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Thinking of coming to Tofo for some diving? Wondering what all the hype is about here? Here's a list of some the sites you can enjoy here. There's more to Tofo diving than just manta rays, whale sharks and small eyed stingrays!
Maybe some members will post their experiences on these sites.
AMAZON
Amazon is our most challenging dive site but it is well worth the effort. The depth, current and reef topography make it suitable only for divers with Advanced certification or higher. This site, along with The Office, offers the best chance in the Tofo area for divers to see predatory sharks. Whitetip reef sharks, leopard sharks and nurse sharks can be found sleeping on the sandy bottom or in the various caves. Curious Grey reef sharks may come in to check out the divers and even tiger sharks and hammerhead sharks (in winter) are seen here on occasion.
Mantas and large whiptail Rays can be found on the east cleaning station while Devil Rays and barracuda can often be seen overhead. Palette surgeonfish and fairy basslets find shelter in the hard coral. The reef is also home to a colourful array of Butterflyfish, Angelfish and schools of bannerfish. Combine this site with The Office for an awesome double tank dive.
CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Chamber of Secrets is another shallow site that lies in Whale Shark Alley. It forms a horseshoe with dramatic walls rising 6 - 8 m above the sandy bottom. There are a number of challenging swim-throughs to explore and a numerous caves that provide shelter for Turtles, Lobsters, Shrimp and shy reef fish. Many species of colourful Parrotfish make their homes on the reef. The sandy bottom makes an ideal home for Kuhl's Rays and the odd flounder. Many species of pipefish and Morays can be found in the small caves that dot the walls and the top of the reef.
Keen eyed divers my spot Octopus in their dens or even just sitting on the reef. A wide variety of Wrasses, Butterflyfish and Angelfish are found here. Schools of Snappers, Bigeye and Blacktip Trevally suspend above the reef and occasionally, a school of Devil Rays will fly past overhead. As with Simon's Town, it is important to stay alert on the safety stop. Whalesharks regularly swim by to check out divers before heading off again.
CLOWNFISH REEF
Clownfish Reef is our main training site for Open Water Divers. It is named for the clownfish that are found living in many of the sea anemones that dot the site. The site sits inside the bay directly out from Tofo Beach. We descend on a fixed buoy line to a patch of sand that is ideal for skills demonstrations before heading over the reef. Once there, we watch sweepers, Wrasses, Butterflyfish, Angelfish and others go about their daily routine.
This site acts as a nursery for many of the local reef fish so uniquely coloured juveniles abound. Keep an eye out for Octopus hiding in the crevices. Small Morays can often be found in the numerous small caves along with Cleaner Shrimp and juvenile Spiny Lobsters. This site also boasts an abundance of Nudibranches making it an excellent site for the underwater photographers. Every once in a while, Whalesharks will enter the bay and allow lucky student divers the thrill of seeing one of these majestic creatures on one of their first two training dives.
GIANTS CASTLE
Giant's Castle is a deep site that lies just outside of Tofo Bay. It consists of a ridge that runs north to south at a depth of 22 - 30 metres. The ridge often acts as a highway for Mantas travelling between the numerous cleaning stations along its crest. They travel into the prevailing current while divers drift past with the current. The Mantas hover over the cleaning station while schools of Butterfly fish and Wrasses clean their skin. The numerous crevices and small caves provide cover for many species of Moray Eel, Lobsters, Cleaner Shrimp and Triggerfish. Frogfish wait to ambush small reef fish while pairs of red Fire Gobies suspend over their dens and Parrotfish feed on the reef. Schools of Trevally and Barracuda often surround divers both on ascent and descent. Large Potato Groupers may approach to within inches of a diver's mask while smaller Groupers hide on the reef. As at Manta reef, Devil Rays and Whalesharks may swim by on the safety stop. And extremely lucky divers may even see marlin!
Due to its proximity to the dive centre, this site is often accessible even when heavy seas make it impossible to get to the more distant deep sites.
