Diving at Ibo Island Lodge
Ibo Island Lodge operates scuba diving to accredited divers as well as Mobile Island hopping dive safaris. The surrounding reefs offer superb diving and especially some of the best examples of soft corals in the Indian Ocean.
Please note that you need to make us aware of all your potential diving requests at the time of confirming your booking at Ibo Island Lodge. All diving is subject to weather conditions and tides at the time of the dive. Local Reef Dives refer to dive sites in and around the Ibo lighthouse, the Coal Steamer Wreck and Southern Matemo sites. All other dive sites are then classified as Far Reef dives.
For own equipment dives – cylinders, air and weight belts are not charged for.
IBO ISLAND LIGHT HOUSE REEF INFORMATION:
Definitely the most superior diving at Ibo is at the light house. It is a long wall dive that covers an area of 1 square km. Starting at 7m of depth there are large gardens of coral tables, soft corals, bucket corals, green tree corals and at the wall side it falls away to a coral bottom at 21m where divers are likely to see a good range of tropical fish.
Highlights on the lighthouse dive are angel fish, massive napoleon wrasse, trumpet fish, damsel fishes, leaf fish, praying mantis shrimp, ribbon eels and garden eels. On the wall side there are overhangs where divers can see potato bass. In the caves on this dive you can also see white banded cleaner shrimp and ghost shrimps. Just off the wall sightings of green turtle are very common with hundreds of big eye travellis, five lined snappers, hump head snapper and southern fusilier. You may also be lucky enough to see dolphins on the dive and often on the way to and from the dive site by boat.
Other dive sites that can be easily accessed from Ibo Island are at the southern tip of Matemo Island, (which is the island north of Ibo) and these sites also include Kingfish Alley and some fantastic shallow dives at the 19th century coal steamer wreck just north of the sandbank beach.
MATEMO ISLAND REEF INFORMATION:
The coral reefs surrounding the Island of Matemo are one of Mozambique’s latest discoveries. Bordered to the west by the coastline of Northern Mozambique and to the east by the Mozambique Channel, these warm and clear Indian Ocean waters hold an astounding diversity of marine species and are all within close proximity to Ibo Island Lodge. Dolphins are often encountered around Ibo Island and on journeys to and from the dive sites. Humpback Whales often with calves on their annual migration are frequently sighted between August and October.
ROLAS ISLAND RAINBOW DIVE INFORMATION:
Rolas is a beautiful little island north of Matemo Island. It offers a really easy, shallow yet interesting dive. The coral here is fantastic and the shallow water generally offers an unbelievable hue of stunning turquoise water. The micro life here is fantastic, with each coral “bommie” playing host to its own ecosystem. This is also a great dive for camera enthusiasts.
COCOONS DIVE INFORMATION:
This site was named for its abundance of giant Barrel Sponges. In addition turtles are occasionally seen here as well as Paper fish. This reef is host to many types of Triggerfish, Surgeonfish and other reef species.
THE COAL STEAMER WRECK DIVE INFORMATION:
When sea conditions are calm and only during high tide this is one of the most popular stunning shallow dives accessed just north of Ibo’s famous sand bank beach. The wreck was originally approx. 90 feet long but over time it broke up into different pieces. Surrounding the wreck are big schools of Rubberlips, Surgeons, Snappers and Dusky Sweepers. Occasionally Kingfish and the odd Green Jobfish are also spotted. This is also a great snorkelling spot and the water is usually a wonderful aqua marine colour.
THE ZALA BANKS DIVE INFORMATION:
Directly south east of uninhabited beautiful Mogundula Island lies the wonderful Zala Banks. Here you will find Lettuce Leaf and Plate Corals, home to reef fishes and small marine animals such as the colourful Nudibranchs. Other delights often seen under the surface are turtles and small White Tip Reef Sharks.
EQUIPMENT:
The diving equipment here is supplied by Scubapro. You can fit your equipment at Ibo Island Lodge. If you prefer to bring your own personal Dive Gear we will gladly store this for you. The staff will set up and rinse all dive equipment. We provide full length and shorty wetsuits and closed heel fins. Cylinders 10 litre and 12 litre steel cylinders and are filled to 210bar. Dive computers are not supplied, but can be rented.
ON THE BOAT:
A boat briefing will be given on board. Lifejackets are also available and all vessels are non-smoking.
TAKE THE PLUNGE:
You will be assisted to kit up. The boat will follow a surface marker buoy carried throughout the dive by the guide, there are no fixed lines or anchor ropes to descend along. Back-roll entries are standard. Once all divers are comfortable the group descends together. After the dive, the divers assemble on the float line at the stern of the boat. The deckhand will assist with equipment before you climb aboard.
FLYING:
We recommend a surface interval of 12 hours between diving and flying for a single dive, and a surface interval of 18 hours for multiple dives. It is generally recommended that 24 hours is a safe surface interval between diving and flying.
SAFETY:
No diving equipment or resources can be provided to any person who does not produce valid certification from a recognized diving organization / establishment.
Tags: Diving in Mozambique, Ibo Island Lodge
