DIVING AFRICA AND THE INDIAN OCEAN

Africa has a wide range of diving, from the cold waters of the southern tip of the Cape of Good Hope to the equatorial waters of Zanzibar, some 6400 km (4000 miles) in length. The Cape has kelp forests. fur seals, seven-gill sharks, endemic sharks, wrecks, and the great white shark. The world-famous Sardine Run occurs every year between May and July along the Eastern Cape Province coast, the Indian Ocean waters of KwaZulu-Natal see the southernmost coral reefs forming, but is still best-known for the diversity of its shark and ray diving, as is southern Mozambique. As you progress northwards, the reefs become more and more vibrant, with the shining island pearls being Moheli in the Comores, Alphonse in the Seychelles, Zanzibar, Mafia, and Pemba off the coast of Tanzania. Heading into the centre of the Indian Ocean, the 1,200 islands of the Maldives are strung out like a chain of pearls, with excellent manta and shark diving, and some decent coral. 

All of these dive destinations, with the exception of the Maldives,  can be combined with a range of wildlife safaris, another of our specialties. Our founder, Christopher, learnt to dive in South Africa 16 years ago, and lived in KwaZulu-Natal for 3 years, guiding both dives and safaris, and returns every year. He has also spent a lot of time on Unguja and Pemba Islands, Zanzibar, on occasions in a relief dive centre manager role, and has over 1500 dives from Cape to the Equator. Our Sales Manager Ines, initially a safari expert, has become an avid diver and has dived all of Mozambique and Tanzania's best sites. 

SOUTH AFRICA

Highlights
  • The Cape for Great White cage dives, Blue and Mako sharks, Seven-gill sharks, Cape Fur Seals, Kelp Forests, and wrecks, a great night out every night. 
  • Excellent "big fish" scuba diving in the Indian Ocean,  KwaZulu-Natal. It's the perfect destination for the shark diver on a budget. Schooling hammerheads, Tiger sharks, Bulls, Ragged-tooth, a great variety of rays and turtles.
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Seasons
​South Africa is an all-year destination, however, it rains in  Kwazulu Natal usually between November and March.
​The Western Cape has a winter rain climate, so sees most of its rain between May and November.

MOZAMBIQUE

Highlights
  • An exceptional destination for beaches, island paradise, and scuba diving along more than 2000 km of unspoilt coastline.
  • In the south, Ponta do Ouro has a wide range of shark species to dive with from October to May, lots of ray cleaning station, turtles, and good macro. 
  • Great-value luxury on the Machangulo peninsula close to Maputo.
  • Both species of manta rays, whale sharks, zebra sharks and reef sharks at Tofo and Barra, near Inhambane.
  • Diving virgin reefs from Morrongulo.
  • More mantas, mobulas, reef sharks, and turtles from in the Bazaruto Archipelago, near Vilanculos.
  • Ibo Island and its forts, culture, and island-hopping dhow safaris in the Quirimbas.
  • Quilalea Island for the best diving in the Quirimbas and luxury relaxation.​

Seasons
Temperatures don’t vary much throughout the year. The dry season, from May to October is cooler than the wet season, from November to April. This is less pronounced in northern Mozambique as it is closer to the equator. Daytime temperatures range from about 25°C in the wet season to 30°C in the dry season months.

TANZANIAN ISLANDS

Choose between or combine the three islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar. 

Highlights​
  •  Zanzibar is a much-sought after beach destination with easy scuba diving, snorkelling, spice plantations and fascinating history. The reefs around the north are the place to go, with hard and soft coral gardens, plentiful reef fish, some rarer species such as the weedy and paddle-flap scorpionfish can be found easily here. Mnemba Atoll also has some walls and drop-offs.
  • The lesser-known island of Mafia has a good mix of macro and reef diving inside Chole Bay,  and wall and pass diving outside Chole Bay, plus snorkelling with gentle-giant whale sharks as well as enchanting ruins from medieval trading civilisations.
  •  Pemba Island really is an untouched African island paradise with fantastic hard coral gardens, deep drop-offs, and passes with very good viz. Excellent for wide -angle photography and macro enthusiasts. 
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Seasons
The “long rains” fall April to June, but generally at night. May and June are quiet and the cheapest time of year to go, along with November and early December. 
The whales sharks off Mafia Island's west coast are there October to March, and this is also the best time to dive outside of Chole Bay on the east coast. 

