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Dive Sites
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Bazaruto Archipelago
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Brindle Bass Ridge
This large reef has a maximum depth of 18 metres and features impressive concentrations of snappers, angelfish, rubberlips, brindle bass and reef sharks. An unusual depression, The Toilet Bowl, is lined with dazzling soft corals.
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Greek Temple
The main attraction of this dive is a geological feature resembling a Greek temple. At a depth of 16 metres a series of pinnacles and pillars, complete with a roof and tunnels, which almost appear man-made, rises three metres above the sea floor. Green turtles often sleep amid the hollows.
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Lighthouse Point
A series of shallow potholes at a depth of about 12 metres, this site can be dived only in flat conditions. You fin from pothole to pothole and the larger ones often shelter black-tail reef sharks. Other potholes are lined with soft corals and have interesting tunnels to explore.
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Manta Ray Reef
A dive site described in the main feature, this is a flat reef at a maximum depth of 15 metres where schools of fish such as crescent-tailed bigeyes and blue-banded snappers are regularly encountered. The reef has spectacular concentrations of anemones sheltering both nose-stripe and two-bar clownfish. The reef is also frequented by green turtles.
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Rainbow Runner Reef
Also described in the main feature, this is a flat reef 25 metres deep where divers should concentrate on watching the open ocean above the sea floor. Manta and spotted eagle rays, potato and brindle bass, kingfish, rainbow runner, green jobfish and Zambezi shark pass through this area. The reef also has impressive accumulations of green-tree and whip corals
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Tandy's Reef
Situated inside the eastern barrier reef, this protected dive site offers a snorkel or leisurely scuba dive of no more than five metres.
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Turtle Ridge
This is a narrow ridge at a depth of 14 metres, frequented by turtles and game fish such as barracuda.
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Five-Mile Reef
Situated off the southeastern beaches of Bazaruto, this reef is not as diverse as Two-Mile Reef and is therefore not a favourite among local dive masters. However, the protected inside areas have spectacular coral outcrops for snorkeling. Some divers have seen Zambezi sharks in the 10-metre shallows.
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Twelve-Mile Reef
Situated 12 nautical miles north of Bazaruto, this is a large, six-mile-long reef which can only be visited during favourable sea conditions. Its depth ranges from 18 to 28 metres and - being rarely visited, open-ocean sites - offers an opportunity for wild diving. Unusually large concentrations of rare fish such as palette surgeon and Natal knifejaw are seen there as well as huge schools of pelagics. It's also one of the best venues in Moçambique to encounter the larger specials such as manta ray, sailfish, marlin and a variety of sharks.
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Vengies
Also situated inside the barrier reef, this snorkeling site should be visited at low tide when the barrier reef is exposed, offering maximum protection.
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Zangarema Point
This is one of the few recognised dive sites on the western, protected side of Bazaruto Island. Although the reef drops to 30 metres, the first 17 metres provide a habitat for spectacular reef fish including frogfish, crocodilefish, stonefish, scorpionfish, lionfish, parrotfish and pipefish. A large anemone with attentive clownfish provides excellent opportunities for photographers and a bonus is that it's also home to transparent shrimps and porcelain crabs. There's also a wealth of larger fish such as brindle bass, barracuda and bigeyed kingfish.
Because it's also a shore dive, this site is ideal for night dives and is one of the few without the threat of Zambezi sharks, which hunt along the outer eastern sites.
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CABO ST SABASTIAN
Situated on the southernmost extremity of the archipelago and attached to the Moçambican mainland, this is another rarely visited, long-distance site which offers conditions for experienced divers. The reefs are much deeper than the regular Bazaruto sites (down to 30 metres) and have spectacular coral growth. Schools of game fish, brindle bass, manta rays and sharks are regularly seen here. There's also a strong possibility of seeing whale shark during the lengthy boat ride
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BENGUERUA
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Two-Mile Reef
Yet another popular site described in the main feature, Two-Mile is a short barrier reef protecting a narrow channel between Bazaruto and Benguerra. It's particularly well known for its excellent snorkelling sites inside the reef such as Aquarium, as well as for a host of exciting dives on the outside. These spots have alluring names such as The Arches, Shark Point, North Point, The Boulders, Surgeon Rock, The Drop-off, Cathedral and the The Gap. All of these dives range between six and 21 metres. The flat-topped reef supports a colourful diversity of, hard and soft corals, with a highlight being the numerous schools of reef fish such as coachman, fusilier, snapper and surgeon. Schools of large pelagic and reef fish also frequent the area and there's a chance of encountering potato bass; kingfish; barracuda; devil, manta and honeycomb ray's and grey reef sharks, Zambezi, tiger and whale sharks.
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Deep Reef
This is an adventurous dive of 30 metres to a flat coral reef in the gap between Bazaruto and Benguerra. It's a gathering point for large gamefish such as ignobilis kingfish. However, the area can be dangerous during strong currents.
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Fossil Reef
Sheltered by Benguerra Island, this unusual dive is named after an accumulation of fossilised trees rising from the sea floor at 13 metres. It's also a good site to photograph moray eels and lionfish.
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Pinnacle Reef
This ridge of rocks at 14 metres on the inside of Bazaruto and Benguerra is a popular gathering point for gamefish and usually provides an exciting dive.
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Pompano Reef
Situated off the southern extremity, of Benguerra, this is one of the few places where divers can encounter large concentrations of pompano (ovoid-shaped fish that resemble a kingfish). Numerous anemones and lionfish offer good photographic opportunities.
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Shark Reef
Just north of Two-Mile Reef, this 20-metre-deep reef is almost devoid of life but is an ideal place to see large reef fish such as brindle bass as well as various species of shark.
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South Point Reef
This is a shallow, rocky reef on the southern tip of Bazaruto which is usually a snorkelling site and also ideal for resort courses. The rocky recesses are famous for harbouring moray, eels.
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The Wreck
This is a 25-metre steel fishing boat that went down about 40 years ago and now lies on a sandy bottom at eight metres. It can be dived only during calm conditions and schools of kingfish and queenfish often shoal.
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MAGARUQUE ISLAND
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Channel or House Reef
This is a sheltered site on the western side of the island which drops to no more than 12 metres. It's situated directly in front of the hotel, making it ideal for resort courses and night dives. However, its important to dive this reef when there's no current. Moray eels and stonefish should be highlights of this outing
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Deep Hole
On the eastern, exposed side of Magaruque, this is a 26-metre-deep depression with a sandstone base where schools of parrotfish, surgeon, stumpnose and barracuda are known to congregate. It can be dived only in calm conditions.
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