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Probably rough seas, really low vis or a rainy season where the dive centers do not tend to operate..
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Country: Mozambique Area: Mozambique
Water Temp: 21 - 29°C (70 - 84°F)
Visibility: 8 - 40m (26 - 131 ft)
Depth Range: 10 - 45m (33 - 148 ft)
Humpback Whale Migration & Calving - Aug to Nov
Turtle Nesting (Green, Loggerhead & Leatherback) Early Nov to Early Dec
Turtle Hatching (Green, Loggerhead & Leatherback) Jan
Ponta D'Ouro is an unspoilt diving location that can be reached easily from South Africa’s main hubs (7hrs from JHB, 4.5hrs from DBN) making it a good location even, for South Africans, for a a weekend diving getaway.
Book A Dive Center OnlineVisitors to Ponta can enjoy warm water year round with an abundance of sealife and corals that are still in great condition. 'Pinnacles' is a deep dive site (+/-35m+) located 3.5km offshore and aprox 12.5km from Ponta Do Ouro launch site and is well known for shark diving where, in the summer months, you are almost guaranteed to be diving (unbaited) with Bull sharks, Tigers and Hammerheads as well as any of the other 11 species of shark frequenting our waters (as per research group 3 Fathoms). Those wanting to witness the Humpback whales are blown away with the volumes of them calving in our sheltered bay over the later part of the year. Whilst diving you can hear their calls creating a fantastic dive atmosphere.
The location is 4x4 access only - which helps to limit the volume of tourists - helping keep Ponta D'Ouro relatively unspoiled. The area features a beautiful bay - great for swimming and snorkelling and clean blue warm waters with great sealife due thanks in part to the area's protection as a Marine Protected Area (MPA).
Parrot fish, Credit
Ponta Do Oura is located in a Martime Protected Area which stretches roughly from Sodwana Bay in the South to close to Maputo. All divers are subject to a R20 “divers tax” per week which is used for maintenance of the Maritime boats and for the monitoring and research done in the area. Fishing is allowed but only for recreational purposes whereby only pelagic fish are allowed to be landed and all interactions with marine mammals is closely monitored.
Brown surgeonfish, Credit
Moderate climate year round.
Spinoffs from the Cyclones off Madagascar in Late Feb early March brings rain and big ground swell.
The cooler months are from June to Sept and the warmest are from December to March.
Apart from the seasonal wildlife you can see whlie diving at Ponta D'Oura you can also see Southern Stingrays, Marble Rays, Torpedo Rays, Silky Sharks, Devil Rays, Paper fish, Frog fish, Potato Bass
Information kindly provided by: Devocean Diving
Most questions are answered by our
diving community within 24 hours
Most sites are suitable for Beginners to Experts and offer great diving year round. There are not really any wrecks in the area but local dive centers are still looking! ;)
Dive with Turtle, Credit
Wildlife sightings include: 14 Shark species, Rays, Potato Bass, Tropical Reef Fish, Frog Fish, Stone Fish, Scorpion Fish, Crocodile Fish, an extremely large variety of Nudibranchs and Flat Worms.
Flower Cardinalfish, Credit
Most questions are answered by our
diving community within 24 hours
From Durban it is a 4.5Hr drive to the Kosi Bay Border and from johannesburg it is a 7Hr drive. Thereafter it is a 8km sand dune road which requires a 4x4 vehicle. For those who do not have access to a 4x4 vehicle they may arrange border collections from the resort they are staying at and leave their car at the secure lockup facilities located on the South African side of the border post for R30 per day.
Red Road, Credit
There are currently no busses / taxis that we are aware of that cover this route regularly.
From Maputo it is 120km to Ponta Do Ouro on a dirt and gravel road in very bad condition and can take from 4-8hrs depending on the road condition (rain = very bad) and the ferry schedule at Catembe.
It is highly recommended that you plan your travel arrangements with the help of the Dive Center you book with!
Most questions are answered by our
diving community within 24 hours
There are lots of places in town to dine or have a few drinks.
Holidays at Ponta, Credit
To name a few:
Cafe - Great deck overlooking the bay. Reasonably prices meals and social hot spot
Beach Bar - Located on the point in the campsite.
Tarragons Tea Garden - Most delectable sweet thingies and health foods
Mangos - Great shakes, wraps etc.
Devocean Diving - Delicious wholesome meals for the weary traveller (R85 main meal only, R120 std three course) * prices correct at times of writing
Lulus - Local Portuguese meals at great prices in a local Tavern
Love Cafe - Great Italian Food
There are lots of places in town to dine or have a few drinks. To name a few:
Light meals and snacks
· Tarragons Tea Garden - Most delectable sweet thingies and health foods
· Mangos - Great shakes, wraps etc.
Meals
· Devocean Diving - Delicious wholesome meals for the weary traveller (R85 main meal only, R120 std three course) * prices correct at times of print
· Lulus - Local Portuguese meals at great prices in a local Tavern
· Love Cafe - Great Italian Food
Meals and Bar
· Cafe - Great deck overlooking the bay. Reasonably prices meals and social hot spot
· Beach Bar - Located on the point in the campsite. Location location location
Most questions are answered by our
diving community within 24 hours
Ponta D'Ouro offers a wide range of activities other than Scuba Diving - these include;
- Paragliding, Quad Biking, Hippo and bird watching at one of the lakes located aprox 30min - 1hr away
- Lighthouse Hike
- Beach walks
- Fishing Charters
- Surfing & Kiteboarding lessons
Ponta do Ouro, Credit
Children can partake in the Bubble Maker Course where they are introduced to Scuba in the safety of a swimming pool. Those over 10yrs may partake in the JNR diving course where they will be able to dive in the Ocean to depths of 12m supervised thereafter.
Most questions are answered by our
diving community within 24 hours
If you are travelling on a South African passport then entry is free, if not then visas are available at the border for a fee of about R670 but please be aware that this can take up quite a bit of time.
Juvenile Angelfish, Credit
When buying seafood (prawns / crayfish) from the local vendors ensure that the scale is set to kg and not pounds, it’s an old scam which catches most unsuspecting tourists!
Drivers of vehicles must wear a shirt at all times and, fairly obviously, no drinking alochol is prohibited while driving.
No vehicles or quad bikes are allowed on the beaches and under 16's are not allowed to drive quads.
Hi!
I was wondering what the odds to encounter tiger sharks and hammerheads in high season are?
Thanks!
Why is there an Off-season in October in Ponta D’Ouro, Mozambique?
Probably rough seas, really low vis or a rainy season where the dive centers do not tend to operate..
Hi guys,
we are diving in mozambique this summer. We arrive in johannesburg and first go to durban, then from there we will go to ponta do ouro. Does anybody have had any problems getting a visa for mozambique at the border?
Kind regards,
Lisa
Hi Lisa.. it seems not to many people have been able to help. I suggest dropping a few dive centers a mail (you can do this through the site easily enough) and ask them their thoughts. They are usually able to advise on these things as staff are often international! - Cat :)
Hi Lisa, Just came back from Tofo, Mozambique. While we arranged visa before departure, I've seen many people getting visa on arrival at the Inhambane airport
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