When I was there last October we dived on a shallow reef and had 4 Manta Rays. During the Whole dive we could hear Hump Back Whales singing very close by! At one point they were so close that we could feel the deep sounds go through us! Now beat that!
What makes Manta Ray encounters in Zavora even more special is that there have been more than 6 active cleaning stations identified in the in-shore reef systems which are in 6 to 14 meters of water. This both increases the amount of time that clients are able to spend with Mantas and provides for fantastic natural light at these shallow depths for photography and video imagery.
To date the diving centre has a proud record of 100% of their students seeing Manta Rays on their qualifying dives! If you want to learn how to dive and start with one of the most awesome diving experiences then this is the place to be!
While Zavora is fairly new on the map fro diving destinations sporadic diving has been taking place in the area since the early 1970s. Much like Tofo in its early days, Zavora is primarily known as a fishing destination for South African sports anglers.
Zavora has two very long, accessible reef systems. The "deep reef" system runs parallel to the coast approximately 10 kilometres off shore. Multiple dive sites have been identified on this system, varying in average depth from 24 to 45 meters. This reef system is quite literally packed with life, with enormous shoals game fish, Manta Ray cleaning stations and a shark population however declining fast thanks to the far east finning trade.
The "Inshore Reef" system lies just one kilometre off shore, north of Zavora, running parallel to the dunes known as locally as Red Sands and White Sands. The Red Sands area features multiple Manta Ray cleaning stations in 12 to 14 metres, and both parts of this system offer stunning Macro life and underwater topography, as well a wide variety of game fish, potato and brindle bass, plus more opportunities for shark encounters. Average depths range from 12 to 18 metres with pinnacles coming up to 6 meters.
Zavora is now developing into an excellent destination for divers. The Accommodation has been upgraded and facilities are now up to standard for the average travelling diver.
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Technical & Wreck Diving at Zavora
More or less in between the Outer and Inner reef structures about 6 kilometres off-shore, lays the wreck of the Klipfontein. A Dutch passenger/cargo ship built in 1939, she sank on January 8 th , 1953, after having struck an "unidentified underwater object". The Klipfontein was 160 meters long, and as she was sinking she keeled over and broke in half, coming to rest upside down in two separate sections, on a bottom of 52 meters, with both sections coming up to 34 meters. She offers some amazing dive opportunities on both parts of the wreck and has formed a stunning deep water artificial reef system. It is worth noting that no human lives were lost during the sinking of the Klipfontein.
This is a fantastic dive for Experienced technical divers and the only wreck dive along the Mozambique coastline. Regrettably, to date there are very few clients who had the requisite levels of experience and certification for this dive and only a few lucky divers have had the opportunity to dive this special wreck. Due to the depth of the wreck, 36 to 55 meters, only trained and certified divers in decompression diving below 40 meters are allowed to dive the Klipfontein. She has been barely dived at all and they are still learning more about her with every dive. The wreck has at least five 2.5 meter plus resident Brindle Bass and we have even seen Mantas cleaning on her at 45 meters.
For those clients who will be coming down and would like to dive the wreck but do not have the proper training, Zavora has a IANTD training centre and you can do an advanced Nitrox course which includes dives on the wreck. For divers who are interested in this course and who already have at least Advanced and Nitrox certification, a minimum of 100 dives and display diving proficiency on lead up dives, The Klipfontein is a dive possibility.
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The Reef Systems of Zavora
The Deep Reef System
The Deep Reef system lays approximately 10 kilometers off-shore and runs parallel to the coast. We have so far identified six dive sites on this system, four of which are at a depth suitable for recreational diving and two others that are for technical divers only.
The main attractions on our deep reef system are all pelagic. This is where the vast majority of our shark encounters are occurring, as well as seeing numerous species of rays, including Mantas, potato bass, large shoals of kingfish and barracuda, turtles and a literally top to bottom food chain in terms of other marine life. Our recreational dive sites on this system that we have so far nailed down are “Deep Reef South”, “Yogi’s Den”, “Arcadia” and “Dean’s Reef”.
All of these dive sites have an average depth of 27 to 32 meters and are for advanced divers only, preferably with Nitrox qualification.
It is worth noting that we do strongly recommend that overseas clients coming to Zavora have Nitrox certification. While it is not a prerequisite for coming, it does provide clients the chance to get the most out of their diving. Our reefs on the deep system do not come up shallower than 24 meters and when we are having poor visibility in-shore, we are doing two deep dives off-shore in the morning, which does limit bottom time when using normal air.
We still have very large sections of this system to explore and we are very confident that by this time next year, we will have at least four more newly discovered dive sites at recreational depths which we will be able to offer to clients.
The White Sands Reef System
The White Sands Reef system is approximately 10 to 12 kilometers north of our launch area and about 1 kilometer off-shore. This system gets its name from the bleached white sand dunes along this section of the coast. It features amazing underwater topography, with maximum depths down to 28 meters and pinnacles coming up as shallow as 8 and 6 meters. We have so far properly mapped and regularly dived two excellent sites on this system, known as “Area 51” and “(a dive site to be named)”. These two dive sites are absolutely amazing with everything from vast amounts of macro and fish life to Manta cleaning station and resident white tip sharks.
The Wall
The Wall is relatively easy to explain. It is a large underwater plateau, 4 kilometers long, which connects our two in-shore reef systems. It has maximum depths down to 27 meters and comes up to a depth of 14 meters. Again, great topography, an abundance of life, in particular an amazingly healthy resident turtle population, thus the current name of one of the dive sites on it of “Turtle Terrace” – the other existing site being the “Great Wall of Zavora”. There is definitely a lot more for us to explore here and more dive sites are definitely to come from this area.