KRAKATOA
This site, named for its resemblance to a volcanic crater rim, lies close in to shore south of Tofo. We enter through a gap in the rim by a cave that often houses the site's resident Loggerhead Turtle. The walls rise as much as eight meters off the sandy floor and are covered with both hard and soft coral. We explore the gullies and channels that bisect the wall looking for Frogfish, Leaf Fish and Scorpionfish. T
Torpedo Rays sleep in the small caves while Kuhl's Rays hide in the sand. Many species of Parrotfish can be found here along with Moorish Idols, Butterflyfish, Angelfish and numerous species of Wrasse. Moray Eels and Octopus hide in the holes and crevices during the day. Colourful Nudibranches make their homes on the top of the reef and along the walls. Whalesharks and schools of Devil Rays will occasionally cruise by divers on the safety stop.
MANTA REEF
A World Class dive site by any measure, Manta Reef boasts three cleaning stations where up to two dozen Mantas will come to have small reef fish remove parasites and dead skin. The Mantas can be quite curious and will often come right up to divers watching them circle over the stations. The site consists of a flat reef plate bordered by 5 - 10 m walls to the north and south. The cleaning stations are found on the top of the reef between the walls.
While the Mantas are the highlight of this site, they are by no means the only attraction. Large schools of Redtooth Triggerfish, Snappers and Trevally congregate on the north wall. The caves and pinnacles provide shelter for potato Groupers, Loggerhead Turtles and giant Morays. The reef is also home to numerous smaller reef fish, Morays, Groupers, and colourful Nudibranches. Even on the safety stop, it is wise to stay alert. Schools of Devil Rays often circle below and occasionally a whale shark will cruise by before disappearing again into the blue. This site is ideal for your Adventure Deep Dive.
MARBLE ARCH
The closest site that lies in Whale Shark Alley, Marble Arch is named after a beautiful swim through between the inside and outside of the bowl shaped reef with walls rising 4-6m from the sandy bottom. Another swim though leads back inside the reef to a small canyon which is covered with marine life on both sides. The abundance of caves, crevices and overhangs provide shelter for Lobster, Moray eels, Stingrays and shy reef fishes. Schools of Bluestriped Snapper, Yellow Goat fish, Big Eyes hover on the top of the reef, while Blacktip Trevalleys and Kingfish often patrol above looking for food. Multiple species of Nudibranchs, together with small shrimps make the macro life also quite interesting at this site.
MIKES CUPBOARD
A large, shallow dive site, Mike's Cupboard offers something for both novice and experienced divers alike. The reef contains a number of large holes that provide cover for schools of small baitfish. These bait balls attract Bluefin and yellowfin Trevally that will often swoop in front of divers while on the hunt. Many species of moray make their homes on the reef along with Octopus and Lobsters. Leaf fish, pipefish, Scorpionfish and crocodilefish lie camouflaged on the reef. Kuhl's Rays, guitarfish, bluespotted stingrays and even honeycomb Rays can be found on the reef and in the surrounding sand. Peacock mantis shrimp abound along with various Cleaner Shrimp and even the elusive harlequin shrimp.
The site is also home to a number of green sea Turtles. Approach slowly and they may let you get that perfect photo. The top of the reef abounds with colourful Nudibranches, sponges and sea stars. Schools of fusiliers will descend on the reef and circle around you as you move from hole to hole. This is a larger site that is well worth multiple visits.
PRAIA DA ROCHA
Praia da Rocha is one of the most colourful sites in the Tofo area. It's proximity to shore and shallow depth lead to a greater abundance of coral than at the deeper sites. Colourful hard and soft coral cover the large boulders that dot this site. Swim the channels between them looking for Nudibranches and shy reef fish. Multiple species of pipefish use the holes and overhangs for cover.
Octopus hunt Lobsters, while cuttlefish and squid suspend above the reef. Snake Eels and Morays can be found throughout the site. Large schools of fusiliers and yellowtail barracuda congregate above the reef. Look closely for unique species of Wrasse, filefish, and pufferfish. Powder blue triggerfish and Moorish Idols are abundant here and even the striking Picasso triggerfish can be found in the shallower water.
