Marble Arch - Bazaruto Archipelago
Peters Place might not be the flashiest name on Roatán’s dive map, but we've always found it delivers. The buoy drops you onto a relatively shallow reef at 12 metres, then sand channels lead you straight to the wall. It’s a gentle introduction before the main event: a vertical drop that lets you peer down into the blue without needing to go deep yourself. We particularly love the feeling of drifting along the wall, eyes scanning both the vibrant corals clinging to the edge and the open water for those bigger pelagics. We’ve seen eagle rays glide past here more times than we can count, often silhouetted against the bright surface. Look closely in the sand channels too, especially near the wall; the little Brown Garden Eels are always swaying, and if you have a good eye, you might spot a Warteye Stargazer buried, just its eyes peeking out. The site rarely feels rushed or crowded, making it a good choice for newer divers getting comfortable with wall diving, or for those who simply want a relaxed, beautiful drift. Max depth usually sits around 22 metres, making it a forgiving profile.
- Location
- Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -23.901200, 35.547700
- Type
- reef
Best Time to Dive in Bazaruto Archipelago
The warmest water temperatures in Bazaruto Archipelago occur in January, averaging 28.3°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 23.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.3°C
- February: 28.3°C
- March: 27.6°C
- April: 27.0°C
- May: 25.9°C
- June: 24.8°C
- July: 23.8°C
- August: 23.3°C
- September: 23.6°C
- October: 24.5°C
- November: 25.8°C
- December: 27.4°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Bazaruto Archipelago
- AFRICA SHELL - 29m (wreck)
- Amazon (cenote)
- Amazon - 5-20m (reef)
- Amphitheater (cenote)
- Amphitheater (reef)
- Clownfish (wall)
- Coliseum / Hospital (reef)
- Diversity Scuba
- EN1 (reef)
- EVRIDIS - 0m (wreck)
- Fingers (wreck)
- Giants Castle
- Hogwarts / Outback (reef)
- KLIPFONTEIN - 40m (wreck)
- Manta
Nearest Dive Centres to Marble Arch
Marine Life in Bazaruto Archipelago
Home to 99 recorded species including 70 reef fish, 14 sharks & rays, 4 other, 3 sea cucumbers, 3 hard corals, 2 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) - Reef Fish
- Soldier (Cheimerius nufar) - Reef Fish
- Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Gulf torpedo (Torpedo sinuspersici) - Sharks & Rays
- Halfmoon triggerfish (Sufflamen chrysopterum) - Reef Fish
- Day Sarpon (Alepisaurus ferox) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Spottail Coris (Coris caudimacula) - Reef Fish
- Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) - Reef Fish
- Goldbar wrasse (Thalassoma hebraicum) - Reef Fish
- Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
- Rainbow wrasse (Halichoeres iridis) - Reef Fish
- Banded Toby (Canthigaster valentini) - Reef Fish
- Blue and Gold Fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) - Reef Fish
- Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Palani (Acanthurus dussumieri) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Marble Arch
Based on average water temperature of 25.9°C, currents 35 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins (stiff blade recommended for strong currents)
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories