About the country
Ponta do Ouro is a beach town in Mozambique, close to the South African border, within the large iSimangaliso wetland reserve. By road it’s about 6.5 hours’ drive from Durban airport. Crossing the border is easy enough, though there can be a long wait, especially in summer. It’s a very popular spot with South Africans, and there are plenty of lodges and dive clubs on site.
The zodiac launches, with the divers’ help, happen from the beach, and you then have to get through the waves, which makes the dives a bit of a workout.
Two main sites at 40 meters : Atlantis, 5 minutes from the beach, and the Pinacles reef, a 20-minute boat ride from the beach. And out there in the deep blue : hammerheads, bull sharks, tiger sharks, silky sharks, blacktips, rays : it’s a real show !
Here’s the map of the dive sites, the best of which is Pinacles : .
Our opinion
Difficulty
Visibility
Diversity
Atmosphere
Practical
In February 2018.
Scuba Addicts offers several South Africa and Mozambique packages. At Ponta, 2 to 3 dives a day.
Large zodiac, the skipper and guide know the sites and the sea very well, and run safe dives, on the other hand, diving isn’t always possible depending on the weather.
We clearly preferred the Mozambique team.
In February 2018.
The Scuba Addicts lodge has a huge terrace, 2 small pools, and a lovely common area with a sea view. The dive club is right inside the lodge.
Air conditioning is a nice plus against mosquitoes and the heat. The lodge offers light meals on site, and there are several restaurants in the village of Ponta do Ouro depending on the season.
The hosts live at the lodge, which makes for a warmer welcome.
Stroll along the pretty beach of Ponta do Ouro and Ponta Malongane. It’s difficult to drive on the tracks even with a 4x4, watch out for soft sand.