SHERWOOD FOREST
This site lies in deep water toward the north end of Tofo Bay. It is a small site that can only be dived under mild current conditions. The site is named for the numerous large green tree corals that provide a perfect home for schools of fairy basslets, Butterflyfish and Angelfish. Potato Groupers often suspend in the current just off the wall while giant reef Rays sleep on the bottom. Honeycomb Morays share their lairs with Cleaner Shrimp. A Loggerhead Turtle sometimes naps in one of the larger caves. Although there is no cleaning station here, Mantas and Devil Rays are still sometimes seen swimming in the water column above the reef.
As with Giant's Castle, the proximity of this site to the dive centre makes it accessible when surface conditions make it impossible to get to more distant sites.
SIMONS TOWN
This site lies right in the heart of Whale Shark Alley south of Tofo. The reef makes a large amphitheatre that provides protection for numerous species of Wrasse, Butterflyfish and Angelfish. Schools of Snapper and Bigeye suspend above the reef. Yellowfin and Bluefin Trevally will come in and check out divers. Colourful Nudibranches dot the walls and the top of the reef. Torpedo Rays are often found sleeping in caves or hunting over the reef while Kuhl's Rays lie buried in the sand.
Lion Fish hunt over the reef. Small Morays and snake Eels can be found throughout the site. Parrotfish feed on the reef. Octopus hunt lobster while Cleaner Shrimp hide in the small nooks and crannies. Colourful juvenile reef fish abound. The safety stop on this dive represents one of the best chances to see Whalesharks on scuba.
TABLETOP
This deep site is only possible in mild current conditions. The dive site is a North-South Wall with several pinnacles to the west of the wall. The top of the reef is covered with Green Tree Coral giving shelter to clouds of Goldies, schools of Coachmen and Redtooth Triggerfish. Blacktip Trevalleys and Kingfish can be seen cruising around as well. At the end of the wall we swim across a sandy channel where large Stingrays often lie motionless on the bottom. We then reach a second wall on the west side of the dive site where a couple of cleaning stations give a good chance to spot Manta Rays. There are also large Potato Bass and Moray Eels can be seen hiding in crevices. A long safety stop is recommended since large groups of Devil Rays often come up the blue depths and fly in formation around the divers.
THE OFFICE
Another deep site, The Office lies north of Tofo Beach and well out in the Mozambique Channel. Consequently, the visibility is often better here than at the sites closer to shore. We descend through schools of redtooth triggerfish and surgeonfish into a sandy bowl. From there we move south with the current keeping our eyes out for grey reef sharks, bowmouth guitarfish, Mantas and other smaller Rays.
The reef is home to numerous species of moray eel including honeycomb and giant Morays. It also teems with Butterflyfish, Angelfish, Groupers, Wrasses and triggerfish. Both Loggerhead and green sea Turtles are found here. It is often possible to surprise sleeping whitetip reef sharks in the sandy bowl at the south end of the site. Leopard sharks and nurse sharks are also seen here.
THE SALON
Named for the wide variety of Cleaner Shrimp found on this site, The Salon is ideal for training dives, refresher dives and long, relaxing dives for experienced divers. This site is a staff favorite! It consists of a coral outcrop that climbs about 6 m up from the sandy bottom. Typically, we spend our time going slowly around the outcrop checking all of the small caves and crannies for interesting sea life. Kuhl's Rays often shoot out from the sand right under unsuspecting divers while Jenkin's whipRays and torpedo Rays hide in the caves. Some caves are home to colourful coral, tomato and African Groupers. Other caves teem with Lobster. Look up and see schools of baitfish and fusiliers as they feed above the reef. Occasionally a Spanish mackerel or even a great barracuda will come in looking for an easy meal.
Stonefish, Scorpionfish and leaf fish hide on the reef while lionfish hunt just off the bottom. Almost a dozen species of shrimp and Lobster can be found on this site. Gently place your hand in front of one of the Cleaner Shrimp and see if it will give you a manicure, just make sure you check for Morays first! The reef is also home to a large number of octopus, a pair of pineapple fish, Butterflyfish and both juvenile and adult Angelfish.
