Diving

Diving Tofo can be undertaken by all levels of diver, but a lot of the sites are deeper with currents so are not suitable for beginners. The dive sites are all reached on semi rigid inflatable boats which launch through the surf, which can be quite an experience on its own especially when there is a bit of wind! The travel time to most of the sites is 20-40mins from the beach, but it is worth the extra effort once you are underwater exploring these amazing sites.

Tofo Beach is not known for its reefs or coral, although some areas are really quite pretty, the main attraction certainly is the giant Manta Rays and Whale Sharks! Believed to be the only place in the World where both species are residents year round, this makes Tofu an excellent dive spot for divers wishing to see both giant plankton feeders up close.

The Manta Ray, which can grow up to 8m wide, is frequently spotted on many dive sites between 20-30m at the Manta cleaning stations. These stations are usually soft coral formations where the mantas stop to get cleaned by numerous varieties of cleaner fish. The most popular Manta dive site, Manta Reef, is easily a world class site; you can sit and watch sometimes up to 12 mantas circling the stations being cleaned. The mantas can get quite curious and will come right up to divers watching them. Although the mantas are the highlight of this dive, there is also a lot more to see, turtles and grouper can be found in caves and crevasses, smaller creatures such as frogfish and the mini nudibranches, large schools of trevally, barracuda, triggerfish and snappers and even a whale shark gliding past or devil rays circling below you on the safety stop.

There are many other brilliant dive sites, one that’s great but only for experienced divers due to its depth and current is Amazon Reef. This site has a staggering array of reef fish as well as some resident leopard sharks, whitetip reef sharks, loggerhead and green turtles.

The Manta Rays and Whale Sharks are easily the stars of this area, during the winter months it is also possible to spot Humpback whales on the way to and from a dive as they swim past on their migration route and there song can be heard on many dives during this time. Dolphins can also be frequently spotted at the surface year round.

How to get there

The easiest, though most costly, method for reaching Tofo is by air, flying into the small airport of Inhambane roughly 20km from the town of Tofo. Departures from Maputo, Johannesburg, Vilankulo and Nampula land at the airport with either LAM or Kaya Airlines a few times weekly.

 Alternatively, the city is also serviced daily by local busses. From Maputo, Fatima’s Backpacker’s organizes a daily shuttle that leaves at roughly 4am from the hostel and delivers passengers to the sister hostel in Tofo – or other locations, upon request. Public mini busses also connect Inhambane to neighbouring cities and towns, though you will have to organize a private transfer from Inhambane to Tofo (hitch hiking is common here – vacationing South Africans will drive this road frequently).

Where to eat & drink

Sleepy beach town has a surprising diversity of delicious restaurants, in addition to a well-stocked fish market and plenty of self-catering facilities at local lodges. Small restaurants line the sandy streets of town, serving anything from local Mozambican fare to French-Mozambican fusion. Tofo Tofo is a local favourite for a quick and delicious meal – the seafood pasta is fantastic! It is also very popular, especially among visiting South Africans, to stroll the fish market in the morning purchasing prawns, clams and fish for an evening braii with friends.

 Tofo has a surprising number of bars and clubs that host a variety of evening activities, from full moon parties to retro nights.  Dive masters will often know where the hotspots are each night so be sure to ask! 

Other Activities

Tofo is a beach town that revolves around the ocean. Diving is certainly one of the top activities, but ocean safaris and lounging on the beach are justifiably popular as well! The swells in Tofo and neighbouring Tofinho also attract surfers worldwide, and surf lessons are always available.

Some dive centres also offer quad bike safaris and horseback riding on the beach in addition to their ocean activities. Turtle Cove occasionally offers yoga classes, but this is largely dependent on teacher availability and should be confirmed upon arrival. Otherwise, this sleepy beach town is perfect for relaxing and unwinding with a drink and a good book!

 Tofo is a great location for vacationing families – Diversity Scuba Centre even offers bubble-making courses for children keen to test out scuba diving for themselves.

Tips

Tofo’s dive centres are all South African-run and highly reputable. Normal levels of precaution should be exercised while choosing between them.

 The town itself also has a reputation for high levels of safety. It is generally safe to walk around in the evenings, though valuables should be left at home. The beaches too are generally safe, though belongings should probably not be left unattended given the number of vendors and children that walk the beach.

 Market and beach vendors can at times be a bit pushy and will certainly start at a higher price – however, a calm, firm and friendly attitude will serve you well here.  Make sure to keep an eye on the scales as you purchase seafood – faulty scales are a common scam here!

 There is a clinic and hospital in the town of Inhambane (20km outside Tofo) for medical emergencies, and dive centres all have access to emergency first aid training and support on site. Major medical emergencies are almost always treated in South Africa – so be sure to top up your health insurance since this can be very costly!