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Bazaruto Island is one of five principal islands in the Bazaruto Archipelago, which lies just 30 kilometres off the coast of Vilanculos in Inhambane Province, Mozambique.
Bazaruto Island is one of five principal islands in the Bazaruto Archipelago, which lies just 30 kilometres off the coast of Vilanculos in Inhambane Province, Mozambique. It is the largest of all the islands, approximately 37 kilometres long and up to 7 kilometres wide. Bazaruto Island is part of the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, one of the largest conservation areas in the Indian Ocean.
The fauna and flora of the Bazaruto Archipelago
The whole Bazaruto Archipelago is an ecological gem that has been granted National Park status. It falls into the Eastern African Marine Ecoregion, which stretches over a 4 600 kilometre coastline, from South Africa to Somalia.
Over 2 000 fish species
Over 100 hard and 27 soft coral species
The world's largest fringing reef
Over four whale and five dolphin species
This extremely rare Dugong has been described as a sea cowand is a big, gentle grass eater that is most closely related to the elephant. Dugong are found in shallow waters along the world's tropical coasts, yet have largely been hunted to the brink of extinction. Bazaruto has the largest remaining population in East Africa, raising the profile of the area to a global marine conservation priority
Nile crocodiles can still be seen in the shallow lakes and pools on the islands
The island group is home to all five marine turtle species of the western Indian Ocean. They are highly endangered and in urgent need of conservation. The turtles annually come to the beaches to breed and their nests are extremely vulnerable to predators. Other threats include fishing nets, trawlers and hunting.
Scuba Diving at Bazaruto Island
Bazaruto Island is one of Africas premier scuba diving destinations. The island is situated in the magnificent Bazaruto Archipelago, with its numerous, vibrant coral reefs and crystal clear waters - a scuba diver's paradise!
The number of diverse reef dive locations is amazing and divers are able to see:
An extensive variety in species of hard and soft corals
An abundance of tropical fish species
4 species of dolphin are regularly encountered
Seasonal humpback whales from July to September, Whale sharks and Manta Rays season from April to July - normally seen from the boat
All five marine sea turtle species (commonly seen are loggerheads and green turtles.)
The largest viable breeding population of the rare dugong in the western Indian Ocean rare sightings!
Bazaruto Island offers some of the best scuba diving locations in Africa:
Brindle Bass Ridge (North Point)
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.
Potholes (North 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.
Manta Ray Reef (North Point)
This is a flat reef at a maximum depth of 15 metres where schools of fish such as crescent-tailed big eyes 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.
Rainbow Runner Reef (North Point)
This reef has a maximum depth of 25 metres (on spring high tide) where divers should concentrate on watching the open ocean above the sea floor. Manta (in season) and spotted eagle rays, potato and brindle bass, kingfish, rainbow runner, green jobfish and Zambezi sharks pass through this area. The reef also has impressive accumulations of green-tree and whips corals.
Turtle Ridge (North Point)
A narrow ridge at a depth of 14 metres, frequented by turtles and game fish such as barracuda.
Five-Mile Reef
Situated off the south-eastern beaches of Bazaruto, this reef is not as diverse as Two-Mile Reef and is therefore not a favourite among local dive masters. Some divers have seen Zambezi sharks in the 10-metre shallows. Five-Mile has a very interesting bottom structure and the outside ledge is occasionally visited by large pelagics.
Two-Mile Reef
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. The dives range between six and 21m. 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 fire fish and honeycomb ray's and reef sharks. Occasionally, in season, manta rays have been spotted here.
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