Ponta de Barra Diving

The diving here in Mozambique compares with some of the best in the world and is still a relatively well-kept secret.  From the awesome sightings of Manta Rays, Whale sharks and Humpback Whales to the sought after Harlequin Shrimp, Frogfish and Sea Horses – there is something to please everyone. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean are teeming with life and the reefs are pristine. We have over 1000 species of fish as well as Manta Rays, Whalesharks, Dolphins, Turtles, migrating Humpback Whales and the mythical Dugong. The list is endless, the colours of the pristine reefs, beyond description and we are still discovering uncharted reefs.

We have two completely different diving environments for your diving pleasure:  We have 16 different reefs out to sea, that range in depth from 7 – 40 metres, and our very own Barra Lagoon near the mangrove swamps, which has its own unique eco-system.

Water temperatures range from 29 degrees celcius in our summer months to 22 degrees celcius in winter.  Visibility ranges from 8m to 40m, depending on how much plankton there is in the water.

Average Depth = 7 Meters Maximum Depth =10 Meters
Scenery = The house reef at Barra Reef is shallow enough for snorkeling but also great for a shallower dive. With the sun shining from above it is a excellent site for underwater photography. This reef consists of scattered rock formations, rather flat with sand patches in between.
Marine & Coral Life = Cresh reef has just the right name because there is juvenile fish wherever you look. The bigger variations are present but it is the young ones that draw the attention. In the holes and under the rock crevices there were a lot to keep you busy for example Puffer fish, Blue Spotted Ray, Octopus, Pepper Eels and even a couple of Stone fish made their appearance. We saw Lizardfish, Boxfish, Clown Triggerfish and all the other tropical reef fish seen in the warmer Mozambican water. The coral consists more of Staghorn coral, lots of Porous corals, Sea sponges and colourful Anemones were ever present. You could wile away the time just drifting and watching the fish behaviors. This is really a very nice dive on a hot summers day.

Average Depth = 12 Meters Maximum Depth = 15 Meters
Scenery = This reef is flat with big holes and in these holes are small caves, overhangs and even a few arches with swimthru's. Some parts of the reef looks like boulders stacked on top of each other with sand patches in between.
Marine & Coral Life =Mike's cupboard is really a true description if that is everything that can be kept there. This is truly a busy place with schools of Bluebanded Snappers, Coachmen, Angelfish, Trumpetfish, Kingfish and Tuna passing by. In the holes itself we found a brown Paperfish hiding behind a rock so no one would see him. Others that camouflaged themselves just as well were the Scorpionfish, Crocodile fish and Lizardfish. The Octopus changed his colours so quick that we almost lost sight of him moving into a hole. In the small caves we found a whole lot of Banded Shrimp moving around, there was a big Pufferfish hiding from everyone, a very shy creature. The coral on this reef consists of Whip coral in various colours, beige Fleshy soft coral, purple and white Thristle soft coral and lots of Lobed soft coral. Plate coral, Porous coral and Smooth-horned corals was also seen throughout the dive. This was a very nice dive for the inquisitive diver.

Average Depth = 21 Meters Maximum Depth = 32 Meters
Scenery = This reef consist of a big wall almost 4 meters high with dropoff's that leads to sandy areas. All along this wall is a ridge that is rich in marine and coral life. Big rock formations add to the scenery of this reef.
Marine & Coral Life = Diving this reef was really a very nice experience, with a great variety of tropical fish to be seen. A rare Weedy Scorpionfish made his appearance and was amazing how it blended in with the surroundings. This reef has a great variety of starfish species. Big Green coral trees where Goldies and Longnose Hawkfish hide from the predators. On the plateau Manta Ray's surprise you with a gracefull pasture in flight. Under the ledges are Dancing Durban Shrimp waiting to perform their cleaning duties. In the crevices and hollows there are Triggerfish and different species of Moray Eels. On this reef the coral is mostly untouched, from Porous corals to different species of Hard and Soft corals in a variety of colours and textures. Always keep an eye out in the midwater for game fish passing by. A nice dive for the Advanced Diver.

