Diving Info

An Indian Ocean jewel right on our doorstep..

You know those island paradises you see in the travel brochures? The ones that look like they are thousands of kilometres away, have a name you need a degree simply to pronounce and will cost you an arm and a leg to visit? Well guess again! - Inhaca Island one that’s a stones throw away from Gauteng (Johannesburg) and offers magnificent diving that won’t require you winning to Lotto jackpot to experience.

Inhaca Island is approximately 37km from the port of Maputo and is situated at the entrance to Delagoa Bay. It is an attractive holiday destination for anyone who wants to savour the laid-back rhythms of a small, semi-tropical Indian Ocean island. Situated on the fringe of the tropics, Inhaca has a wealth of breath-taking beaches, coral reefs and exotic marine life.

Large areas of the island and shores have been protected as a natural reserve since 1976 and provide a unique and pristine environment which is ideal for the egg laying and reproduction of sea tortoises and the mangroves along the coastline are the northern-most forest of its kind found in Eastern Africa.

The climate is warm all year round, though April to November is a more pleasant visiting period than December to March which can be very hot and humid.

The island has a rich history that is full of legends and myths. The people tell the story of Nhaca, an unconscious shipwreck survivor who arrived on the island on a wooden raft. When he regained consciousness, he found the island to be deserted and crossed the Santa Maria Channel to reach Machangulo. After marrying, he returned to the island and settled on it. The island’s inhabitants find their sacred symbols in the trees and bushes.

They believe that the Marula tree enables communication between people and their ancestors. The Inhaca’s have many stories to tell and while doing so, their eyes light up in a way that clearly shows the love they have for their land.

Just to the northwest of Inhaca is a smaller island called Portuguese Island. You can amble across the narrow strait when the tide is low, snorkel in the enclosed lagoon or be even more adventurous and venture out further towards the reef with flippers, snorkel and mask.

However, it’s only advisable to do so when the water is clear since there are sharks in the deeper waters of both islands. While in the waters, you may even be lucky enough to spot a legendary Dugong, a threatened sea mammal in danger of extinction.

Inhaca has the southernmost of Mozambique’s major lighthouses and the flight station is one of the country’s oldest. It was established in 1894 at the northern end of the island, which shelters the Bay of Maputo. Its purpose was to guide ships to the colony’s most important seaport, Maputo (then called Laurenço Marques). Other excursions available on Inhaca can be booked after arrival, including lighthouse trips, a visit to the Marine Biological Centre and boat trips to the Portuguese Island and Santa Maria.

Non-motorised water sports (windsurfing, canoeing and paddling) is available and the hire/use of scuba diving and snorkeling equipment is available from the priavte WaterSports operator just along the beach from the lodge.

The well-equipped  water sport centre is situated on the beachfront and is but a few steps away from the island ferry jetty.

Top class dive sites are available, from wrecks to pristine coral reefs as well as a view of various pelagic fish species. The average water temperature is between 22 and 27°C and water visibility is between10 and 30m. Inhaca has about 100 km of coastline and much of it having some of the best coral reefs in the Mozambique Channel.

Snorkelling conditions in the inshore bay areas are excellent for beginners and to do training dives in, and while visibility may not be as good as on the offshore reefs, marine life is still varied and plentiful. The fish life is virtually untouched and the reefs are unspoilt because of the low dive volumes.

The diving is tide dependent and the best time to hit the waters is when tides are at their highest (you can then catch the tide on its ebb and drift a kilometre or more along one of the reefs). A fascinating experience for scuba divers is exploring the many shipwrecks in the waters.

The coral life consists more of hard corals like staghorn, plate coral and green coral trees. There are also sometimes large schools of moonies, moray eel, potato bass, barracuda and kingfish. Dolphins, whales, whale sharks and manta rays are also popular visitors during the summer months and game fish in the area include marlin, sailfish, tuna and dorado....

More detailed "Dive Site info" is shown on the right >>>

Daily Equipment Rental - 2007

Scuba equipment - per person
BCD $ 10.00
Regulator $ 10.00
Weight Belt $ 10.00
Wet Suit $ 10.00
Cylinder $ 10.00

Airfill $ 10.00

Snorkelling equipment
Full set $ 5.00
Mask $ 2.50
Fins $ 2.50

What about any Night Dives – Unfortunately, we are not doing night dives due to safety reasons.

What is "your" definition of a "2 Tank" or a "Double cylinder" dive…? – A “Double cylinder” dive is when the divers take two full cylinders with them on a dive - they do a first dive, then have their surface interval on the boat, then do a second dive before returning to the shore. A “Double Tank” Dive is normally only done when diving out at the “Baixo Danae” dive site due to the long distance from the Lodge.

What is in fact "included" in the $65 pp dive price…? Includes all dive equipment.

Also where are the good Snorkelling sites… - What's it like in front of the hotel or around Porto Island…? We have 2 snorkelling sites. “Coral Gardens” is our main snorkelling site, it is only 5 metres deep so it can only be explored on high tide otherwise it is too shallow. We have had some great feedback from divers after snorkelling here complimenting on the vast majority of species of fish that occupy this reef. The other snorkelling site is the southern Santa Maria site, also a favourite with divers.

More Q&A to follow soon....