11 Days Bassas da India

Bassas Da India Dive Trip

Dive expeditions to Bassas da India atoll off the Mozambican coast near South Africa. Drop in on the slopes of Atoll Bassas da India to discover a giant reef that’s lost to the human kind…

Bassas Da India is a circular atoll with a diameter of approximately 10km. It is located about half way between Mozambique and Madagascar in the Southern Mozambican Channel, and it is due to this seemingly bizarre location that many ships were wrecked by it. Also, it literally cannot be seen at high tide.

Bassas Da India is not only one of the best diving spots in Africa, but also one of the most elusive. It is difficult to dive not because it is based far off-shore or is a complicated dive in itself, but because you cannot even anchor your boat there without a permit.

No current dive site can compare to the untouched life that is Bassas. A day and a half’s yacht ride from Mozambique brings you to this remote atoll which is partially visible during low tide and completely submerged during high tide. Divers exploring Bassas will be treated to Great White Sharks, Tiger Sharks, Hammerheads, Oceanic White Tips and a huge variety of reef sharks.

The Atoll of Bassas Da India

Bassas Da India is a circular atoll with a diameter of approximately 10km. It is located about half way between Mozambique and Madagascar in the Southern Mozambican Channel, and it is due to this seemingly bizarre location that many ships were wrecked by it. Also, it literally cannot be seen at high tide.
It was discovered by Portuguese explorers in the early sixteenth century, and they named it ‘Baixo da Judia’ after the ship that ran aground on it. It was only named Bassas da India because of a cartographer’s transcription error.

Bassas is riddled with coral outcrops, drops, and the wreck graveyard found in the North East of the atoll. The wreck graveyard will probably be the most astonishing thing you have ever seen in your life, with its intricate micro eco-system and sheer beauty.

Aside from some shipwrecks to explore, it being an atoll in the middle of nowhere, and the constant navy presence – it has an absolute wealth of marine life. Great White sharks, Grey reef, Hammerhead and Oceanic White Tip sharks spearhead the aquatic life here. Large tuna, shoals of barracuda and kingfish are found here too. Many shipwrecks lie beyond divers reach but the atoll slopes in itself makes for unforgettable diving.

Butterfly fish, Parrotfish, Anthias and Groupers mix with Moray eels, Wrasse, Angelfish, Rainbow Runners and Yellowtip Fusiliers. The list of wildlife here is nearly endless, and you will find something new with every dive. That is without even mentioning the dazzling geography of the atoll.

The French Navy guard this atoll heavily, preventing any would-be treasure hunters from stealing from any of the atolls wrecks. Bassas Da India is littered with ships that met their watery deaths, and the wreck count could exceed as many as one hundred. The ships have mostly been left as is by the French, preserving the area for everyone to enjoy its bounty rather than strip it bare of all its wealth. Some wrecks lie within a divers reach and others lie far beyond.

The Trip Itinerary

DAY 1

Today we all gather early at our guesthouse in Vilanculos, Mozambique. Last night we would have already met with our dive master and skipper and this morning we all get a thorough brieifing on the happenings of the day and of the trip. The divemaster is already updated on each divers qualifications, last dives logged and more. After the briefing we set off to the port where our 3 small luxury yachts are lined up and readfy for departure. A couple of hours on dock allows us to check our dive gear in make our selves at home. We set off to our first anchoring point which is two mile reef, Bazaruto. This is only a short 2 hour sail from shore. Two mile is where we do our check out dive so that Johan, our divemaster, can get aquinted with the divers underwater. After an enjoyable dive on this extensive coral reef we set off to sail for a full day and a half to the atoll of Bassas da India.

DAY 2

Today involves sailing, sailing and more sailing. Unfortunately this is a negative point to the trip. Fortunately it is the only negative point though and its well worth the reward. Excitement grows onboard as we are expected to anchor at Bassas before lunch time tomorrow. To cure our boredom, Johan shares with us his knowledge of sharks and technical diving.

DAY 3

After breakfast we arrive at the atoll Bassas da India. Our skipper looks for a suitable anchoring point as we prepare for our first dive. The excitement is unbearable as simply do not know what to expect. We hope to get two dives in before the sun sets.

DAY 4

Our two compressors has been working hard and 4 dives each today should not be a problem. Many of the shipwrecks are lying deep and out of our reach but with so much unchartered reef we set off to try and "discover" a new wreck. We are not aloud to touch though as by doing so our permit may be revoked by the French official accompanying the trip. After all, he is here to make sure that we do not damage any reef or steal any relics from the wrecks.

DAY 5

Today we try to squeeze in another 4 scuba dives. Swim through huge schools of yellowtop fusiliers and have close encounters with giant kingfish (up to 50kg). Between dives watch the parrotfish feeding at low tide along the exposed coral with their fins out of the water.

DAY 6

Today we might again do a deeper dive at around 30 meters to see what lurks on the outskirts of the atoll. As it is such a remote location we will hardly ever, if at all, venture deeper than 30 meters. Ourt divemasters are expert deep divers though frequently diving below 100 meters. Who knows, maybe they will go explore and tell us what they find. You can definitely spend many days diving the shallows of Bassas venturing to some of the many shipwrecks that plague the North East side of the atoll.

DAY 7

You drop in to find hundreds if not thousands of fish. You may even be sitting above a wreck and not even know it. This wreck graveyard is host to the most incredible ecosystem and marine life waters that you will probable ever experience.

DAY 8

What will we encounter on our dives today? Nemos or great whites? Expect some big and infamous sharks such as the grey reef shark and hammerhead shark. Bassas proudly sports shoals of large tuna, barracuda, kingfish and many other large reef fish of all species.

DAY 9

Today we enjoy our last two dives at the atoll of Bassas da India. We say goodbey to the wrecks and the sharks as in the back of our heads we are already planning our return trip. After lunch we set sail to the port of Vilanculos, Mozambique.

DAY 10

We are halfway there and by now we desperately want to get our feet on dry land. The dive on another Bazaruto Archipelago reef is definately something to look forwrad to though and so we push on through the night at a steady pace.

DAY 11

Should time permit we enjoy a double tank dive after breakfast at Bazaruto island. If we are lucky we might even see one of the last on Mozambique’s Dugongs. After our dives we set off for the final 2 hour sail back to mainland Mozambique.

Dive leader profile: Johan Boshoff

Great White sharks, Grey reef, Hammerhead and Oceanic White Tip sharks spearhead the aquatic life here. Large tuna, shoals of barracuda and kingfish are found here too. Butterfly fish, Parrotfish, Anthias and Groupers mix with Moray eels, Wrasse, Angelfish, Rainbow Runners and Yellowtip Fusiliers. The list of wildlife here is nearly endless, and you will find something new with every dive.

How to book this trip

If you have 50 dives or more logged, is an advanced diver and don’t mind big sharks, then you can be on the next boat to Bassas.

Book now to avoid disappointment. Fill in the below enquiry form go to our website created especially for this trip at www.divebassasdaindia.com

Trip dates are as follows:

ALL 2010
2 April to 13 April
27 May to 6 June
15 July to 26 July
29 July to 9 August
12 August to 23 August

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