Mozambique, northern neighbor of South Africa on the African east coast, has an unbelievable sub-tropical atmosphere and offers a true African experience much like Sodwana Bay. The Southern part of Mozambique forms part of the Maputo Province. Ponta Mamoli is one of the many interesting places along this spectacular coastline. The reefs here are rich in coral life and marine fauna and flora, and the area is also know for the huge no of Whale Shark and Dolphin visits and Manta Rays very often also come by to extend the experience this magical place lives up to diving wise. Diving starts on around 9m and takes you right through to around 55m where you will find one of the most beautiful seascapes you will ever see, if you have Technical Training that is.
Southern Mozambique has good weather all year round with the summer month's air temperatures ranging between 28° and 35°C and water temp on average 26°C with visibility ranging from 10m to 40m, winter is a little cooler all round but it never really gets cold.
Accommodation can be anything from a luxury beach resort with sea-facing cabins, to a rustic beach camp with comfortable cabins. Ponta Mamoli gives one the opportunity to stay a stone's throw away from the beach. The local markets also offer guests the opportunity to get there hands on some genuine African crafts made by the Mozambican people.
From the South African border we enter 4X4 terrain and this means that we will travel in safari style to our destination about 20km away. Afternoons can be spend having some off road fun with the 4x4's on our way to an idyllic spot where one can truly just pause and live the mind blowing scenery that lies within this place that so closely resembles heaven - Southern Mozambique.
REEF INFO
The tropical reefs in Mozambique are quite a bit different than those at Sodwana Bay. The reefs in Mozambique are more individual, where as at Sodwana you have 5 main reefs and on 2 Mile reef alone there are more than 5 different sites, although some of the reefs in Mozambique are not too far apart and thus they can be dived together. Some of the reefs include:
Playground
This relatively shallow reef (8m-12m) is the house reef of Ponta Mamoli, and is extraordinarily rich in diversity with abundant marine life. The central focus is a shallow cave, which like 1/4 mile reef at Sodwana, provides the perfect resting place for the pregnant female Ragged Tooth Sharks during the months of December to March. Huge unmistakable Honeycomb Stingrays, Sand Sharks and Nurse Sharks along with Kingfish and Mackerel often visit the reef as well. For the macro lover, a myriad of fascinating invertebrates, colourful Nudibranchs, Eggshell Cowries with their yellow and white star speckled black mantles, Anemones with resident Clownfish and Giant Clams are plentiful.
Idols
Adjacent and slightly out to sea of Playground, Idols is a series of rocky outcrops between 12m - 15m interlaced with sand patched where a variety of Rays are invariably encountered. Noteworthy are the Puffer fish and oversized Porcupine fish foraging for food. The northern section of the reef is characterized by interesting topography and plenty of fish life - Red Fang Triggers and their pompous relative the Clown Trigger, Unicorn Fish, Banded Snappers. Solitary big Kingfish have been seen as well as huge Potato Bass hanging about.
Mushroom
Stunningly exquisite structures created by billions of tiny jelly fish polyps joined together in colonies and built up over hundreds of years, forming a magnificent coral city of the sea with a variety of indwellers to gaze upon in awe and wonder typifies this beautiful reef. Enormous Plate coral, Turbinate corals with 'fields' of Stag-horns and Leather corals all in immaculate condition forms the backdrop of this spectacular reef that lies between 8m - 14m. Pinnacle rocks and an impressive mushroom formation interspersed with gullies and overhangs. Flame Goatfish and Snapper grace the setting with Kingfish often forming a solid cylinder around lucky divers. Painted Rock Lobsters, Clams and a plentiful of anemones inhabited by aggressively protective Two-Bar and Nose Striped Clownfish adds to the appeal of this unspoiled reef.
Paradise
Rising out of the sand is a ridge followed by an amazing reef system that appears to never end. This very beautiful and extensive reef lies between 10m - 14m. Moving out to sea, divers are engulfed in a coral paradise with rugged topography - towers, holes and overhangs adorned with an impressive array of invertebrates and fish incl. Goldies, Paper fish, Rubber lips etc. One of the highlights is definitely the very shy Blue Razor fish that has been sighted in this area. Turtles and Rays predictably take refuge in the protected potholes where Cleaner Shrimps sit ready to further their symbiotic relationship. Depending on the direction of the current, having explored the Paradise surrounds, a number of options for scintillating long range drift dive are available.
Crèche
This is neither a very deep nor a very big reef. The reef basically consists of a huge rock that is covered with soft and hard coral. The depth on the sand next to the reef is 13m and average depth on the reef is 10m. It has been named crèche due to the abundance and wide variety of juvenile fish that can be seen. Around the reef in the sand Sting rays are spotted regularly and Turtles very often come by for a bite.