Maybe some members will post their experiences on these sites.
AMAZON
Amazon is our most challenging dive site but it is well worth the effort. The depth, current and reef topography make it suitable only for divers with Advanced certification or higher. This site, along with The Office, offers the best chance in the Tofo area for divers to see predatory sharks. Whitetip reef sharks, leopard sharks and nurse sharks can be found sleeping on the sandy bottom or in the various caves. Curious Grey reef sharks may come in to check out the divers and even tiger sharks and hammerhead sharks (in winter) are seen here on occasion.
Mantas and large whiptail Rays can be found on the east cleaning station while Devil Rays and barracuda can often be seen overhead. Palette surgeonfish and fairy basslets find shelter in the hard coral. The reef is also home to a colourful array of Butterflyfish, Angelfish and schools of bannerfish. Combine this site with The Office for an awesome double tank dive.
CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Chamber of Secrets is another shallow site that lies in Whale Shark Alley. It forms a horseshoe with dramatic walls rising 6 - 8 m above the sandy bottom. There are a number of challenging swim-throughs to explore and a numerous caves that provide shelter for Turtles, Lobsters, Shrimp and shy reef fish. Many species of colourful Parrotfish make their homes on the reef. The sandy bottom makes an ideal home for Kuhl's Rays and the odd flounder. Many species of pipefish and Morays can be found in the small caves that dot the walls and the top of the reef.
Keen eyed divers my spot Octopus in their dens or even just sitting on the reef. A wide variety of Wrasses, Butterflyfish and Angelfish are found here. Schools of Snappers, Bigeye and Blacktip Trevally suspend above the reef and occasionally, a school of Devil Rays will fly past overhead. As with Simon's Town, it is important to stay alert on the safety stop. Whalesharks regularly swim by to check out divers before heading off again.
CLOWNFISH REEF
Clownfish Reef is our main training site for Open Water Divers. It is named for the clownfish that are found living in many of the sea anemones that dot the site. The site sits inside the bay directly out from Tofo Beach. We descend on a fixed buoy line to a patch of sand that is ideal for skills demonstrations before heading over the reef. Once there, we watch sweepers, Wrasses, Butterflyfish, Angelfish and others go about their daily routine.
This site acts as a nursery for many of the local reef fish so uniquely coloured juveniles abound. Keep an eye out for Octopus hiding in the crevices. Small Morays can often be found in the numerous small caves along with Cleaner Shrimp and juvenile Spiny Lobsters. This site also boasts an abundance of Nudibranches making it an excellent site for the underwater photographers. Every once in a while, Whalesharks will enter the bay and allow lucky student divers the thrill of seeing one of these majestic creatures on one of their first two training dives.
GIANTS CASTLE
Giant's Castle is a deep site that lies just outside of Tofo Bay. It consists of a ridge that runs north to south at a depth of 22 - 30 metres. The ridge often acts as a highway for Mantas travelling between the numerous cleaning stations along its crest. They travel into the prevailing current while divers drift past with the current. The Mantas hover over the cleaning station while schools of Butterfly fish and Wrasses clean their skin. The numerous crevices and small caves provide cover for many species of Moray Eel, Lobsters, Cleaner Shrimp and Triggerfish. Frogfish wait to ambush small reef fish while pairs of red Fire Gobies suspend over their dens and Parrotfish feed on the reef. Schools of Trevally and Barracuda often surround divers both on ascent and descent. Large Potato Groupers may approach to within inches of a diver's mask while smaller Groupers hide on the reef. As at Manta reef, Devil Rays and Whalesharks may swim by on the safety stop. And extremely lucky divers may even see marlin!
Due to its proximity to the dive centre, this site is often accessible even when heavy seas make it impossible to get to the more distant deep sites.
