Scuba diving off Inhambane and Tofo is a real treat for those who love marine megafauna. The plankton rich waters are known to attract whale sharks, manta rays and also humpback whales. The diving industry is therefore quite established with dive operators located in Inhambane and more in Tofo as there is a nice beach front.You can dive on a year-round basis as Inhambane and Tofo experiences balmy tropical weather. It is drier during April to December and during the rainy season from late December to March, the rains are just a quick downpour. Water temperature could be a little chilly in the dry season with a low of 72˚F (22˚C) but during the rainy season it goes up to 86˚F (30˚C).As these are plankton feeding areas, visibility is usually only 33-49ft (10-15m) but the up-close experience and surprise of these behemoth creatures coming out of the blue makes up for the cloudy sea. The top dive sites to visit would be manta ray cleaning stations which are off Tofo at an area aptly named Manta Reef. Off Inhambane, you are likely to dive at Kingfisher Reef which also has cleaning stations.Besides cleaning stations, visit reefs further from the coast for more shark action. Some diving experience may be needed at the outer reefs as there are strong currents and choppy surface conditions that may require a negative entry. For whale sharks, there are snorkel trips to see them and diving is not really necessary although bumping into one during a dive is certainly nothing to complain about.
Inhambane Tofo Sea Life
The Agulhas Current passes through the coast off Inhambane and Tofo and this brings about plankton rich waters. As such, whale shark and manta ray sightings are almost guaranteed here and you might even spot the great oceanic manta rays which come by to feed and clean. Cleaning stations are filled with lyretail anthias, cleaner wrasse and butterflyfish. Migrating whales also travel along the Agulhas Current which is why there are chances to see the likes of humpback whales off the coast from June to November.At the outer reefs, sharks are quite plentiful with whitetip sharks, blacktip sharks, leopard sharks and if you are lucky, hammerhead sharks. Besides that, consider it a lifetime opportunity if you manage to dive with a dugong but otherwise the reefs and walls have plenty to offer. These include great personalities of the humphead wrasse, giant grouper and potato cod. There are also green sea turtles and the rare loggerhead sea turtles. Smaller critters like moray eels, seahorses, garden eels, and scorpionfish are also a delight to find.
How To Get There
Hop on a plane from Maputo on LAM Mozambique Airlines to arrive at the Inhambane Airport. There are also direct flights from Vilankulos or Johannesburg in South Africa. Take ground transport to the town or to Tofo.