Quirimbas Scuba Diving

Quirimbas diving takes you under the calm surface of the Indian Ocean to a colourful playground, where tiny reef fish dart in and out of coral crevices, and huge game fish patrol steep coral walls - dropping away into the deep blue silence.

Dolphins often play in the wake of the dive boat as it zooms out to the reefs. Once in the water, which seldom drops below 26°C, you can expect to see a legion of species from triggerfish and angelfish, to fat-lipped potato bass. The coral is in excellent condition, and divers often spot turtles or reef sharks gliding by.

Possibly the most exciting thing about scuba-diving in the Quirimbas Archipelago is that this is still a relatively unexplored destination. Although there are already many excellent sites, more are being discovered all the time.

Diving From the Quirimbas Islands

Vamizi Island is close to deep upwelling water, resulting in a variety of larger marine life: grey reef sharks, turtles, tuna and barracuda, as well as superb unbleached coral. More advanced divers can explore the coral gardens tumbling off Neptune's Arm - a dramatic drop-off named one of the top ten scuba sites in the world.

Matemo Island has a wide range of dive sites including a 40-metre wall dive, as well as a fascinating wreck dive.

Medjumbe Private Island currently has 12 known dive sites from shallow reefs suitable for novice divers to deeper wall dives with names like 'the Edge of Reason' or 'Cliffs of Insanity'.

Diving From Pemba

Quirimbas scuba diving isn't restricted to the islands, there are also some excellent sites accessible from Pemba, on Mozambique's mainland.

Londo Lodge offers superb reef and wall dives, where you may see turtles, giant grouper, paper fish and ribbon eel.

From Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa a boat takes divers to a choice of sites including the spectacular 'Gap' - a feeding ground for big game fish, and shallow wall dives with overhangs packed with firefish, lionfish and scorpionfish.