KRAKATOA
This site, named for its resemblance to a volcanic crater rim, lies close in to shore south of Tofo. We enter through a gap in the rim by a cave that often houses the site's resident Loggerhead Turtle. The walls rise as much as eight meters off the sandy floor and are covered with both hard and soft coral. We explore the gullies and channels that bisect the wall looking for Frogfish, Leaf Fish and Scorpionfish. T
Torpedo Rays sleep in the small caves while Kuhl's Rays hide in the sand. Many species of Parrotfish can be found here along with Moorish Idols, Butterflyfish, Angelfish and numerous species of Wrasse. Moray Eels and Octopus hide in the holes and crevices during the day. Colourful Nudibranches make their homes on the top of the reef and along the walls. Whalesharks and schools of Devil Rays will occasionally cruise by divers on the safety stop.
MANTA REEF
A World Class dive site by any measure, Manta Reef boasts three cleaning stations where up to two dozen Mantas will come to have small reef fish remove parasites and dead skin. The Mantas can be quite curious and will often come right up to divers watching them circle over the stations. The site consists of a flat reef plate bordered by 5 - 10 m walls to the north and south. The cleaning stations are found on the top of the reef between the walls.
While the Mantas are the highlight of this site, they are by no means the only attraction. Large schools of Redtooth Triggerfish, Snappers and Trevally congregate on the north wall. The caves and pinnacles provide shelter for potato Groupers, Loggerhead Turtles and giant Morays. The reef is also home to numerous smaller reef fish, Morays, Groupers, and colourful Nudibranches. Even on the safety stop, it is wise to stay alert. Schools of Devil Rays often circle below and occasionally a whale shark will cruise by before disappearing again into the blue. This site is ideal for your Adventure Deep Dive.
MARBLE ARCH
The closest site that lies in Whale Shark Alley, Marble Arch is named after a beautiful swim through between the inside and outside of the bowl shaped reef with walls rising 4-6m from the sandy bottom. Another swim though leads back inside the reef to a small canyon which is covered with marine life on both sides. The abundance of caves, crevices and overhangs provide shelter for Lobster, Moray eels, Stingrays and shy reef fishes. Schools of Bluestriped Snapper, Yellow Goat fish, Big Eyes hover on the top of the reef, while Blacktip Trevalleys and Kingfish often patrol above looking for food. Multiple species of Nudibranchs, together with small shrimps make the macro life also quite interesting at this site.
MIKES CUPBOARD
A large, shallow dive site, Mike's Cupboard offers something for both novice and experienced divers alike. The reef contains a number of large holes that provide cover for schools of small baitfish. These bait balls attract Bluefin and yellowfin Trevally that will often swoop in front of divers while on the hunt. Many species of moray make their homes on the reef along with Octopus and Lobsters. Leaf fish, pipefish, Scorpionfish and crocodilefish lie camouflaged on the reef. Kuhl's Rays, guitarfish, bluespotted stingrays and even honeycomb Rays can be found on the reef and in the surrounding sand. Peacock mantis shrimp abound along with various Cleaner Shrimp and even the elusive harlequin shrimp.
The site is also home to a number of green sea Turtles. Approach slowly and they may let you get that perfect photo. The top of the reef abounds with colourful Nudibranches, sponges and sea stars. Schools of fusiliers will descend on the reef and circle around you as you move from hole to hole. This is a larger site that is well worth multiple visits.
PRAIA DA ROCHA
Praia da Rocha is one of the most colourful sites in the Tofo area. It's proximity to shore and shallow depth lead to a greater abundance of coral than at the deeper sites. Colourful hard and soft coral cover the large boulders that dot this site. Swim the channels between them looking for Nudibranches and shy reef fish. Multiple species of pipefish use the holes and overhangs for cover.
Octopus hunt Lobsters, while cuttlefish and squid suspend above the reef. Snake Eels and Morays can be found throughout the site. Large schools of fusiliers and yellowtail barracuda congregate above the reef. Look closely for unique species of Wrasse, filefish, and pufferfish. Powder blue triggerfish and Moorish Idols are abundant here and even the striking Picasso triggerfish can be found in the shallower water.