Steps
Steps is a long narrow reef that runs north - south along the shore. Looking at the reef in its length, you'll find that it 'steps' down towards the shore. The depth on this reef ranges between 11m and 16m. The 'steps' forms beautiful little walls that is rich in coral life and are host to a lot of different species of reef fish. Morey eels are also a common sighting as there are a lot of little cracks and holes in this reef. This is really a stunning dive if there is a bit of a current, this allows one to just drift down and enjoy the scenery.
Texas
As the name indicates this is one of the larger reefs in the area. Texas is truly an amazing reef; the diversity of scenery is what makes this a very special place. The depth ranges between 11m and 16m. On the northern end you'll find a couple of huge boulder like rock formations that is covered with coral and rich in marine life. The middle area of the reef is quite flat with a lot of soft coral. As you move down south towards the central area you'll find a large gully with some nice swim-throughs, overhangs and beautiful arches. The southern end has big pinnacle like rock formations that looks like huge ant heaps. Texas is host to most of the tropical reef fish as well as Turtles, Rays and Morey Eels.
Kev's Ledge
This dive is very similar to a wall dive. The depth on top of the ledge is around 18m and the bottom is on 24m, leaving a wall of round about 6m for exploration. Kev's ledge is truly a very interesting dive; the ledge has many crevices and little cracks that are ideal for the more shy type marine animals, like cleaner Shrimps. The coral growth on this reef is really very good not to even mention the huge amount of fish life.
Pinnacles
This is one of the deeper dives in the area with depth ranging from 28m to 42m. The main attraction on this reef is the sharks, where mostly during the summer months big schools of Hammerheads are a frequent occurrence along with Zambezi (Bull Sharks) and the occasional Tiger Shark. Pinnacles is one of the few reefs where the Palette Surgeonfish is resident and is often sighted close to the giant Gorgonian on the Northern Pinnacle. This is invariably a mid water drift dive, where a multi-level ascent many times reveal the unexpected - squadrons of Devil Rays performing aquatic acrobatics in perfect unison. Definitely a must!!
Atlantis
Well what can I say... this could possibly be one of thee most beautiful and mind blowing reefs you will ever dive. The reef starts on 35m and goes down to around 60m. Obviously you need to have technical training to be able to dive this reef to its full extent, but believe me that there is more than enough to dive on between 35m and 40m. The reef basically consists of huge blocks that look like they have been cut and strategically placed on the bottom of the ocean. Because these blocks aren't right next to each other, it creates paths of various widths in between them, with huge amounts of colorful Spaghetti corals, Sea fans and Black coral extending up a couple of meters; adding a couple of huge Potato bass and almost every tropical fish to be found in this area truly gives one the feeling of swimming trough an underwater forest splendor... and on your way up, don't be surprised to find some game fish hanging around or a couple of Manta rays gracefully passing by.
Paradise
For the chance to experience paradise under the sea - superlative corals, moray eels, tremendous gullies and overhangs await you, not to mention the wide variety of reef fish. Depth: 12 - 18m
Ridge
Here is the chance to discover a ledge, which is approximately 4m high with plenty of magnificent corals (soft and hard). Also discover the cave on this reef. The marine life is plentiful and you have a chance to spot the turtles and kingfish. Depth: 12 - 16m
Shallow Malongane
The opportunity to see all types of corals, grand turtles and large crayfish. On the southern part of this reef there are many gullies and caves that await your investigation. Depth: 12 - 14m
ADVANCED SITES
Maverick's
One of Malongane's deeper dives. In the middle of the sand is an awesome pinnacle rock that is 20m across & 30m long with its residents. Find honeycomb morays, smaller morays, leaf fish and other sea wonders. Depth: 25 - 28m
Three Sisters
The 3 sisters of the sea are 3 pinnacle rocks about 50m apart. A prospect not to be missed where there are huge amounts of fish life - black cheek moray eels, honeycomb morays, lionfish and large rays are just some of the examples. Depth: 21 - 25m
Anchor
Not only do you get the joy of exploring the anchor on the southern end of Kev's Ledge that gave this reef its name but also 2 parallel ledges with an abundance and variety of reef fish. Depth: 18 - 21m
Bass City
Bert is famous throughout the waters of southern Mozambique and is in residence at Bass City. There are 4 other large potato bass on the 5 out croppings of rock that make up this reef but Bert is the only one who will come and swim with you. Come and discover other sights. Depth: 20 - 25m
Rianna's Arch
Your dream of swimming through an awesome arch with a rich and spectacular variety of fish is possible on the northern side of Kev's Ledge. Depth: 18 - 24m