The Red Sands Reef System
The Red Sands Reef System is approximately 4 to 6 kilometers north of our launching area and is also about one kilometer off-shore. This system is also quite literally packed with life, big and small, and this area is where we have been seeing the greatest amount of Manta Ray cleaning activity, with numerous cleaning stations in 10 to 12 meters of water. The maximum depth on this system is 22 meters and the largest section of the plateau on top comes up to an average depth of 12 meters. It has not been uncommon for us to see more than 10 Mantas on a dive here and we have had many days where we have lost count at more than 20 + individual Mantas on one dive – absolutely amazing. The topography is not as interesting as on the White Sands System, but the state of the reef itself and the amount of life on it is simply fantastic.
Our three existing dive sites on this system are currently “The Lobster Pot”, “The Witch’s Hat” and “Boo”. (Don’t ask, just please send clients down who can help us name our dive sites!!!).
Diving Conditions
The single biggest weakness that we have with the diving in southern Mozambique is the consistency of our visibility, and Zavora is no exception to this. Our average visibility for this last year in Zavora was 8 to 15 meters, with less than 5 on a bad day and 20 to 30 meters on a good day. As we have always said for Tofo, the reason that we have this sort of visibility is generally that we have a lot of plankton in the water and due to this; we have lots of Mantas and Whale Sharks in the region - both plankton feeders.
Clients who are mostly interested in clear, clean water and bright, colorful corals should not be considering southern Mozambique as a dive holiday destination.
The clients who will enjoy the diving the most in Zavora are clients who are interested in seeing extremely healthy reefs that support a wide variety of marine life. These reefs are not coral reefs, but instead fossilized sand dune systems that have corals growing on them. Another thing that does differentiate Zavora from Tofo is that the underwater topography here, particularly on our White Sands reef system, is quite different to that of Tofo and is absolutely stunning. It has pinnacles coming up to 6 and 8 meters, large walls and boulders together with narrow canyons, and when combined with the amount of life on it, makes it an area with numerous spectacular dive sites.
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Zavora Marine Lab - Conservation and Student Internships
In 2009, the Zavora Marine Lab was established to promote and facilitate research and conservation in southern Mozambique. Our lab has since its inception developed vital research for the region and raised environmental awareness through educational programs with local communities and visitors.
Zavora is one of the few places in the world where both species of Manta Rays (Manta birostris and Manta alfredi) can be seen all year around. The sub-tropical reefs are stunning and the diversity of life is impressive. In Zavora, diving tourism still in its infancy and very little is known about Zavora Marine Life. Zavora offers the unique opportunity to study a marine environment that had little to no impact from recreational diving activities and where there remains much reef yet to be explored. Moreover, because Zavora still quite wild and remote our research can be effectively applied to avoid destructive development.
We are currently developing projects involving Manta Ray populations, divers’ impacts on Manta Rays and cleaning stations used by Manta Rays, diversity and distribution of Opisthobranchs (nudibranchs and sea slugs), reef monitoring, socio-economic studies on dive tourism and the relative population abundance of migratory Humpback Whales.
Internships
The internship program was developed to provide a world‐class opportunity for science students to assist with marine research and conservation. The internship is a great opportunity for dedicated students to engage in real world research and meaningfully contribute to our projects. Interns will get experience in all of our projects and experience the challenges and the pleasures of working in the most beautiful, wild and remote coastal environment of southern Mozambique.
Intern roles include (but are not restricted to) collecting underwater and land based data,transferring data to the database, assisting with the education projects, fundraising, organizing and participating in events for environmental protection etc.
Please note that due the nature of the work, not all applications will be accepted. You will need to 1) be serious about data collection and marine conservation; 2) have 2 years or more of a science degree (or equivalent level of experience and dedication to conservation); 3) have a minimum of 30 logged dives or advanced certification, or alternatively, come a week early (at your own costs) or use your first week of your internship to improve dive skills before you start to collect any data.
For all prospective interns:
It is important to recognise that the internship programs we offer are not holidays. Interns will be joining dedicated scientists who are conducting accredited research projects in some of the world’s most challenging, beautiful and remote environments. The projects demand a significant level of dedication to the scientific and practical responsibilities from the participants However, the demands are well within the capabilities of most students, and whilst being challenging, are both enjoyable and exciting. As part of this program, interns can expect to be important members of a focused and dedicated research station and partake in ground‐breaking research. It is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to exciting marine research, as well as experience the frustrations, the highs and the lows, and the achievements associated with ambitious and challenging marine research in Africa. Our laboratory will receive a maximum of four interns per month.
Price
R18,000 per month (South African Rand)
Included
Expenses in Zavora and research running costs
Up to 24 dives per month including gear, transfer from Inhambane to Zavora on the 1st of each month
accommodation
Local food
Research assistance.
Excluded
We also offer the intern the opportunity to participate on a five day reef monitoring course for an additional cost of R1200.
Flight and transport from country of origin to Mozambique
Transfers that are not on the 1st of each month
Internet (available by request. Price: 180Met/hour)
Any imported food
Drinks and meals at the Zavora Lodge Restaurant
Interns will participate in all research projects included data collection, data entry and in some cases, data analysis. The normal ‘routine’ of the internship is to collect data during the morning and enter data during the afternoon, but changes can happen depending on weather conditions, research tasks and special events. Once per week we do environment education activities at the local primary school. Partnership might be accepted for exceptional students interested in developing their own research in Zavora.
If you are interested in this and would like further information please contact us and we will send you through a full information pack.
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REVIEWS
Mind Blowing dives with many Mantas on shallow reefs and to make it more unbelievable this was combined with the singing of Humpback Whales very close by! This is diving at it's best!!
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