Average Depth = 12 Meters Maximum Depth = 15 Meters
Scenery = This part is next to Mike's Cupboard but just a bigger version. Still a flat reef but just more and bigger hollows in the reef itself. In these hollows are pinniclelike rock formations as well as ledges that form overhangs. Sand patches can be found on the bottom of most of these hollows. The hollows reminded me of the craters on the moon!
Marine & Coral Life = On this dive we found a Greyspot Guitarfish, Honeycomb Moray Eel, Pepper Moray and various species of Nudibranchs. A great number of tropical fish like Trumpetfish, Flutemouthfish, Goldies, Peacock Rockcod and Parrotfish is to be seen, to name just a few. There are nice shells on the sand patches and the coral life is full in bloom. Various types of hard and soft coral is found on this part of the reef for instance; Fleshy soft coral, Sea urchins, Brain coral, Leather coral and lots of Anemones. There is a big number of Plate coral with fish like Angelfish hiding underneath. This is a very nice dive for photographers with almost no surge in the hollows.

Average Depth = 21 Meters Maximum Depth = 31 Meters
Scenery = This reef looks like a huge rock formation planted in the middle of the sea floor with a few scattered rock placed here and there. It has some ledges that form overhangs about 3 meters in diameter. There are also some blowholes situated on the one side of the reef. On top there are holes that host a number of Green coral trees, with Goldies swimming in and out. The one part of the reef tends to flatten to the Southern side.
Marine & Coral Life = This is one of the deeper reefs in this area but host the most amazing scenery and have to be experienced first hand. Huge Honeycomb Moray Eels, Black cheek Moray's and even a Manta Ray made his appearance. Two Blue spot Ray's were spotted lingering in one of the sand patches on top of the reef. Devil Fire fish, Rockcod, Coachmen and a great variety of tropical fish can be seen here. Fire Gobies, as much as twelve together have been seen hurdled together in one spot. The coral on the other hand ranges from Plate coral, Whip coral and Leather coral to colourful Sea sponges. Soft corals include Anemones, Thristle coral, Palmate Sea fans and Fleshy soft corals in various colours. Don' t forget to keep an eye out for game fish passing through in the midwater!

Average Depth = 23 Meters Maximum Depth = 30 Meters
This reef forms a huge amphitheatre, and as the name suggests the things you see here are quite a show. The wall around the side is 10m high, and drops down in ledges and layers. As we drop down, the visibility is usually at least 20m so the feeling of falling into the arena is quite sensational and a bit eerie! Our drop puts us on the western inside edge, and we just swim slowly around, inside, hiding from the current. There is a huge Honeycomb Moray on this reef that we have named Russell the Gladiator, and look out for Guitar Sharks on the sand. There are also Potato Bass and a colourful array of fish and it is also quite common to encounter graceful Devil rays on our ascent. General info: Because of its size we rarely dive this site in a very strong current. And because of its depth and the need for a rapid descent we like all divers to be experienced in deep diving and negative entry procedures.

Barra has secluded, unspoilt beaches, bordered by the Inbambane estuary on one side and the sea on the other. The lodge is nestled among groves of coconut trees, all rooms have exquisite beach and sea views.
The warm Indian Ocean offers safe bathing all year round. The wide open, squeaky clean beaches offer endless hours of strolling pleasure.
Boat launching is smooth and easy. Ski boat fishing is excellent and Barra is a venue of frequent game fishing competitions. The largely unexplored reefs within close proximity to the lodge offers endless pleasure for scuba-diving and snorkeling.

Nothing quite prepares you for an encounter with this gentle giant that wanders the ocean.  It is the biggest fish in the sea and it looks like a shark but is the size of a whale (maybe that’s how it got it’s name!)

They can reach up to 12m in length and can weigh around 20 tons! Here at Barra we are lucky to be on their migratory route and the best time to see them is between November and May when sightings are pretty much guaranteed, the rest of the year they are still present, just fewer in number.

The thrill of swimming with a Whale Shark is an unforgettable experience. Something in your soul goes incredibly quiet, and the feeling of being so close to such a big and gentle creature is something so privileged it will never leave you. There are specific guidelines on how to interact with these creatures that we will brief you on and we also offer the PADI Whale Shark Awareness speciality course for snorkellers and divers that would like to know more about this beautiful beast.