THE SEYCHELLES
The Republic of Seychelles is a cluster of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off Africa’s east coast. Lying just south of the equator and beyond the cyclone belt, surrounded by warm waters, Seychelles epitomises the expression “tropical island paradise.”
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The Seychelles is divided into 43 Inner Islands and the Outer Islands – five groups of flat, low-lying coral atolls and reef islets, including Aldabra Atoll, the world’s largest raised coral atoll and a World Heritage Site with over 150,000 giant tortoises. Aldabra is uninhabited though, and can only be reached via boat a couple of times a year.

Highlights​
  • Remote island resort paradise diving from Alphonse, Cosmoledo and Desroches Island in the outer islands.
  •  Total luxury diving and relaxation on North Island
  • Scheduled liveaboard dive cruises
  • Yearly Aldabra dive expeditions 

Seasons
In the Seychelles, the climate is tropical, hot all year round. From November to March, there is a rainy and muggy season due to the northwest monsoon, while from June to September, when the southeast trade winds prevail, there is a dry and slightly cooler season.

THE COMORES

Highlights
  • Diving a seldom-visited, little-known, Indian Ocean backwater.
  • The excellent Moheli Marine Reserve – reef mantas, grey reef sharks, whitetips, scalloped hammerheads.
  • Unexplored dive sites.
  • Seasonal snorkelling with humpback whales in August, September, and October.
  • Good viz, hard coral gardens, gorgonian fans
  • Itsamia turtle nesting beaches.
  • Coast to coast hiking trails over Moheli.
  • Authentic and undiluted cultural discovery.
Seasons
There are two seasons in the Comores: the hot and humid season flowing in from the north-west from November to April and the dry season from May to October.

THE maldives

It is fair to say that diving in the Maldives has something for everyone, with a variety of habitats and topographies where sightings of reef sharks, mantas and even whale sharks can be considered commonplace. Throw in the some of the best night diving, with hunting nurse sharks and huge rays, some excellent Indian Ocean corals and impressive smaller creatures such as leaf fish and ghost pipefish and you have a great mix for a dive trip. 

Highlights​
  •  Hanifaru Bay UNESCO biospehere reserve for manta feeding trains
  • Diving on reef manta cleaning stations and with whale sharks
  • The soft coral gardens of the deep south
  • Diving passes with patrolling reef sharks
  • Scalloped hammerheads on deep dives
  • Night dives with hunting nurse sharks and feeding mantas. 

Seasons
In the Seychelles, the climate is tropical, hot all year round. From November to March, there is a rainy and muggy season due to the northwest monsoon, while from June to September, when the southeast trade winds prevail, there is a dry and slightly cooler season.

ST HELENA

Highlights
  • ​​Very limited tourism to one of the most remote inhabited islands on the planet, 1800 km off the Atlantic coast of Africa, with only 1 flight a week on a 78-seat aircraft, since October 2017.
  • Adult whale sharks come here to mate from January to March, the only place in the world we know this happens. 
  • Lots of big Chilean Devil Rays.
  • Amazing abundance of fish, so many St Helena butterflyfish it is like being weightless in the snow. 
  • Endemic fishlife and birdlife year-round. 
  • Historic wrecks.
  • Good visibility and calm seas.
  • A plethora of historical fortifications to visit.
  • Jonathan, the oldest tortoise in the world, close to Napoleon’s last residence.
  • Excellent hiking trails and diverse landscapes. 
  • Great value-for-money.
Seasons
Summer is from December to April, with air temperatures up to 30°C, water 24-26°C
Winter air temperature drops to 18-24 °C, and the sea goes down to 20 °C.