Simons Town / Chimney - Bazaruto Archipelago
Toopua, for us, is all about the rays. We’ve seen other sites boast about eagle ray sightings, but this one delivers. We’re talking about schools of them, sometimes over a hundred individuals, gliding in formation along the wall. It’s a hypnotic sight, the way they move with such effortless grace against the blue. The dive starts on a gentle wall, dropping to 17 meters, where you’ll spot clownfish peeking from their anemone homes and a scattering of butterflyfish. But keep your eyes peeled for the main event. We typically follow the wall down to a sandy bottom where the eagle rays congregate. Leopard rays often join the party too, sifting through the sand for a snack. It’s best to hit this site in the mid-morning, just as the sun brightens the sand, making it easier to spot the rays from a distance. The dive finishes over a pleasant coral garden, a nice calm contrast to the excitement of the ray show. Toopua is a great pick for divers who appreciate a consistent chance at seeing big pelagics in numbers.
- Location
- Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -23.963900, 35.669400
- 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 Simons Town / Chimney
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 Simons Town / Chimney
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