News
Diving Mozambique has never been easier
The imminent opening of the spectacular Maputo-Catembe bridge, the largest suspension bridge in Southern Africa, will bring major change for visitors keen to explore the rare, untouched stretches of coastal wilderness in Southern Mozambique.
Thanks to the new Maputo Bay river crossing and new road infrastructure, some of the world’s most beautiful dive destinations are now within easy reach. This new access, combined with the availability of 30-day tourist visas on entry, means a Mozambican tropical beach and diving holiday has never been easier.
White Pearl Resort, the leading private beach resort in Southern Mozambique is ideal for both beginners and specialised divers alike. The resort offers no less than 19 dive spots in an unspoilt marine national park, including one of the world’s top pinnacle reefs.
White Pearl can now be reached in only 90 minutes from Maputo International Airport. It is also just 30km from the South African border, making it an ideal choice for adventure seekers looking to get absorbed in Mozambique’s underwater world.
Located on a sensational stretch of endless golden sand without a footprint in sight White Pearl offers a professional, safe and world class interpretive diving experience with no equal anywhere along the Mozambican southern coastline.
Calm, relaxed and exclusive with no other groups, boats or a multitude of divers swarming around the same reef the quietness of the surroundings set the pace for utmost relaxation and enjoyment. Launching directly from the beach at the resort, experienced dive instructors show guests brightly coloured underwater corals and an array of brilliantly marked fish.
The variety of dive spots mean that there’s something for everyone and the area is also excellent for the avid underwater photographer: with numerous fascinating marine creatures thrilling sightings of big schools of Hammerhead and Zambezi sharks are common during the summer months, together with pelagics on the deep dives and Whale sharks sightings from October to February on the way to the dive spots. Tropical reef fish and an array of Nudibranchs are always in the vicinity but do keep an eye out for Loggerhead and even Leatherback turtles that make use of the deserted beaches to lay their eggs. It is an amazing experience to come across these almost prehistoric animals.
The Dive Centre at White Pearl Resort offers dives for all levels of experience, from an 8m open water dive to deep blue 40m dives for the experienced, advanced divers. PADI Resort courses are also available and diving equipment can be hired from the resort’s Dive Centre. There are several sites that are suitable for open water divers but to get the most out of the experience at White Pearl, divers should ideally be certified as Advanced Open Water or similar with experience of deep and drift diving techniques. The courses can also be completed at the resort.
For further information please visit the White Pearl website by clicking here.
Or visit their social media sites: Facebook & Twitter
For reservations please call +27 (0)11 026 7178 or email reservations@whitepearlresorts.com.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 3
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 2
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
-
News3 months ago
Hone your underwater photography skills with Alphamarine Photography at Red Sea Diving Safari in March
-
News2 months ago
Capturing Critters in Lembeh Underwater Photography Workshop 2024: Event Roundup
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs2 months ago
Creature Feature: Swell Sharks
-
Blogs1 month ago
Murex Resorts: Passport to Paradise!
-
Blogs2 months ago
Diver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph
-
Gear News3 months ago
Bare X-Mission Drysuit: Ideal for Both Technical and Recreational Divers
-
Gear Reviews2 months ago
Gear Review: Oceanic+ Dive Housing for iPhone
-
Blogs3 months ago
The Thrilling Encounter with Tiger Sharks at Beqa Lagoon’s ‘The Colosseum’ with Coral Coast Divers