SHERWOOD FOREST
This site lies in deep water toward the north end of Tofo Bay. It is a small site that can only be dived under mild current conditions. The site is named for the numerous large green tree corals that provide a perfect home for schools of fairy basslets, Butterflyfish and Angelfish. Potato Groupers often suspend in the current just off the wall while giant reef Rays sleep on the bottom. Honeycomb Morays share their lairs with Cleaner Shrimp. A Loggerhead Turtle sometimes naps in one of the larger caves. Although there is no cleaning station here, Mantas and Devil Rays are still sometimes seen swimming in the water column above the reef.
As with Giant's Castle, the proximity of this site to the dive centre makes it accessible when surface conditions make it impossible to get to more distant sites.
SIMONS TOWN
This site lies right in the heart of Whale Shark Alley south of Tofo. The reef makes a large amphitheatre that provides protection for numerous species of Wrasse, Butterflyfish and Angelfish. Schools of Snapper and Bigeye suspend above the reef. Yellowfin and Bluefin Trevally will come in and check out divers. Colourful Nudibranches dot the walls and the top of the reef. Torpedo Rays are often found sleeping in caves or hunting over the reef while Kuhl's Rays lie buried in the sand.
Lion Fish hunt over the reef. Small Morays and snake Eels can be found throughout the site. Parrotfish feed on the reef. Octopus hunt lobster while Cleaner Shrimp hide in the small nooks and crannies. Colourful juvenile reef fish abound. The safety stop on this dive represents one of the best chances to see Whalesharks on scuba.
TABLETOP
This deep site is only possible in mild current conditions. The dive site is a North-South Wall with several pinnacles to the west of the wall. The top of the reef is covered with Green Tree Coral giving shelter to clouds of Goldies, schools of Coachmen and Redtooth Triggerfish. Blacktip Trevalleys and Kingfish can be seen cruising around as well. At the end of the wall we swim across a sandy channel where large Stingrays often lie motionless on the bottom. We then reach a second wall on the west side of the dive site where a couple of cleaning stations give a good chance to spot Manta Rays. There are also large Potato Bass and Moray Eels can be seen hiding in crevices. A long safety stop is recommended since large groups of Devil Rays often come up the blue depths and fly in formation around the divers.
THE OFFICE
Another deep site, The Office lies north of Tofo Beach and well out in the Mozambique Channel. Consequently, the visibility is often better here than at the sites closer to shore. We descend through schools of redtooth triggerfish and surgeonfish into a sandy bowl. From there we move south with the current keeping our eyes out for grey reef sharks, bowmouth guitarfish, Mantas and other smaller Rays.
The reef is home to numerous species of moray eel including honeycomb and giant Morays. It also teems with Butterflyfish, Angelfish, Groupers, Wrasses and triggerfish. Both Loggerhead and green sea Turtles are found here. It is often possible to surprise sleeping whitetip reef sharks in the sandy bowl at the south end of the site. Leopard sharks and nurse sharks are also seen here.
THE SALON
Named for the wide variety of Cleaner Shrimp found on this site, The Salon is ideal for training dives, refresher dives and long, relaxing dives for experienced divers. This site is a staff favorite! It consists of a coral outcrop that climbs about 6 m up from the sandy bottom. Typically, we spend our time going slowly around the outcrop checking all of the small caves and crannies for interesting sea life. Kuhl's Rays often shoot out from the sand right under unsuspecting divers while Jenkin's whipRays and torpedo Rays hide in the caves. Some caves are home to colourful coral, tomato and African Groupers. Other caves teem with Lobster. Look up and see schools of baitfish and fusiliers as they feed above the reef. Occasionally a Spanish mackerel or even a great barracuda will come in looking for an easy meal.
Stonefish, Scorpionfish and leaf fish hide on the reef while lionfish hunt just off the bottom. Almost a dozen species of shrimp and Lobster can be found on this site. Gently place your hand in front of one of the Cleaner Shrimp and see if it will give you a manicure, just make sure you check for Morays first! The reef is also home to a large number of octopus, a pair of pineapple fish, Butterflyfish and both juvenile and adult Angelfish.
