November. For a single coastal location, the pelagic diversity is exceptional.

Bazaruto Archipelago, further north, is a national marine park — five islands fringed by pristine coral reef, dugong habitat, and healthy fish populations. Access requires flights from Vilanculos, and the diving is as remote and pristine as any in East Africa.

Quirimbas Archipelago in the far north (Cabo Delgado province) has some of the most undivid reefs in the region but remains difficult to access — a reward for the dedicated expedition diver.

Mozambique's water temperature runs 24–29°C year-round. Best diving season is October–April, avoiding the cold June–August period when visibility can drop.